James Cameron to Film Three Avatar Sequels Back-to-Back

Although I did enjoy “Avatar” — the theatrical version, not the overlong extended cut — the idea of sitting through three sequels seems a little daunting. For me, everything I needed to know about Pandora and its inhabitants is contained within the first feature. Anything else beyond the end credits is simply superfluous. Unless Zoe Saldana sheds the blue skin and decides to spend the entire film in her birthday suit, I think I can live without these proposed sequels.

However, those of you who are much more high-brow and intellectual than I will probably explode upon hearing the news that director James Cameron intends to make three sequels to one of the most successful motion pictures in the history of cinema. What’s even more interesting is that he intends to shoot the trio back-to-back. Assuming that each follow-up is three hours in length, that means prospective audiences will have at least nine hours of Pandora-related mayhem to sift through in the coming years. At this point, you’re either excited or falling asleep.

While talking up her new USA Network program “Political Animals”, Sigourney Weaver revealed that Cameron intends to shoot the three sequels at the same time. After wrapping the aforementioned television show and finishing up her part in a new Christopher Durang play, Weaver heads back into Pandora. What will these movies be about? How long will it take to film three movies back-to-back? How will they connect with the first feature? Your guess is as good as mine or, for that matter, Sigourney Weaver’s. According to her, she’s just going to show up.

Although details are sketchy right now, I’m willing to bet you won’t see an “Avatar” sequel in theaters until 2014. Feel free to correct me if you think I’m wrong. Below you can find an assortment of Twitter reactions to the news. Apparently a lot of folks on the micro-blogging site aren’t too thrilled with the news. I’m assuming fans of the film don’t use Twitter. Have a look.