Would the ‘Avatar’ Sequel Affect ‘Pandora: The World of Avatar’?
After years of planning and postponing, it’s almost time to go back to Pandora. Recently, Avatar shared their concept art for future movies on Twitter and it left Disney World fans with a few questions. Primarily, how will Avatar 2 impact Pandora: The World of Avatar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Here’s what we know so far about Disney’s plans for this sequel.
Reportedly, an ‘Avatar 2,’ directed by James Cameron, is in the works
When Avatar first premiered in 2009, it became an instant blockbuster and groundbreaking movie. After years of preparation, there may be another Avatar movie, directed by James Cameron, coming to theaters.
Some of the original cast members are featured in the upcoming movie. Entertainment Weekly reports, “Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, the stars of the 2009 sci-fi blockbuster hit, return for the sequel — and the other sequels in development — along with Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang.”
On Jan. 6, 2020, James Cameron shared concept art from Avatar 2 on Twitter. Although the story of these upcoming films has yet to be revealed, producer Jon Landau said they would touch on “the future generation of Pandora,” according to Entertainment Weekly.
A tweet sharing the concept art reads, “In the #Avatar sequels, you won’t just return to Pandora — you’ll explore new parts of the world.” Does that mean that rides, like Flight of Passage, will change in Disney World?
Disney acquired the ‘Avatar’ franchise in 2011
As a result, the Walt Disney Company holds the exclusive rights to merchandise and theme park rides. They took advantage of this, later building Pandora: The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom and two rides, Na’vi River Journey and Flight of Passage. This extension of Disney World opened before James Cameron revealed more details of the upcoming sequel.
In terms of Flight of Passage, there’s a possibility that the ride could change to reflect the upcoming Avatar sequel. Other rides in Disney World, like Hollywood Studios’ Star Tours, have since been updated with the premiere of new films.
Because Flight of Passage takes guests through the world of Pandora on the back of a banshee, some Disney fans think an update is a possibility. However, nothing has been confirmed by the company. One Twitter user said, “Disney’s Avatar: Flight of Passage is the most incredible experience and has me so excited for Avatar, too. Makes me even more mad that it’s taken 12 years for a sequel to be released.”
Is ‘Avatar’ available on Disney+?
Good news for fans of James Cameron’s award-winning movie. Avatar is available for streaming on Disney+, the Walt Disney Company’s streaming platform. The movie became available at the platform’s launch date during November 2019.
It’s unclear if future Avatar movies will be available on this streaming platform. However, because of Disney’s acquisition, the company will likely release more information about Avatar 2 within the coming months.
To learn more about Disney’s streaming service and to subscribe, visit their website. Variety reports that Avatar 2 will premiere on Dec. 17, 2021. Three more sequels will reportedly be released in 2023, 2025, and 2027.
