Disney Needs To Make A New Planet Of The Apes Remake, On One Condition

Disney Needs To Make A New Planet Of The Apes Remake, On One Condition

With all the excitement surrounding Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar of late, it’s easy to forget that Disney’s collection of franchises recently got bigger thanks to the purchase of 21st Century Fox. Among the studio’s new acquisitions is the Planet of the Apes film series, and during CinemaCon last month, it was one of the Fox franchises that Disney indicated would continue on post-regime change, although there doesn’t appear to be anything in active development right now.

It’s been over 50 years since the first Planet of the Apes movie was released, and thanks to the reboot trilogy than ran from 2011 to 2017, the franchise has had new life breathed into it. I’m game for Disney delivering a new Planet of the Apes movie and would especially be interested in a remake of the original, but on one condition: it needs to be set in the same continuity as the reboot movies.

Most of you are probably saying right now that we’ve been down this remake road before, and it did not go well. That’s true. In 2001, after over a decade in development hell, Fox finally released a Planet of the Apes remake, which Tim Burton directed and starred folks like Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter and Paul Giamatti. It ended on quite the cliffhanger, and it was abundantly clear that just like the original did, Fox intended for this new Planet of the Apes to spawn sequels.

This Planet of the Apes proved to be a financial success, making over $362 million off a $100 million budget, but it was met with mixed-negative critical reception. Tim Burton declared he’d rather “jump out a window” then work on a sequel, and Fox eventually just shut down plans to continue this iteration of the franchise, paving the way for what would become Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Disney is certainly within its rights to press the reset button start on the entire Planet of the Apes franchise again, but that would be a mistake. The mythology crafted by Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes is too rich to toss aside, and it actually makes a more direct Planet of the Apes remake sound a lot more interesting than starting from scratch.

Fox was wise to move away from the traditional Apes canon and instead use the most recent Planet of the Apes trilogy to look back on how Earth’s apes became super-intelligent and how humanity was almost wiped out and how the survivors started losing their intelligence. It was an interesting and more ‘realistic’ look at how an ape uprising would occur.

Now that the groundwork has been laid, and Caesar’s story has ended, we’re free to jump forward several centuries to see how ape society has evolved since Caesar led his followers to their promised land. Naturally it’ll look a lot like what was shown in the original Planet of the Apes movie, but naturally there’s also room to take some creative liberties in order to stand out from what’s come before.

If you’re not interested in retreading original Planet of the Apes territory, that’s fine, because Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes work perfectly fine on their own. There’s never a guarantee that origin stories do well, but both critically and commercially, these movies all succeeded, and I’d argue that this Apes trilogy is one of the best movie trilogies of all time.

Of course, there’s also the possibility that Disney would rather have the next Planet of the Apes movie have closer ties to War for the Planet of the Apes, perhaps by following Caesar’s son, Cornelius, as an adult. That would be fine, but in terms in terms of setting and aesthetics, we’ve gotten three movies worth of apes running around on a ‘normal’ Earth. Wouldn’t it be more interesting to instead see how they’re descendants are doing in a civilization that somewhat resembles what humans once lived in?

Think about it: we’re arguably more invested in the apes than ever now that we know their background. We watched over three movies as they rose from common animals to simians with human-level intelligence, and now humans are on their way to becoming as primitive as the apes once were. Now that their ‘origin story’ is out of the way, we can finally move forward and see how the fruits of Caesar’s labor led to the apes flourishing on this new Earth centuries later.

Naturally this paves the way for the original Planet of the Apes story to unfold, albeit with some adjustments to ensure it fits within this reboot continuity properly, such as the newest Cornelius (i.e. the one that Roddy Mcdowell played) being a direct descendant of Caesar. And naturally if Disney delivers a Planet of the Apes remake, that doesn’t have to mark the end of this iteration of the franchise. With all the money that Disney paid for Fox, you can be sure the company’s not going to bring Planet of the Apes back to the big screen for a one-and-done tale.

The key difference, though, for any sequels to follow Disney’s Planet of the Apes remake is that outside of George Taylor coming to the future (Rise of the Planet of the Apes has a news report of the Icarus leaving Earth, and a later newspaper headline reveals the ship was lost), time travel would be incorporated. In the original Planet of the Apes film series, Zira and Cornelius were transported in time to the contemporary United States, and their son, Caesar, ended up the catalyst for the future his parents came from. It was a cyclical timeline!

That doesn’t need to happen in this version of the franchise. The apes became smart through exposure to a viral-based drug, so there’s no reason to go back to this period. Instead, we can focus on more on fleshing out this strange society even more so than the original Planet of the Apes movies did. Rather than eventually nuke the world, which is what happened in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, we can explore a different kind of aftermath from George Taylor’s presence, one that perhaps leads to human and ape relations improving and, over time, Earth returning to something more familiar.

Since Fox will now only be making five to six movies per year under the Disney banner, it remains to be seen when the studio will decide to tackle Planet of the Apes. Whenever that time comes, the studio would be better served piggybacking on what Fox delivered earlier this decade and presenting a Planet of the Apes remake through that lens as opposed to beginning completely anew.

Let us know what you’d like to see next from the Planet of the Apes franchise in the comments below. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any updates on what Disney has in store for the Planet of the Apes, and for now, you can learn what movies are hitting theaters later this year in our 2019 release schedule.

Netflix Rom-Com Star Noah Centineo May Play He-Man, And Fans Have Strong Feelings

Netflix Rom-Com Star Noah Centineo May Play He-Man, And Fans Have Strong Feelings

The upcoming Masters of the Universe film may enlist Noah Centineo to play He-Man in the planned Sony and Mattel Films movie. The heartthrob has already charmed Netflix users everywhere with his kind eyes and infectious smile, but what happens when he wields the Power Sword?

Noah Centineo is in talks to portray Prince Adam in an upcoming adaptation of the ‘80s toy icon previously played by Dolph Lundgren, per The Wrap. The character is known for his insanely-ripped physique and blond bob, and he's heir to the throne of Eternia. He-Man is being adapted for the big screen by directors Aaron and Adam Nee, and screenwriters of Iron Man Matt Holloway and Art Marcum.

The project has seen multiple script drafts and directors, and Twilight’s Kellan Lutz was also previously set to play He-Man at one point in time. The 22-year-old breakout To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before actor may now lead the project about the heir to the throne of planet Eternia who often fights off the evil wizard Skeletor and teams up with allies Teela, Man-at-Arms, Orko, and The Sorceress.

Since Noah Centineo doesn’t have the typical He-Man look, fans of the character have taken to Twitter to express their concerns for the Masters of the Universe choice. Check it out:

Looks like Noah Centineo is going to have to hit it pretty hard at the gym if he’s going to win the hearts of these fans, who have expressed the importance that He-Man be jacked in the upcoming adaptation of the character. It is true He-Man is largely known for his muscular body, and if Centineo approaches the character with his current look, he will not come off as believable to fans. Since he’s taking on the role, one would expect he’ll commit to looking the part and there certainly could be a massive transformation for the actor on the way.

Not all the online chatter is negative toward the recent casting news. @GeekVibesNation took to the platform to make a valid point about how while the casting of iconic roles in the past have initially angered fans, it doesn’t alway turn out as bad as they think it well. Take a look:

Good point! While many may have written off Michael Keaton as Batman and Heath Ledger as Joker, they’ve gone on to become iconic portrayals of the comic book roles. Actors are given parts for a reason, and Noah Centineo no doubt went through a cutthroat process before being named a frontrunner for the role. We also have no idea about the direction and vision the studios have for the toy line as of yet.

Mattel Films is following in the footsteps of Hasbro and working on numerous film projects based on their popular toys, such as a Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie. You can see Noah Centineo in his upcoming Netflix rom-com The Perfect Date in April and in the Charlie’s Angels reboot this fall.

Disneyland Is Teasing Big Changes For Spider-Man In Upcoming Attraction

Disneyland Is Teasing Big Changes For Spider-Man In Upcoming Attraction

Right now at Disneyland Resort construction is ongoing to transform a corner of Disney California Adventure into a new Marvel superhero themed space. We already knew that one of the new attractions would be focused on your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, and now we have a bit of new information about the upcoming attraction, and it will apparently be used to create an all-new version of the character exclusive to Disney Parks.

Most of the new information we got from the Disney Parks Blog comes in the form of back story. We already knew that each Marvel themed area at the various Disney parks was designed to work like a local Avengers outpost for the education and training of new recruits. This will include, at both Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris, the creation of the Worldwide Engineering Brigade (or WEB, because Spider-pun) by Tony Stark. The purpose of WEB is to develop advancements in super powered technology, and the first assignment that WEB has been tasked with is creating new enhancements for Spider-Man's suit.

It's not clear what these new enhancements will be, but if they're truly "new" then we're talking about seeing Spider-Man with powers that we haven't seen him use in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or potentially even in the comics.

Exactly how this will work is not set out in detail but the idea of the attraction is clearly something interactive where guests will be able to help create these new powers, as such, there may be multiple different new abilities you can give the wall-crawler, perhaps with the idea being that you can go back to the attraction multiple times and create new powers.

Of course, it's also made clear that the goal of the attraction is to let guests engage with the superheroes and the super powers, so get ready to use these new abilities yourself.

In addition to the new attraction, Disney also revealed that a new walk around character for Spider-Man is coming to the parks who will be dressed in an original costume. The new design was created by Marvel Studios' Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding.

One of the questions I've had about the new Marvel land from the beginning was in what ways, if any, it would be connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The one existing Marvel attraction at Disney California Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout, uses the cast of the films and the new Ant-Man and the Wasp attraction at Disneyland Hong Kong does the same. However, that doesn't necessarily mean these two parts of Marvel are connected. putting Spider-Man in an entirely originally designed costume in the parks would seem to indicate a separation between the two worlds.

That doesn't mean Tom Holland won't appear in the attraction, we don't know that for sure one way or another, but making the theme park universe it's own thing certainly opens things up and gives the storytellers more options.

This is the exact opposite idea of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, where it has been made clear the events that take place within the new land are as much canon as anything that happens in the movies.

In addition to the Spider-Man attraction we know that the new Marvel land will open next year in California with another attraction focused on Doctor Strange. An E-ticket ride focused on the Avengers will follow at some point in the future as apart of a second phase in the land.

Image Courtesy: Disney Parks Blog/Disney

Marvel’s Shang-Chi Movie Just Took A Big Step Forward

Marvel’s Shang-Chi Movie Just Took A Big Step Forward

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is ready to continue make history following the thunderous response to its more inclusive titles, Black Panther and Captain Marvel. The studio has just hired Asian-American director Destin Daniel Cretton to helm a film for martial-arts hero Shang-Chi, the first superhero movie lead by an Asian protagonist.

While Marvel’s official future slate hasn't been announced to the public yet in order to focus on the events of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home first, the comic series inspired by martial artist Bruce Lee’s pop culture prominence in Enter the Dragon will soon be adapted to the cinematic universe.

The project is certainly starting to shape up as Destin Daniel Cretton is now attached as director, in addition to Chinese-American writer Dave Callaham writing the screenplay, via Deadline. Up next, Marvel will also enlist a primarily Asian cast to the movie as well.

Ironically enough, Destin Daniel Cretton has spent much of his directing career teaming up with Captain Marvel actress Brie Larson in Short Term 12, Glass Castle and for his upcoming drama Just Mercy, which will will have her playing opposite Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan. Maybe Larson played a part in Marvel’s decision to enlist Cretton for the project. It's food for thought.

Shang-Chi was first announced back in December, when reports said Marvel Studios was fast-tracking the movie with script writer Dave Callaham, who created the Expendables franchise and story for 2014’s Godzilla reboot. The writer also co-wrote the Wonder Woman 1984 script and has signed on to the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel.

The hero debuted in Marvel Comics in 1973, at a time when martial arts films were at an all-time popularity high. Shang-Chi grows up and is educated in the confines of a compound in China, where he intensely trains in the ways of martial arts to an expert level. His father allows him to go into the outside world under his orders, but Shang-Chi eventually finds out that his father is a centuries-old villain whose various identities include Fu Manchu and The Devil's Doctor. The father and son become sworn enemies.

Following the achievement of Black Panther, the highest-earning movie of 2018, Marvel’s first Best Picture contender and winner of three Academy Awards, the studio has placed a new focus on diversity in the upcoming films. Kevin Feige teased that Black Panther is just the beginning. The recent release of the first female-fronted flick Captain Marvel is another step in that direction and Shang-Chi follows this mission.

This news certainly puts the Shang-Chi movie in the running to be part of Marvel’s Phase Four slate, along with the Black Widow solo film, Black Panther 2, The Eternals, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Doctor Strange 2. Until then, you can read up on the comic book character with our Shang-Chi guide.

All Pirates Of The Caribbean Movies, Ranked

All Pirates Of The Caribbean Movies, Ranked

Legend has it, there was a time when no adventure was more engrossing and exciting than a swashbuckling journey with Captain Jack Sparrow, brought to life by Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

In 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl grossed more than $654 million worldwide, a huge surprise for a film inspired by a Walt Disney World and Disneyland attraction, but as the series kept going and going, the world became more fascinated by superheroes than a quest for buried treasure, breaking curses, mermaids, and other ideas the franchise would eventually become known for.

With talk that Disney is developing a sixth entry into the series without Johnny Depp in the lead, it is almost hard to imagine a Pirates of the Caribbean film without the drunken, bumbling, inexplicably lucky former captain of the Black Pearl. Of course, we have five movies featuring Captain Jack to relive, for better or worse. But which of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies made the pirate's life most attractive?

5. On Stranger Tides (2011)

As far as sequels go in the series of Pirates of the Caribbean movies, this one seems to be the most lacking in what made the franchise special.

Using Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’s hint at Captain Jack Sparrow’s quest for the fountain of youth as a jumping point, On Stranger Tides (which is actually inspired by a 1987 novel by Tim Powers) sees Jack team up with former rival Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), who has been appointed by the King to lead a search for the fountain, and race to reach it before Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and his daughter (Penelope Cruz), who also happens to be Jack’s old flame, find it first.

Despite Johnny Depp’s chemistry with his former Blow co-star Penelope Cruz and the return of Keith Richards as Jack’s dad adding to the fun, the movie boils down to feeling less like a Pirates movie and more like an Indiana Jones rip-off. Just switch Indy vs. Nazis with Jack vs. more pirates and you have this.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides proved the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are not as effective with Captain Jack Sparrow leading the show without Orlando Bloom or Keira Knightley to keep it somewhat grounded, which they would eventually attempt to correct. More on that later.

4. Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)

After Dead Man’s Chest pulled a Back to the Future Part II with its cliffhanger ending, fans anticipated this third Pirates of the Caribbean movie would reveal the fate of William Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann’s (Keira Knightley) romance, why Barbossa was back from the dead somehow, and why Johnny Depp’s face was on the poster if Captain Jack Sparrow died in the last movie. While we get all of those answers, the journey to get there is a long and often confusing one.

For essentially being a part two to Dead Man’s Chest, the reason Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End scores lower for me is because it feels disconnected from its preceding chapter, with a bleaker tone, a forgettable new cast of characters, and a plot that begs the question, "This is still about pirates, right?" I’ll give the movie credit for Will’s intriguing send-off as heir to the Flying Dutchman, even if that felt unfair to Elizabeth. Still, this one is in fourth.

3. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

I must admit that I am a bit of an apologist for the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, somewhat because of my sympathy for pirates movies lacking relevance at the cinema lately, but also because I actually had some fun with it compared to some of the others.

In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Johnny Depp reprises his most famous role as Captain Jack Sparrow, once again hunted by a crew of vengeful undead pirates, this time led by Captain Salazar. Meanwhile, Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), the son of Will and Elizabeth, is looking to free his father from the Flying Dutchman’s curse.

The answer to both men’s problems can be solved by the universal curse-breaking power of the Trident of Poseidon, which astronomer Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) holds the key to finding. Oh, and Barbossa is there, too, because who should tell Geoffrey Rush not to have a little fun every once in a while?

The plot is easily the zaniest of the franchise, but for my precious coin, it has some of the best action sequences of the series since Dead Man’s Chest. I also award points for the reunion of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley and Barbossa earning a heroic exit this time.

I will take points away, however, for Sir Paul McCartney’s cameo. A Beatle deserves better.

2. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Believe it or not, The Curse of the Black Pearl was not what initially roped me into the Pirates of the Caribbean movies craze.

It was actually the first of its sequels, which saw Captain Jack Sparrow’s soul threatened by Davy Jones and William Turner’s and Elizabeth Swann’s wedding put on hold when he is commissioned to retrieve Jack’s enchanted compass… among other things.

The story is a mixed bag, trying to juggle political intrigue, pirate lore fantasy, indigenous mythology, and stunted romance. While it might be the franchise’s first sign of throwing out a simple good vs. evil adventure tale for overplotting, I still regard it as one of the best summer movie experiences of my young life and easily the closest a Pirates movie has come to matching the excitement of the film that started it all. Speaking of...

1. Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl (2003)

Disney took a chance on turning one of its theme park attractions into summer blockbuster adventure. Fortunately, they struck gold with the first of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, a tale of a washed up drunken pirate whose past catches up with him after he is enlisted to help a blacksmith rescue the governor’s daughter from the cursed crew of his fame former ship, The Black Pearl.

The Curse of the Black Pearl is pure popcorn movie glory with gorgeous sword fight choreography, cutting edge special effects, deliciously dark mysticism, and an Academy Award-nominated performance by one Johnny Depp. Who knew that the key to Disney’s golden goose would be a cross between Keith Richards and Pepé Le Pew in a bandana and rags?

Does our ranking of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies make you anxious for a sixth swashbuckling adventure, or does it convince you that this treasure should have stayed buried after 2003? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for updates here on CinemaBlend.

Avatar 2: A History Of All The Delays So Far

Avatar 2: A History Of All The Delays So Far

By December of this year, James Cameron’s intergalactic blockbuster (nay, block disintegrator) Avatar will turn 10 years old. One would assume that, with Hollywood’s sequel churning machine usually at breakneck speed, the highest grossing film of all time (for now) would have already brought in an Avatar 2, 3, or even 4 and 5 by now.

Well, James Cameron assures us that those four (count ‘em, FOUR) subsequent tales exploring the unseen areas of Pandora are on their way. When should we expect Avatar 2, you ask? Who knows anymore? Not even Cameron.

In yet another chapter of Avatar 2’s seemingly unending development hell, as of this week, the release date has been pushed back once again. We know what you’re thinking: is that six delays or only five? Well, to be honest in all the excitement, we’ve kind of lost track ourselves.

So, let’s retrace our steps to when James Cameron first told us we would return to Pandora and see if we can get to the bottom of when Avatar 2 can be expected, shall we? Starting off, let's look at when the talk of a sequel actually began.

When James Cameron Decided To Return To Make Avatar 2 (2010)

Technically, James Cameron has been in talks about sequels to Avatar since 2006, three years before the first film was even released. But talk of Avatar 2 really kicked into gear in October 2010 with the promise of two sequels. This was after Avatar had surpassed Cameron’s own Best Picture winner, Titanic, as the biggest cinematic money maker of all time with more $2 billion worldwide. So, naturally, talk of building a franchise off of this surprise cash magnet was inevitable.

The idea was to complete the proposed trilogy by filming the second and third chapters back to back with release dates set for 2014 and 2015. We even had direct promises from Fox that it would have no problem securing Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana to reprise their 10-foot tall, blue personas. This was, of course, prior to Saldana being cast as Gamora in Guardians of The Galaxy, but we're sure Worthington could have been easily available.

We feel inclined to mention that this announcement came around the same time Cameron was set to produce Guillermo del Toro’s At the Mountains of Madness, as well as a remake of the 1968 science fiction spectacle Fantastic Voyage, because neither of those films have been made either. It would feel unfair to assume that the Terminator creator has a few issues with time management since the Cameron-produced Alita: Battle Angel came out this year (Robert Rodriguez took over directing duties), but it’s something to consider when discussing a project of this magnitude.

Who Wants To See A Two-Part Movie Anyway? (2012)

In 2012, with Avatar 2 only two years away, the green light was still shining brightly on the Avatar trilogy, or so it seemed. James Cameron was excitedly talking about working with New Zealand effects company WETA on some sort of underwater motion capture system, teasing at sequences for that would present Pandora’s aquatic life and maybe test Zoe Saldana’s lung capacity while at it.

Someone who wasn't as excited about the sequels' plans was producer Jon Landau, who began having second thoughts at this time. Was it about putting multi-million dollar actors below sea level? Nooooo. Of course not. It was about the two-part sequel concept.

While James Cameron was planning to film Avatar 2 and 3 back to back, Landau was insistent that the films would still be presented as standalone films, and the second chapter would not be setup for the third. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Landau is quoted as saying:

That's where movies fall into trouble – when they try to say: 'You know what? It's really one movie and there's an intermission' – so we want each one to be a stand-alone movie.

Scrapping the idea of crafting a film's conclusion to serve as set up for future sequels, in 2012, must have sounded like the obvious choice. How times have changed. Thus, Jon Landau hinted that 2014 might be a hard date to make, but production setbacks are not uncommon, so there did not seem to be much cause for concern at the time. Of course, Avatar fans had no way of knowing this would be the first sign that development might be in trouble.

What’s Better Than An Avatar 2 And 3? Avatar 4! (2013)

Despite initial promises for an Avatar trilogy years before, James Cameron announced the idea of a fourth film, only to later say that just Avatar 3 would round out the series, and then tease the possibility of another entry again, even suggesting it could a prequel. For being one of the most ambitious filmmakers in history, he could not seem to make up his mind. Maybe he could asked Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige for advice.

Then, by December 2013 (only a year away from the proposed Avatar 2 release date), it was confirmed that Avatar 4 was included on the production schedule and would be shot simultaneously with the other entries in New Zealand. That meant that Chapter Two had not even been shot yet. In fact, none of the films had even been fully written yet.

It was clear, at this point, that we would not see Avatar 2 in 2014, but 2015 for sure. Well, that promise did not last long, as the film was then pushed to 2016. Apparently writing three science fiction/fantasy epics at once is no walk in the park.

If James Cameron needs a slight extension for his creative process to flow, fair enough. It is no question that the Academy Award-winning filmmaker is always up for a challenge, as he made very clear the following year.

Forget Quadrilogy, James Cameron Threw In Avatar 5! (2016)

It was at CinemaCon in April 2016, a day that will live in infamy, when James Cameron made the biggest announcement in the Avatar saga yet. The director said he planned not one, not two, not three, but four sequels to the worldwide box office smash, staying true to the plan of the simultaneous production of all entries in New Zealand. Wow!

The announcement came with the revised release dates in December 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023. This only increased speculation of the endurance, and even the probability, of the continuation of this franchise.

Were the scripts finished? Was principal photography just one trip to New Zealand away? Do we really need four sequels to Avatar, let alone even one? Could James Cameron really, finally, stick with a chosen release date?

Well, unless you, somehow, do not have access to a calendar, you know that it didn’t work out that way.

More Delays, This Time With Avatar 2's Release Date (2017)

Less than a year after the announcement that Avatar would be a five-parter now, James Cameron had to admit that we would have to wait just a little bit longer for Avatar 2. Within a month, Fox clarified the delay, revealing a two-year extension for each film.

The sequels would be released on the specified dates of December 18, 2020; December 17, 2021; December 20, 2024; and December 19, 2025. At this point, the most consistent pattern to be found in the franchise's development was a committed attachment to the month of December. From that point on, all there was to do was wait for the next delay announcement.

Yet later that year, in the wake of all the cynical speculation reaching its peak, something amazing happened: the cameras started to roll. Avatar 2 began principal photography, featuring notable cast returns such as Sigourney Weaver, and the introduction of Kate Winslet, who learned to dive for the underwater sequences.

Zoe Saldana, who completed her reprisal of Neytiri for the next two sequels by 2018, went on record about working double duty (not her first rodeo, of course) shooting scenes from Avatar 2 one day and 3 the next. Things were really looking up for this saga. Maybe we would see a return to Pandora at the (new) promised time.

How The Disney-Fox Merger Has Affected Avatar 2, 3, 4 And 5 (2019)

James Cameron, being the innovative visionary that he is, still most likely could not have seen how the Disney-Fox merger would affect the production of Avatar.

Walt Disney Studios, in a move formerly under the authority of Fox, made the announcement that Avatar 2 and its three following entries, once again, would be delayed. As of this week, the second chapter is slated for December 2021, with its sequels scheduled to follow every two years in that same month.

Rarely does news of a film set for 2027 come this early, but perhaps Avatar 5 had it coming. At least it and 4 could finally say they were greenlit.

What is the reason for this latest execution in Avatar's development scurvy, you ask? Can’t think of another property of Disney’s that would might be treated with a higher priority?

Indeed, a new trilogy of Star Wars films are set for release in 2022, 2024 and 2026. The new release schedule given to the Avatar franchise came in an effort to avoid overlapping with Disney’s other seemingly more important properties. You can't blame the studio for trusting its instincts.

Where Do We Go From Here With The Avatar Sequels?

It has been a long road for James Cameron to complete his vision. Even the first Avatar took its time until its 2009 release as a decision to wait for the appropriate technology to exist.

But now, the technology is here. The scripts are ready. The green light is on. But Avatar 2 is prepping to be seven years late… for now, at least.

Is now the time to lose hope? Could 2021 finally be the year we see the return to Pandora, or will it be pushed back farther and farther into an inescapable oblivion? Perhaps the most important question we have to ask by now is if and when Avatar 2 finally graces the screen, who will be left to actually care? More than a few, actually.

Ten years may have passed since the peak of Avatar's popularity, but its presence in pop culture outside of production purgatory has yet to slow down. In 2015, James Cameron collaborated with the makers of Cirque du Soleil to create a live show using Avatar as inspiration called Toruk - The First Flight, which is still running. Better than re-watching the film to revisit Pandora, fans can actually visit the place as an attraction as part of Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom.

Now, it is well known by now that Avatar has its critics. It has practically become the Nickelback of sci-fi movies, with people shamelessly taking shots at the film's wooden acting and cheesy dialogue, and often comparing its storyline to Pocahontas. With that logic, you might as well call The Walking Dead a Toy Story rip-off... Oh, yes, that theory exists.

However, to those who became the secret to Avatar's success in 2009, none of those things matter. What matters to the those who ignore the naysayers and are still proud to call themselves fans of the film is the world that James Cameron brought to life with complex world building, fantastic production design, astonishingly realistic visual effects, and even a whole new language to rival Klingon. Say what you want about the cutesy blue people romance, the lame Leona Lewis post-credits song, or the fact that Sam Worthington has been practically MIA ever since; Avatar means something to some people and that meaning can never be taken away from because this, this is their land!

Every franchise has its audience, of course, and, given the evidence I have provided, anticipation for this franchise is alive and well. However, the fate of Avatar 2 all depends now on the faith of its owners. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the Avatar franchise.

6 Questions We Still Have Before Seeing Shazam!

6 Questions We Still Have Before Seeing Shazam!

DC is coming off of a major win after the massive success of Aquaman, and we'll see if lightning can strike twice with Shazam! The newest DC film is promising the same light and fun tone as Aquaman, and early reviews for Shazam! have been really positive. We'll know for sure next month if Shazam! will be a hit, but in the meantime, we are left to wonder on the last remaining details that the film has kept hidden.

Shazam! finds orphan Billy Batson (Asher Angel) chosen as the next champion of the wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou), granting him incredible powers that transform him into an adult superhero (Zachary Levi). It's a recipe for a really fun fish-out-of-water (or body) story and as with any superhero blockbuster, details have been kept extra slim. There are still plenty of questions left unanswered, and we've got the six most important ones we'd like to know listed below.

Why Does The Wizard Need A New Champion?

The basic concept of Shazam is that a wizard names him as his next champion and the protector of all magic, granting powers that put young Billy Batson on the level of Superman. In the comics, the reason tends to vary as to WHY the Wizard chooses Billy, but it's usually because he has a pure heart. The Wizard's reasons aren't clear in the movie, but we also have to wonder why he needs a new champion in the first place. Does he need to pass on his power before he dies? Is some kind crisis looming and the world will need a new champion? Whatever the case, the Wizard better have a pretty good reason for picking a 14-year-old orphan to fight his battles.

What's The Deal With Sivana?

Every hero needs a villain, and for Shazam! that villain is Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong). In the comics, Sivana is a decrepit mad scientist obsessed with magic. Usually, he doesn't have any powers, though the latest comic reboot gave him the ability to "see" magic. The movie decides to kick it up a notch and really shoots him full of steroids. Sivana has powers on par with Shazam, so question one is how did he get these abilities? Questions two is what does he want them for? Sivana is clearly up to no good, and word on the street is that he has a revamped backstory (which I won't spoil for you here), but it's unclear exactly what his true motives are and what he hopes to accomplish.

Will A Justice League Member Cameo?

The DCEU has adopted a strategy of keeping its various superhero films standalone rather than referencing or setting up other DCEU films. That worked out for Wonder Woman and Aquaman, but that hasn't stopped rumors that Shazam! might have a cameo from a Justice Leaguer. Superman (Henry Cavill) has been the popular choice and there are rumors that a Superman cameo was shot for the film, though, it's been a subject of debate whether  Cavill was involved or not. While I don't think Shazam! needs a Superman cameo, it would still be really cool to see. Shazam! already references other DC characters, so why not have one actually show up?

How Does Black Adam Factor Into All This?

Before they had begun working on Shazam!, Warner Bros. had already lined up Dwayne Johnson to play classic Shazam anti-hero Black Adam. There have been tons of different reports over the status of Black Adam and what Warner Bros. wants to do with him, with a solo film looking like the most popular option. However, Black Adam is heavily involved in the Shazam mythology and backstory, and it's tough to see the Shazam! movie going its whole runtime without Adam factoring in somewhat. Will he just be referenced, or did Johnson film a secret cameo? Johnson is one of the biggest stars on the planet, so it's hard to imagine that Warner doesn't capitalize on that soon.

Is There Going To Be A Talking Tiger Or Not?!

Forget Superman and Black Adam. Where's the talking tiger? For those who don't know, Shazam comics used to be super weird and at one point a recurring character was a posh talking tiger in a suit named Tawny. What the tiger actually did, I have no idea. All I know is that he needs to be in live-action, trading jokes with Zachary Levi. Some versions of the character is just a regular tiger who gains the ability to speak later on thanks to Shazam's magic. Honestly, I'd be fine if Tawny was just a tiger at the zoo (which he was in the New 52 reboot), but if we can have a talking raccoon bring in millions of box office dollar, then why can't we have a tiger?

Will The Shazam Family Appear?

Shazam! takes a ton of inspiration from the New 52 reboot version of the character. Perhaps the most famous addition from the storyline was the introduction of the Shazam Family when Billy shared his mighty powers with his foster family. It was a powerful moment in the comics that saw Billy finally accept his new family, and it would make sense for the movie to do the exact same. While not officially confirmed by the studio, there are actors cast in the film who certainly look like they could play older versions of the child actors. Plus, there was some merchandise that indicated the Shazam Family would appear, but unless actually confirmed by footage, I'm not counting that!

There are still some important elements of Shazam! that are unknown to fans, but it's a good thing that the marketing isn't spoiling everything about the movie. It'd be a real bummer if it showed Superman or Black Adam appear in a trailer when it would have been better to just go into the theater cold. We also don't know for sure if the Shazam Family or a talking tiger will be making an appearance. Considering the importance of family to Shazam, I'd say that there is a pretty strong chance we'll see a bunch of super-powered kids running around by the time the credits roll. The jury is still out on that tiger, though.