Superheroes in “Avatar 2”?! In the FILMSTARTS interview, the producer reveals what awaits us in “The Way Of Water” – and what not

In September, we were able to get a sneak peek of “Avatar 2: The Way Of Water” (cinema release: December 14, 2022): during an exclusive screening at the Mathäser Palast in Munich, we gathered exciting impressions that got us in the mood for what is probably the most expected blockbuster of the last decade. Not only that, we caught up with none other than Jon Landau to talk to him about the upcoming return to Pandora.

“Who?” one or the other might ask. Because yes, Landau is someone who usually stays behind the limelight – but is nonetheless an invaluable producer to director James Cameron. And that for quite some time: the two met during the filming of the Schwarzenegger classic “True Lies” and have been an inseparable team ever since – in addition to “Titanic” and “Alita: Battle Angel”, “Avatar – Aufbruch nach Pandora” was also launched . And now Avatar: The Way Of Water.

In an interview about his latest mega project, Landau spoke to us not only about the greatest strength of blockbuster mastermind James Cameron, but especially about the special approach of “Avatar” – and how it differs from that of Marvel and Co.

Real heroes, real emotions

Yes, with Pandora, they tried to create a world that audiences love to return to. And of course, much of the allure of life on the unobtanium-rich moon comes from its stunning special effects, creative designs, and other visual highlights. What “Aufbruch nach Pandora” and especially “The Way Of Water” is, is something completely different.

“Our characters are not superheroes. They are Heroes who remind us that there is a hero in each of us,” says Landauwhich is a clear separation from the still hugely successful comic book adaptations by Marvel and Co.

Above all, the upcoming sequel should act as an origin story of sorts for new heroes and heroines. Landau notes: “In part 2 we see teen protagonists that a young audience can relate to. Because you will see what it means to grow up in the shadow of your parents. For them, it’s about finding out who they really are.”

“The cinema is about the emotions people go home with”, continues Landau, who emphasizes in the same breath that James Cameron knows how to arouse exactly those emotions among a particularly wide audience like no other filmmaker. “You leave the plot in the cinema, but you take the emotions home.” He is right.

“Avatar”: a great story

Also, what sets “Avatar” apart from major Hollywood franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe – aside from the time intervals in which the individual movies appear (between “Avatar” and “Avatar 2” we got to see a whopping 28(!) MCU chapter) – is the shooting.

For example, at Marvel, actors usually sign contracts for a certain number of movies or appearances, which is roughly defined in advance but by no means set in stone. Because whether everything is actually implemented in the end is also a matter of success – and if it doesn’t happen or is bigger than expected, it just needs to be adjusted. That said, stars themselves are often kept in the dark about what happens to their characters. On the one hand, the creative minds themselves often don’t even know exactly how to proceed. On the other hand, the utmost secrecy to the outside world is simply guaranteed.

When asked why “Avatar: The Way Of Water” took so long to come out, Jon Landau explains to us that all four scripts – including “avatar 3“,”avatar 4” and “avatar 5– had to be completed. Why was that necessary? Because part 2 is not just a sequel, after which you would first see where the journey is going. The five-part “Avatar” tells a great story that you would have liked to think through to the end before plunging headlong into the (further) narration. After all, not only “The Way Of Water” has been recorded, but also the still untitled “Avatar 3” and an act from “Avatar 4”!

“So our cast also knows where the story and the characters are going,” Landau emphasizes the importance of this concept. As a result, those involved would get a feel for the infamous to get. Of course, this also helps when shooting with young actors who would soon outgrow their roles.

How long we actually have to wait for the third “Avatar” adventure, currently scheduled for December 18, 2024, remains to be seen. However, first of all it is necessary to prepare for the start of “Avatar: The Way Of Water”. An exclusive screening at the end of September left us with plenty of impressions and we are sure that James Cameron will once again unleash a cinema phenomenon that will be talked about for many years to come. More about our first impressions on Sunday in a subsequent article.