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James Cameron announces Avatar 4
Director adds another film to his Pandora series.
The 'Avatar' series just got one film bigger.
James Cameron has announced that he's planning a further three films, rather than the previously thought two.
'Avatar 2' will now arrive in December 2016, with the third and fourth instalments coming in December 2017 and 2018.
He's brought some new writers on board to help him with the enormous project too.
Joining him is the previously announced Josh Friedman, who created the 'Terminator' spin-off 'The Sarah Connor Chronicles', Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, the husband and wife team who penned 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', and Shane Salerno.
[James Cameron hires Terminator TV series writer for Avatar 2]
“Building upon the world we created with 'Avatar' has been a rare and incredibly rewarding experience,” he said.
“In writing the new films, I've come to realize that 'Avatar's' world, story and characters have become even richer than I anticipated, and it became apparent that two films would not be enough to capture everything I wanted to put on screen.
“And to help me continue to expand this universe, I'm pleased to bring aboard Amanda, Rick, Shane and Josh - all writers I've long admired to join me in completing the films screenplays.”
He will once again be collaborating with WETA Digital on the movies, the New Zealand effects studio founded by director Peter Jackson.
[Avatar to pioneer underwater performance capture]
And in a vastly ambitious move, he will make all three new films simultaneously.
Stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, who played disabled marine Jake Sully and Na'vi warrior Neytiri, are expected to reprise their roles.
As a project, it has to rank among the most ambitious in Hollywood history.
The first 'Avatar' movie remains - by some considerable margin - the highest-grossing film of all time, having made almost $2.8 billion (£1.8 billion).
[The movies that influenced Avatar]
His nearest rival is 'Titanic', which made $2.1 billion (£1.3 billion). But he directed that too.
It also won three Oscars, for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
Are you ready to head back to Pandora? Do you think Cameron can keep up the pace over four films?
