“There are things it’s ok to take a decade on and not deliver on: the ‘Avatar’ sequels, for instance,” Oliver said (via Uproxx). “Take your time on those, James Cameron. No one gives a shit…I will give anyone in this audience $1,000 right now if they remember either of these characters’ names.”

Oliver had up a picture of the two “Avatar” protagonists played by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana. Of course their names are Jake Sully and Neytiri, respectively. Both actors will reprise their roles in “Avatar 2,” which is currently set to arrive in theaters 13 years after the original on December 16, 2022. Cast members Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, and Giovanni Ribisi are also returning, while new faces will be played by the likes of Cameron’s “Titanic” breakout Kate Winslet. Cameron shot “Avatar 2” and “Avatar 3” back-to-back, with pieces of further sequels filmed as well. Related Editing ‘Avatar’: Behind the Scenes of the Five-Year, Four-Editor Process of Cutting ‘The Way of Water’ Twice James Cameron Cut ‘Avatar 2’ Gun Violence Scenes Because He Didn’t Want to ‘Fetishize’ It Related ‘Lift Me Up’ Rises to Frontrunner Status in Best Original Song Race The Best Film Sound of 2022
Stephen Lang, who plays the villainous Colonel Miles Quaritch, spoke to The National in May about how overwhelming it was to film so much footage for multiple sequels Cameron has planned. “I’ve given up trying to keep track,” Lang said when asked how many script pages and hours of footage had been filmed. “The whole thing gets a little confusing.” Cameron kicked off production on the “Avatar” sequels in September 2017. The director said in December 2020 that motion capture scenes for “Avatar 2” and “Avatar 3” were completed in their entirety, while the first part of motion capture for “Avatar 4” is done. Live action filming was “mostly done” on the first two sequels at the time as well. Following “Avatar 2” in December 2022, “Avatar 3” will open December 20, 2024. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.