Director James Cameron spoke at CinemaCon this week.  The good news was that he’s now planning four Avatar sequels, up from three just a few months ago according to Deadline.  In January, Cameron told the Montreal Gazette that he planned three sequels, for release in 2017, 2018, and 2019 (see “Best in Shows Update”).  By a couple of weeks ago, Twentieth Century Fox had revealed that the first sequel would not make the Christmas 2017 release date (see “Best in Shows March Update”).  Now plans are for four sequels, beginning Christmas 2018, followed by films in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

At least there’s evidence that actual pre-production work is taking place.  The notoriously slow Cameron told the assembled theater owners that he was working with the top four screenwriters and designers in the world on the sequels, and that the initial art had left him “speechless.”