If you’re a fan of the first Avatar 2: The Way of Water, then chances are you were overjoyed when James Cameron announced the release of Avatar 2. Now, nearly 10 years on and after much speculation and anticipation, the director has announced that he plans to release not one but three Avatar The Way of Water movies at once in 2020!

After speculation about a potential 2020 release for the sequel of one of cinema’s most successful films ever, it was finally confirmed this week that filmmaker James Cameron is moving ahead with his plan to “Avatar 2: The Way of Water" society as we know it by releasing three Avatars back-to-back-to-back. The sequels will be released in December 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively.

The release will have him out of his comfort zone: at the helm. According to an interview with BBC, Cameron explained that he has huge artistic ambitions for the three films.

"it was sort of a massive artistic gamble and we can't wait to share the Avatar sequels with the world,” he said in a statement. What does that mean for the remaining Avatar franchise? Who knows. But it's clear that Cameron is going after "a big beat," as he called it, for all three movies.

Cameron said he plans to release three Avatar sequels in succession, but hasn't said anything more about the project since his announcement on February 28. However, it's been reported that production is already underway as of 2017.

When is the new Avatar 2: The Way of Water movie being released?

The first sequel of three is scheduled for Avatar The Way of Water with a 17 December 2020 release date, which will get it into cinemas around Christmas 2020. The second is slated for a Christmas 2021 release. In lieu of this, it might be possible we’ll see an “Avatar Day” in 2022; much like Star Wars has “May the 4th” but with Cameron’s creation instead.

Who’s directing the movies?

James Cameron is on board to direct the first film of the Avatar sequels and will also serve as executive producer on all three sequels. He was originally slated to direct December 2017’s The Life of Pi 2 but it appears his schedule became too busy. Despite this, he hasn't yet seen a script for the first film and has yet to even meet with the cast.

What do the Avatar 2: The Way of Water sequels look like?

Cameron has remained tight-lipped about details for the sequels ever since their announcement, although he’s said that the movie will have “an epic scope.” Maybe that’s a clue to its budget or the world it’ll take place in – at least just judging by how much he’s spent on previous films of this size. It wouldn't be surprising if the sequel was moving away from Pandora and going to more of a space fantasy setting.

“I know a lot about the mythology,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “ I know a lot about the world. But I don't know what happens next, so that's hard for me to get excited about.”

Who is in the cast?

Not much has been revealed about the cast of the sequels at this point in time. We do know it will star Sam Worthington (Terminator: Genisys), Joel David Moore (Wrath of Khan), and Sigourney Weaver (Alien). It's also likely that Zoe Saldana and Giovanni Ribisi will reprise their roles in this film as well as some characters from previous films too.

What have we heard about the movie before?

Cameron has confirmed that it will take place on Earth and won’t be part of the original story. However, he’s said that his Avatar 2: the way of water sequels will be “the best of the series,” so fans will want to stick around for this one. A post on Instagram from April of last year suggested that the film might feature humans “from many worlds.” It's also been suggested that there might be some kind of connection between this sequel and Avatar 2: the way of water. It’s obviously not a sequel at all, but it might make sense if you've got two Avatar sequels in your head.

What happens after the sequels?

It has been suggested that the Avatar legacy will continue in some form or another. Cameron is currently working on “Alita: Battle Angel”, which is a wholly original movie. He’s also rumored to be working on a miniseries with his ''Avatar 2: the way of water” cast. Of course, it may be possible that the movies will kickstart a new chapter in the series in 2023 and beyond, too.

Who will direct the third film?

According to Deadline, Cameron hasn’t locked down a director for the third Avatar sequel yet. The first two films have directors attached for a limited time, but it’s not entirely clear what kind of timeframe that’s for the third one. In fact, none of the sequels are officially attached to any single director yet. And perhaps none of the directors mentioned above will be involved in any capacity at all. If you can’t wait for another decade-plus to see Avatar 3, you may be able to get your fix on November 2020 with 2032's The Magicigigero: 2062 as part of 'The Lucasverse'.

Who will write and produce the Avatar sequels?

Cameron has worked with James Schamus since 2002 and together they have co-written all six Avatar movies. As well as that, Schamus is currently credited in four of the six movies. So, there’s a good chance he’ll return for the new sequels too. He’s also remained largely involved with his other projects as well such as 'Kong: Skull Island and 'The Founder'. Cameron is also executive producing 'Alita: Battle Angel', while Jon Landau will produce the Avatar sequels along with Cameron.

When are the Avatar sequels on the release schedule?

The first of three Avatar sequels is slated for a December 2020 release date. The second will also arrive in December 2021 and the third film, which could be number four, will arrive around Christmas 2022.

What do we know about the Avatar 2: The Way of Water sequel cast?

Speaking of Sigourney Weaver, she’s set to return as the main character in all three Avatar sequels. For instance, in an interview with HeyUGuys, Weaver said: “I am directing one. I'm producing two or three of them at this point. So hopefully I'll do all three." It’s not just Weaver though who has been revealed as returning for the sequel. New additions include Sam Worthington (Terminator: Genisys) Sam Worthington (Terminator: Genisys) and Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy franchise).