Is Cameron planning to shoot ‘Avatar’ sequels in Wellington?

WELLINGTON - ‘Avatar’ director James Cameron is apparently in talks with Weta Digital to shoot sequels to his blockbuster film in Wellington.

Twentieth Century Fox announced this week that Cameron would begin writing scripts for two sequels early next year, with production to begin late next year for a December 2014 release.

Weta Digital co-director and senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri said Cameron had been in touch to discuss shooting the films in Wellington.

“I know Jim would like to do that, so once we know what the story is he’d like to come down here and explore that,” the New Zealand Herald quoted Letteri as saying.

The Wellington film industry was integral to bringing the imaginary world of Pandora to life in the original film, with Weta Digital handling the 3D visual effects and Stone Street Studios shooting the live action sequences.

“Weta Digital is hoping that again we’ll be working with Jim and Fox to actually create Pandora and to create the characters and to do all the visual effects work on the films,” Letteri said.

“And we’re actually hoping that Jim will come back to Wellington to shoot the live action portion of the films, as he did the first one,” he said.

Letteri said it would be some time before anything was finalised.

“It’s still early days right now. I would think we’re at least a year away from knowing something more concrete,” he said.

“We do have a good relationship, and he took us on as creative partners on the film, and we hope to just continue working with him in that way,” he added. (ANI)