Speculation about a sequel to AVATAR started before the movie was released. AVATAR’s success has ensured that sequel. Rumors are flying. Who will be in it and what will it be like? Here's what we know so far from comments by James Cameron, John Landau and members of the cast.

Guest Post by Rebecca Scudder

AVATAR’s sequel will be about Neytiri and Jake, but it is unlikely to be called AVATAR 2. According to SciFiWire, Cameron has confirmed that the Na’vi culture, including the spiritual aspects, will be a focus point for the movie. Certainly I don't want to call it AVATAR 2, Cameron said He's not an AVATAR anymore, is he? Maybe we'll call it Na'vi. James Cameron has said that scenes integral to the sequel were included in the first movie. There are three movies planned at this point, although AVATAR 3 information is mostly speculation on the part of fans.

While Cameron worked on AVATAR for ten years, he expects the making of the first of the AVATAR sequels to be much faster – and cheaper. There will probably be additional technological developments incorporated in the sequels, but the 3D and CGI technology used in AVATAR is already on hand for the making of the first AVATAR sequel. Cameron has confirmed, in interviews with MTV and the LA Times, that there is a trilogy planned, that it will not take ten more years to arrive, and that much of the action in the sequel will take place in the oceans of Pandora. He has also said that the sequel will take place several years after the events in AVATAR.

While the oceans of Pandora were briefly glimpsed in AVATAR with a view of Jake and Neytiri swimming, much more is due to seen in the second movie. Cameron told the LA Times that the oceans would be “rich, diverse, crazy and imaginative”. AVATAR An Activist Survival Guide mentions there are rafts of floating seaweed in the oceans. The book also has an image of the Amenonoid, a bioluminescent invertebrate with poisonous tentacles, found in ponds and lakes. Perhaps there is a larger relation in the oceans…

The sequel is in production, according to IMDB, with a scheduled release date of 2014. Fans of AVATAR are speculating that while Cameron said it will take just three years to make the sequel, the reason it will not be released in 2013 is because The Hobbit I II are scheduled to be released in late 2012 and 2013. AVATAR’s sequel will have a release date timed not to conflict with the expected blockbusters – most likely 2014. Cameron and 20^th Century Fox seem to be taking to heart the lesson learned when AVATAR’s audience share plummeted with the release of Alice in Wonderland, How to Train your Dragon and Clash of the Titans. Since there are that the Hobbit may be shot in 3D, the conflict for theater space would be even more monstrous if the Hobbit Part 2 was released at the same time as the AVATAR sequel.

It seems to be standard policy in movies that may spawn sequels to have the stars sign agreements for multi-movie contracts when they are first cast in a movie, ensuing continuity. However, not every movie pans out. With the take from AVATAR an estimated 2.7 billion, those signatures are very important. In many ways stars in AVATAR really are avatars with CGI bodies. This does not mean that the actors behind those AVATARs can be replaced easily. The distinctive personal style those actors gave their characters – and their voices – cannot easily be replaced by a different person. While Worthington and Saldana previously signed contracts for sequels to AVATAR, the terms for those contracts are likely to have changed.

More and more of the cast of AVATAR are confirming they are back in the sequel. Jake, Neytiri and Mo’at's actors are all saying they have signed on for the sequel. Curiously, Colonel Quaritch may also be back. (Did the RDA scrape DNA from the Pandoran soil to clone him? Perhaps he is featured in Na’vi nightmares.) Sigourney Weaver, whose character became one with Eywa in AVATAR, is going to return in the sequel too, although it is not known if she will be embodied. She has said that Cameron may be bringing the whole family together again.

Another rumor with some basis in comments by Cameron says that future movies will explore more of Alpha Centauri, especially the other moons of Polyphemus. This certainly would offer some spectacular scenery. Those moons also influence the tides on Pandora, making them important even if they are not explored in the first sequel.

The constructed language of Na’vi has a strong fan community trying to learn it. Those fans will get a vocabulary boost in the second movie. Additional Na’vi dialog and more abstract concepts can be expected as we learn more about the Na’vi spiritual beliefs. The ecological themes in AVATAR have resonated with people around the world, and variations on the themes will play out in the conflicts that can be expected between the Na’vi and the RDA.

With the news that time has passed on Pandora, and a projected release of 2014, the events on Pandora may match the real time passed here on Earth.

What surprises do you think Cameron has in store for us in the AVATAR sequel?

Seeing AVATAR on 3D was one of the things that helped bring the gorgeous world of James Cameron to life. Experiencing AVATAR on 3D in your own home theater can bring back the original theatrical viewing in a new way. By choosing the best and ultimate 3D home theater system or bundle for your home theater, you can experience the company of the Na'vi world of Pandora any time you want in its realistic 3D glory. Whether you are seeking the ultimate 3D TV package deals and bundles or simply wanting the facts on what's available, read on for the best 3D home theater systems out there.

Guest post by Robin Raven

When AVATAR was still in theaters, many people saw it again and again, mesmerized by the timeless story. The visuals were also a feast for the eyes, as much as the story was a treat in how it made one think and feel. But the AVATAR experience in home theater system has so far been missing that special something that the theatrical release had: 3D.

Thankfully, watching 3D at home is now a practical reality – and will be even more so with the fall AVATAR 3D on Blu-Ray. So far, only Samsung's UNC7000/8000 and the Panasonic VT-20 3D TVs are available for home purchase, although Sony, LG, Vizio, and Toshiba have 3D TVs that will be shipping sometime this year. The main difference comes down to that of LCD versus plasma TVs. Samsung's 3D models are LCD, which means it's fundamentally better for a bright room. Panasonic's plasma version is really only usable if you have a dark room to put it in, but it will have a better picture quality if you can find a lightless place for it to really shine.

For 3D screens, when you tilt your head, the image gets darker. On all of Samsung's models, if you tilt your head ninety degrees, such as if you're lying in bed and watching the movie, it goes so dark that the screen is no longer watchable. On the Panasonic screen, it gets significantly dimmer, but it's still viewable. I don't expect it to be any different with any of the other anticipated televisions. It's a problem with the technology, and it's not something that will be solved immediately or even this coming year. It's not something that should stop you from getting a 3D screen, but be aware that it's not one that should be placed solely in the bedroom for viewing.

Also, although it has nothing to do with the 3D technology, LCD screens are not really viewable from the side. This will be obvious when you test drive the screens at any electronics store. If you buy a Samsung, you are going to have to sit in front of the television. If you buy Panasonic's plasma 3D screen, people can be seated all around the television. With that television, you are looking from the TV from the side, you can still see the picture.

Also, the 3D images on the Samsung television didn't feel as crisp. Sometimes you can make out a faint double image, which takes away from the 3D experience. Panasonic's plasma didn't have this problem, but it does have another. If an image is left on the screen for too long, it can get a burn-in effect, but the burn-in effect only lasts a few seconds. It goes away quickly once the picture starts moving again. It's not a major problem, because you will rarely have the same image on the screen for a long enough period of time to create this effect. This is only an issue if you are playing a video game or leave a static menu on for a long period of time. The longest it's said to last is ten to twenty seconds.

When you're testing the 3D model you plan to buy, remember to also try viewing 2D content. Not everything you watch on your 3D TV will be in 3D. Most content is still 2D, so you'll need to ensure the picture looks good, even without your 3D glasses. You want to be able to watch all your DVDs, not just the 3D ones.

Be aware that, if you have a Blu-Ray player that's older than a few months, it probably won't play 3D Blu-Ray titles. You'll need to have a new Blu-Ray player that's capable of reading 3D Blu-Ray discs.

In considering all of the tested models, Panasonic's 3D set is the clear winner. There's a great package deal with Panasonic's VT25 3D TVs. It really is a very nice set, and it comes with two free 3D Blu-Ray titles via mail-in rebate. Unfortunately, neither title is AVATAR, but that'll be out sometime this fall. If watching the 3D television in total darkness isn't plausible, the Samsung model is a good bet. Both are sure to offer a great viewing experience of AVATAR on 3D.

Are you considering a 3D TV?

James Cameron has revolutionized movies forever. Find out how AVATAR 3D is different from a regular movie thanks to creative 3D technology and advanced animation that leaves viewers amazed.

Guest post by Ashley Hansen

When AVATAR was released it became an instant hit and quickly became the number one movie in film history. It’s no surprise that this ambitious 3D film was so popular, but how is AVATAR 3D different from a regular movie? There are many other great films out, even other advanced 3D films. Find out what made AVATAR different, and how will it affect the way we see movies from now on.

A New 3D Look

The biggest difference between the AVATAR and past 3D movies is that a whole new technology was developed just for this film. James Cameron had actually already waited more than 15 years to make AVATAR simply because the technology he wanted wasn’t available yet. He ended up creating his own technology, a new system of stereoscopic cameras that have revolutionized 3D film. This technology involves two side-by-side cameras filming simultaneously, mimicking the experience we have of perceiving an image with our two eyes. The camera system makes a more realistic 3D effect that viewers have found to be simply amazing, which is how AVATAR 3D is different from regular movies.

An Immersive, Realistic Experience

This new technology doesn’t rely on cheesy effects like random objects appearing to fly off the screen and come at the audience. Instead, it creates a more realistic depth perception throughout the film that makes it possible for viewers to feel immersed in the images, as though they are really there. The camera pans more often to create a realistic view. It’s almost as if the viewer is turning his or her head to see the image like they would in real life. This is another main difference in how AVATAR 3D is different from regular movies; in past 3D films, audiences usually looked at a static scene and the 3D effect came out towards them in an effort to thrill or scare them, rather than mimicking their natural eye movements.

Realistic Animation

With many animated films hitting movie screens all over the world, AVATAR was the first to introduce a new way of animating characters in order to retain their realistic and relatable appeal. Viewers get close up looks at characters in the movie, and their expressions, movements and gestures seem eerily real. That’s because Cameron combined the 3D technology he invented with live action of the actors, who were hooked up to computer sensors to catch their every movement. The result is onscreen characters that mimic the actors' exact movements on the screen combined with the 3D technology which made it feel as though audiences were right there with them in the film. AVATAR has changed the way we see 3D films so that not only do the scenes appear realistic, but so do animated characters.

The 3D Experience of the Future

Going forward, viewers can expect an increased focus on the quality of 3D movies. As new films enter production, they’ll have to compete with the high standard that AVATAR has set in the 3D film industry. Whether live-action or animated, any 3D film created in the coming years will likely have better quality and more realistic effects. Also, Cameron’s new 3D technology will allow more filmmakers to work with better camera systems to create a more natural-looking 3D experience. AVATAR has changed the face of 3D films forever, and it’s only a matter of time before we’ll begin to see the effects.

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What was your favorite thing about seeing AVATAR in 3D?

James Cameron said he expects to release his next film in 3-4 years and that it may be the sequel to AVATAR with even more 3D technology than the first version. He's also already leaked details about what will be in the next version of the film – and why it won't be called AVATAR 2. Cameron has also hinted all along that the sequel may even be already well underway: "I've had a storyline in mind from the start–there are even scenes in AVATAR that I kept in because they lead to the sequel. The CG plants and trees and creatures and the musculo-skeletal rigging of the main characters–that all takes an enormous amount of time to create. It’d be a waste not to use it again." And Sam Worthington is already signed to play Jake Sully again.

Of course, given Cameron's history of taking 10 years to complete a film, there's still a chance that his next film won't be the sequel to AVATAR and instead be "some other big film that uses 3D." But he's also said he wouldn't let anyone else direct the sequel and News Corp has confirmed it is in talks with Cameron about the sequel. Even actors whose characters got killed at the end of the movie want a encore: “You think those two arrows in my chest are going to stop me from coming back?” said Stephen Lang, who plays the evil Quaritch."Nothing’s over so long as they’ve got my DNA."

Sponsored by Panasonic VIERA. Return to the world of AVATAR in stunning full HD with the Panasonic VIERA HD TV.

What do you think – will the AVATAR sequel be Cameron's next new film?