Early reports indicated the Avatar: The Way of Water budget had ballooned to an almost untenable US$250 million, making it one of the most expensive Hollywood films ever produced. But according to director James Cameron, who currently refuses to outline a specific number, this could very well be just the tip of the iceberg (rimshot).
“Very fucking expensive,” was the only answer Cameron was willing to offer when prompted by GQ Magazine, adding how he’d notified 20th Century Studios that his long-awaited sequel represents “the worst business case in movie history.”
“You have to be the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history. That’s your threshold. That’s your break-even.”
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“I like difficult. I’m attracted by difficult. Difficult is a fucking magnet for me. I go straight to difficult.”
“And I think it probably goes back to this idea that there are lots of smart, really gifted, really talented filmmakers out there that just can’t do the difficult stuff. So that gives me a tactical edge to do something nobody else has ever seen, because the really gifted people don’t fucking want to do it.”
That isn’t an exaggeration, either.
Aside from the first Avatar franchise instalment – which itself incurred a production cost close to US$250 million before factoring in inflation; eventually generating close to US$3 billion in box office receipts – there’s the matter of Titanic.
Due to the wildly ambitious nature of the project that’s since been immortalised in the pantheon of legendary-status cinema, James Cameron’s historical romance starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet required upwards of US$200 million. Less than both Avatar flicks on paper, sure, although it’s worth keeping in mind this was back in 1996. Meaning this was nothing short of unprecedented.
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Cameron believed in his vision so much, in fact, that when Titanic ran out of money, he famously forfeited his entire US$8 million salary to keep the engine running and accepted back-end points as his sole monetary compensation.
As you all know, his gamble would pay off in spades. Not only would Titanic generate well over US$2 billion at the box office – making it the highest-grossing film of all time until James Cameron surpassed himself a decade later with Avatar – it’d win 11 out of the 14 Academy Award nominations received, launch Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into new stratospheres of stardom, plus allow Old Jimmy to pocket an eye-watering sum of US$650 million for his troubles. Bananas.
If the past is anything to go by, every single dime thank’s been sunken into the Avatar: The Way of Water budget will prove to be a worthwhile investment.
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Assuming the rest of the franchise’s production timeline plays out as intended, here’s when we can expect the remaining three films after The Way of Water (titles subject to change):
- Avatar 3: The Seed Bearer – December 20th of 2024
- Avatar 4: The Tulkun Rider – December 18th of 2026
- Avatar 5: The Quest for Eywa – December 22nd of 2028
Hailing the return of Australia’s own Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way Of Water has officially reserved December 16th of 2022 for its release date, giving blockbusters from rival studios ample warning to steer clear – check out the latest trailer below.
