Avatar: The Way of Water release date, synopsis, cast, and more
It’s been a little more than 12 years since Avatar was released in December 2009. The film is the highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide at $2.8 billion. It really brought in the big bucks! We’ve also known for years that a sequel is coming, and the time has finally come.
But first as a quick refresher because it’s been so long – On the alien world of Pandora live the highly evolved Na’vi beings. Because the planet’s environment is poisonous, human/Na’vi hybrids called Avatars need to link to human minds to allow for free movement on Pandora. Jake Sully, a paralyzed former Marine, becomes mobile again through one Avatar and falls in love with a Na’vi woman, Neytiri. As their bond grows, a battle for the survival of her world breaks out. At the end of the first movie, he becomes the new leader of Omaticaya, one of the Na’vi clans, alongside Neytiri’s mother Mo’at. Jake also transfers his mind into his avatar permanently.
Preliminary shooting for the second film started in Aug. 2017 and finished in Sept. 2020. Now the amazingly talented director James Cameron is back with Avatar 2, which finally has a name that was unveiled at CinemaCon.
Here’s everything we know about Avatar: The Way of Water!
Avatar: The Way of Water release date
After eight theatrical release delays, the film finally has a release date. You’ll be able to watch Avatar: The Way of Water on the big screens beginning Dec. 16, 2022.
The franchise already has three other sequels in the works. They will be released Dec. 20, 2024, Dec. 18, 2026, and Dec. 22, 2028. At CinemaCon, Cameron said each of the four sequels will focus on the Sully family and each story will be a stand-alone with a fulfilling resolution, according to Deadline.
Though the director clearly has ideas and plans for the fourth and fifth films, Avatar 3 could be the end of the franchise. Cameron told Total Film that if The Way of Water doesn’t do well, they would finish the story in a third film, and then scrap plans for the fourth and fifth.
Avatar: The Way of Water synopsis
While there’s no official synopsis yet, 20th Century Studios shared the logline of the epic science fiction film:
"Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the planet of Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na’vi race to protect their planet."
Avatar: The Way of Water cast
A number of cast members are reprising their roles from the original film. Those include Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao, CCH Pounder, and Matt Gerald.
New cast members include Kate Winslet and Vin Diesel, among others. Here’s the full cast list:
Na’vi
- Sam Worthington as Jake Sully
- Zoe Saldana as Neytiri
- CCH Pounder as Mo’at, the Omaticaya’s spiritual leader and Neytiri’s mother.
- Jamie Flatters as Neteyam, Jake and Neytiri’s first son and oldest child.
- Britain Dalton as Lo’ak, Jake and Neytiri’s second son.
- Trinity Bliss as Tuktirey (“Tuk”), Jake and Neytiri’s eight-year-old daughter and their youngest child.
- Cliff Curtis as Tonowari, the leader of the reef people clan of Metkayina.
- Bailey Bass as Tsireya (“Reya”), a graceful and strong free-diver of the Metkayina.
- Filip Geljo as Aonung, a young male hunter and free-diver of the Metkayina.
- Duane Evans Jr. as Rotxo, a young male hunter and free-diver of the Metkayina.
- Kate Winslet as Ronal, a free-diver of the Metkayina.
Humans
- Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge, the corporate administrator for the RDA mining operation in the first film.
- Joel David Moore as Dr. Norm Spellman, a former part of the Avatar Program who chose to side with the Na’vi in the first film.
- Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel, a scientist who worked in the Avatar Program and came to support Jake’s rebellion against the RDA in the first film.
- Matt Gerald as Corporal Lyle Wainfleet, a mercenary who fought for the RDA against the Na’vi in the first film. Though his character died in the first film, he will be reprising his role in some capacity.
- Jack Champion as Javier “Spider” Socorro, a teenager born on Hell’s Gate (the human base on Pandora in the first film) but who was rescued and adopted by Jake and Neytiri.
- Edie Falco as General Ardmore, the commander in charge of the RDA’s interests.
- Brendan Cowell as Captain Mick Scoresby, the head of a private sector marine hunting vessel on the planet of Pandora.
- Jemaine Clement as Dr. Ian Garvin, a marine biologist.
- Michelle Yeoh as Dr. Karina Mogue
Unknown
- Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine. She appeared in the first film as a human who takes the side of the Na’vi and dies during the conflict. She is returning in the sequel, but she won’t be playing the same character.
- Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch, who was also in and died in the first film. He led the forces of the RDA, the human organization colonizing Pandora, in their conflict with the Na’vi. Somehow he will act as the main antagonist once again.
- Oona Chaplin as Varang, a strong and vibrant central character who spans the entire saga of the sequels.
- Vin Diesel and CJ Jones have been cast in undisclosed roles.
Avatar: The Way of Water images
Review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes was at CinemaCon and shared the following first-look images of the highly-anticipated movie.
Avatar: The Way of Water trailer
Those at CinemaCon were treated to the film’s first trailer and the public had to wait a bit longer. But now, we have the official trailer! Check it out below:
Be sure to stay tuned to Hidden Remote as we bring you all the updates on Avatar: The Way of Water! The movie hits theaters December 16, 2022.