Director James Cameron has always had big visions and big dreams for the Avatar movies, and it seems like he’s full speed ahead. There was an over 10-year gap between the first second films in the franchise, but the third film, Fire and Ash, came only two years after the sequel, Way of Water. While nothing has officially been announced, there has been movement on the fourth and film installments. Franchise star Sam Worthington recently revealed he'd already seen the scripts for those two films, and his comments are making me excited.

Worthington has been promoting his miniseries, I Will Find You, as of late, and he was recently asked what he is most excited about for the next Avatar movies. The actor -- who plays Jake Sully in the franchise -- didn't get into specifics about the fourth and fifth movies, which are tentatively dated for n2029 and 2031. Still, Worthington did share enthusiastic thoughts about having seen the screenplays He said CBS Mornings (as shared on Instagram):

It's great to hear that Worthington is apparently pleased with what he's seen. That should serve as a glimmer of hope for fans like myself in regard to what Cameron and co. want for the future of this franchise. I'm most excited that the fourth film is Worthington's favorite, because Fire and Ash ends in a place where there's some closure to the story. However, should it continue, there are great opportunities for the story to go in some fresh directions. Still, I may have to temper my hype for the moment.

The reason Worthington says he hopes they can keep doing the films is because the Avatar movies are famously some of the most expensive movies ever made. While the first two Avatar films became two of the highest grossing movies of all time, Avatar: Fire and Ash didn’t reach the same heights despite making over a billion dollars. The production budgets are incredibly high, and making the movies the way Cameron wants is seemingly just becoming more expensive.

On that note, Cameron has been candid about wanting to finish out the series, though he wants to do so in a way that's affordable. From a creative standpoint, Cameron is ready to make those other two movies, which he explained to CinemaBlend months ago. I'd imagine that if any filmmaker could solve a cost problem it would be someone is skilled as Cameron. Additionally, Cameron has also been thinking about story changes he wants to make for a fourth installment.

It could be a while until we finally get to see Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 on the big screen but, for right now, I'm just hoping they actually happen. It'd truly be a shame if Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña and co. didn't get to finish out the Sully family's story in the world of Pandora. For now, fans can revisit the first three Avatar films with a Disney+ subscription.

It’s the job of the Avatar filmmakers to make us believe Pandora exists when we watch James Cameron’s films, but wow, is it a grueling process to do so! CinemaBlend just got the chance to go to Lightstorm Entertainment in Manhattan Beach, California earlier this week to learn how those blue aliens get made thanks to the art of performance capture, and we got schooled by Fire And Ash producer Rae Sanchini.

While we were there, we witnessed a live camera demo with VFX supervisor Richard Baneham on the same stage where the likes of Zoë Saldana, Kate Winslet and Sigourney Weaver did their performances with dots on their faces during the production of Fire And Ash. We also sat down with Sanchini, and here’s what the producer had to say about performance capture:

After being at the studio in person, I can finally say I have an understanding of the process myself. But even with that said, I’m mind-blown over the whole thing. As Sanchini spoke, it all starts with the actors coming together to film the scenes on a massive soundstage in Manhattan Beach with performance capture suits on. As she continued to explain:

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching the bonus features of the Avatar movies. Fire And Ash just dropped on digital, and if you buy a copy, you’ll also get over three hours of bonus features that cover the making of these movies from every stage. Before we go on with Sanchini’s comments, take a look at this visual slideshow of how it’s done:

While a typical movie shoot involves the filmmakers setting up how every shot will look like and shooting a series of close ups, longshots and so forth with the actors, it’s very different for Avatar. A bunch of cameras film them all at the same time like they are literally living each moment, except they look kind of ridiculous. As Sanchini added:

Jack Champion, a.k.a. Spider, had it even harder because he had to shoot his scenes twice: for motion capture with the rest of the cast and then in live-action in New Zealand since his character is human. Anyways, once the actors have filmed their scenes, James Cameron and the other editors will go through all the takes and start editing the movie into a “performance edit” out of the best moments from the coverage. They’ll send that over to VFX, which creates a “template” of how they look in Pandora. I’ll let Sanchini take it from there with these words:

Once that’s all done, the Avatar movies move to a new phase of post-production at WETA FX back in New Zealand where the movies become what we saw in theaters over the holiday season. Pretty cool, right? You can watch Fire And Ash at home right now, and check out what Oona Chaplin told us about the making of the film as well here on CinemaBlend.

It’s easy to imagine the filmmaking process of the Avatar movies being very complicated. Not only do all of the actors have to imagine the world of Pandora while waring motion-capture suits, but even actors like Jack Champion had to film both live-action and performance-capture scenes. However, there was still apparently some room for goofing around amid production, as the kid actors launched a swear jar while on set. That alone is funny, but what really cracks me up is the pricing for the specific words, including F-bombs.

The 2025 movie release Avatar: Fire and Ash may be PG-13, but Trinity Bliss told THR the set i apparently R-rated when it came to language. She told a funny story about how while filming years ago, she and Jack Champion (who play Sully family members of “Tuk” and Spider, respectively) decided to have some fun and create a swear jar for each on-set curse word:

Well, hey, it was for a good cause! Now, I’m wondering how much money they were able to rack up. If parents have swear jars in their household to teach kids not to curse, I find it hilarious that the kids themselves are enacting this on the adults. Ultimately, it's a good lesson that salty language can literally cost you when you're dishing it out around kids.

You may have heard the expression “put a quarter in the swear jar.” When Trinity Bliss and Jack Champion were running the show, the young actress got real about how cursing cost Sam Worthington and James Cameron a lot more than that. While sharing Cameron and Worthington's responses, Bliss also revealed exactly how much some of those words cost to say, and wow:

Those are pretty expensive rations, if I do say so myself. That would definitely teach me to clean up my language. But at least Worthington was honest about how much dough he'd be spending on future curse words. And I'd like to think Cameron would relish the how his cursing helped young Trinity Bliss nail her next audition, given she learned such foul language from him.

While the Avatar franchise's younger actors must have had a lot of fun with their swear jar, you’ve got to give them credit for the many challenges they faced on set. As the simultaneous filming of Way of Water and Fire and Ash helped further along the franchise releases, Bliss told THR that three years of filming meant the child actors’ heights were outgrowing their characters. They also had to deal with intense action sequences like being “pushed back” by big fans.

Considering the youths spent so many years on set, their co-star, Sigourney Weaver, joked about eventually “looking up” to the them as opposed to “down," particularly when it came to Jack Champion. With the grueling filming challenges these kids had to deal with, I look up to them, too, for pushing through and succeeding.

All that aside, I love that there was some humor on the the Fire and Ash set and that the kids managed to keep the adults in line in some form with the swear jar. Of course, should the stars get to reunite to make the final two movies, I wouldn't be surprised if Trinity Bliss and Jack Champion find themselves cursing a bit more now that they're older and have to pay up a bit.

Don’t miss out on Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is now playing in theaters nationwide. The first two films are also streamable with a Disney+ subscription.

James Cameron and Sam Worthington have a very special Hollywood relationship. After all, they are respectively the director and star of one of the industry’s biggest franchises, and given the level of visual effects involved in the making of the Avatar films, it’s a bond that requires a lot of trust. The two men have worked very closely for decades now (including the years it took to develop the series’ seminal blockbuster)… and I love that when they reflect on their collaboration, one key moment that sticks out in mind is a time on set when Worthington puked into his head rig camera.

In the run-up to the release of Avatar: Fire And Ash, Cameron and Worthington paired up for a post-screening conversation with Deadline, and it was during a discussion of “peak actor-director experience ”that the vomit-centric memory emerged. The actor struggled initially to pick out a single incident to particularly highlight (estimating that they’ve spent a cumulative total of seven or eight years working together in the 20 years they’ve known each other), but the director teed him up:

Seemingly pivoting into story-mode, Sam Worthington explained that when an actor works with James Cameron, the “truth is in the details.” What that evidently means is that if there is a scene where a character tastes something gross, the best way to go about capturing that moment is to have the actor taste something gross.

Without offering specific details regarding the “when” or saying which Avatar movie it was for, Worthington and Cameron explained what happened:

• Sam Worthington: I think the scene involved me having to drink something that was described as disgusting. So I said to Jim, ‘Well, you got to just give me something disgusting.’ I think he mixed a concoction of fish oil?
• James Cameron: Yeah, no, we went and got some Vietnamese fish sauce. Like, ‘All right, this is going to set him back.’

The puzzle of how to best shoot a scene where Jake Sully drinks something nasty was solved… but it turns out that the solution worked a bit too well. Sam Worthington most certainly was grossed out when he took a swig of Vietnamese fish sauce, but what James Cameron didn’t account for was the possibility that what went in would almost instantly come back out. The actor added,

James Cameron and Sam Worthington don’t look back on this moment in the making of the Avatar franchise as being a “classy” moment, but as far as representing the work ethic on set and figuring out ways to get things done as best as possible, it’s clearly a highlight for the duo.

Avatar: Fire And Ash is now playing in theaters everywhere (having dominated at the box office this weekend), and you’ll find plenty to read about it in the weeks to come here on CinemaBlend.

Avatar: Fire and Ash has been among the 2025 movies global audiences have been anticipating the most since the year started, and finally, it’s here. And as it goes with every great epic, we have to go into the Avatar movies knowing that not every character will survive. Case in point, in Fire and Ash, there’s definitely one big death to talk about. SPOILERS AHEAD.

The Major Death Scene In Avatar: Fire And Ash

At the end of Avatar: Fire and Ash, we see Stephen Lang’s Quaritch fall to his death during a scene between him and the Sullys. It’s an interesting moment, because Quaritch initiates the fall himself after Jake had just saved him from falling. We don’t get to see where he lands, leaving the possibility of Quaritch still being alive available. With the open-ended scene in mind, I had to ask Lang about his reading of the scene, of course.

What Stephen Lang Told Us About Quaritch's Death

During CinemaBlend’s interview with the actor, he gave us some interesting insight into the death scene. In his words:

The scene certainly felt like a “fuck it” moment for the character, so this is a great description from the actor behind it.

Quaritch certainly had an interesting journey in Fire and Ash that would warrant some confusion from his end about his place in Pandora. Technically, he dies at the end of 2009’s Avatar before he is brought back to life in Na’vi form for Way of Water to capture Jake Sully.

But in Fire and Ash, he starts to assimilate further with the Na’vi race, from forming an interesting romance with Verang to forming feelings for his son, Spider, who is human, but calls Pandora his home. I wonder if killing Jake’s son started weighing on him, and he got tired of trying to kill Jake.

For the time being, Walt Disney Studios has dated more Avatar movies to come out in 2029 and 2031, but James Cameron told us that the box office performance will determine whether he makes them. So, at the moment, we don't know if we'll ever get to learn the true fate of this character.

With Fire And Ash’s debut weekend upon us, the movie has positive to mixed reactions from critics (with our Avatar: Fire And Ash review giving it a 3.5 out of 5), and big projections for its worldwide box office performance with a projected launch of $340 million to $365 million start, per Variety. We do have to wonder if it’s the end of Quaritch, or if he’ll come back somehow, but I’m privy to think it’s the end of his story.

The Sully family is back. Just three years after The Way of Water, the third installment of James Cameron’s Pandora epic, is set to hit the big screen (with very specific instructions from the filmmaker, at that). Avatar: Fire and Ash hits the 2025 movie calendar on December 19, continuing Jake and Neytiri’s story following the events of the previous film. Critics have seen the movie, and they’re split over whether the gorgeous-looking product justifies its runtime and repetition.

This time around, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña’s characters have joined the Metkayina clan, who encounter the “Ash People,” an aggressive Na’vi group led by Oona Chaplin’s Varang. First reactions to screenings saw critics noting some repetition in the narrative, and in CinemaBlend’s review of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Corey Chichizola agrees that there are fewer new aspects to Pandora this time around. The stakes, however, make it feel like more than the middle section of a larger franchise. He rates the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and writes:

Bill Bria of SlashFilm, meanwhile has no notes, giving Avatar: Fire and Ash a perfect 10 out of 10. The critic acknowledges the overlap that some are complaining about but says there are so many new concepts, creatures and cultures that claims of repetitiveness are nitpicking. Bria thinks this offering is the best so far, writing:

Max Scoville of IGN admits to experiencing some déjà vu, with some of the visuals and story beats treading close to those in previous films, but its lack of newness is made up for with the familiarity of the characters and a more-than-satisfying ending. The critic gives it an “Amazing” 9 out of 10 and says:

David Rooney of THR says Fire and Ash’s “been-there, bought-the-T-shirt fatigue” is hard to ignore, especially with a bloated runtime of over three hours. This critic has had “enough with the Modigliani Smurfs already,” writing:

Robbie Collin of The Telegraph also wonders if we need (or even want) more from the Avatar franchise when the third movie had so little to add. Collin lists the repeated scenes, which include another pterodactyl race, a bioluminescent sensory bath and more snorkelling with plesiosaurs. Rating the film just 1 out of 5 stars, the critic says:

The Rotten Tomatoes score of Avatar: Fire and Ash reflects critics’ divide over this third installment, rating it a collective 68% (compared to Avatar’s 81% and its sequel’s 76%). However, by all accounts, the world of Pandora is still one to behold — especially in 3D — so if this is a movie you’ve been looking forward to, you can catch it in theaters starting Friday, December 19.

The last time we caught up with the Sully family in 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, they were met with tragedy. One of Neytiri and Jake’s children, Neteyam, is killed in the third act while trying to rescue his siblings from Quaritch. In Avatar: Fire And Ash, the fallout of this is explored, particularly through Neytiri and Jake’s relationship. Sam Worthington previously teased a “division” that pops up between them, and I spoke to Zoe Saldaña about it.

In Fire And Ash, the core of Neytiri and Jake’s big conflict lies in if they are going to continue to welcome Spider into their family or cast him out following his ability to breathe on Pandora – which fans have been getting heated about since the plotline was revealed in a trailer. Here’s what Saldaña told us about Neytiri’s arc this movie around:

During CinemaBlend’s conversation with the Avatar star, Saldaña discussed exploring Neytiri’s hate toward humans further this time around, and it wasn’t an easy part of the character’s journey for her to delve into. As she continued:

In The Way Of Water, we definitely see some of this when Neytiri grabs Spider and threatens to kill him as leverage from Quaritch despite the human character being part of her family since he was a baby. The character certainly has seen a lot of “evil” from humans over the years, from them trying to colonize over the planet, to killing other Na’vi and her own son. But as Saldaña pointed out, she doesn’t think that gives her the right to let her anger control her.

Saldaña suggests Neytiri is a racist because she has taken such a heightened antagonistic approach toward humans. The actress also told us this about playing that role:

In addition to this aspect of Fire And Ash, Jake and Neytiri will also come across a new Na’vi clan led by a fierce leader named Varang. Quaritch is also back at it trying to hunt down Jake since he’s thought of as a criminal of Earth. The Sully family kids Lo’ak, Kiri and Tuk will also be dealing with the grief of their brother’s death.

You can see how Neytiri’s character goes from here when Avatar: Fire And Ash debuts in theaters on December 19. And check out what James Cameron told us about his current thoughts on Avatar 4 and 5 here on CinemaBlend.

James Cameron's movies are known for cutting edge technology, and nowhere is that more obvious than the Avatar films (which are streaming with a Disney+). The science-fiction franchise will once again expand with the threequel Fire and Ash, which will further grow the world of Pandora. Surprisingly the title earned a Golden Globe nomination for "Cinematic and Box Office Achievement" prior to it even being released. And even Sam Worthington's wife is confused about that timing.

What we know about Avatar: Fire and Ash is limited, but fans are excited to see what comes next for Jake Sully and his family. The blockbuster will hit theaters December 19th, which is why it was so puzzling that it's already gotten a Golden Globe nom, especially since the category is partly about box office performance. The franchise celebrated with a post that you can see below:

The Golden Globes had some notable snubs, as well as some surprise nominations. Chief among them was the nod to James Cameon's third Avatar movie, which hasn't even arrived in theaters yet. Actor Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully in the property, and his wife Lara Worthington posted and deleted a comment (Via Us Weekly) that echoed many people's feelings. It read:

Honestly, same. While some critics have been lucky enough to see early screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the same can't be said for the general moviegoing audience. The threequel simply hasn't had the chance to make any money at the box office, yet alone enough to warrant this Golden Globe nomination. Did voters give them a nod in advance of its expected money making, or was it in recognition for the spectacle of the upcoming blockbuster? It's unclear, but Worthington's wife isn't the only one questioning this particular nod.

Lara Worthington seemingly deleted this comment, but not before a few outlets reported on it. But she wasn't the only one questioning this nomination, especially since its tied to box office performance that hasn't even occurred yet. Indeed, the comments section contains some similar sentiments, case in point being:

• Box Office achievement? The Movie isn’t out yet. How do we know what the Box Office will be? - war.of.the.cookies
• How? - therickyzegeshow
• Ummm.... The movie isn't out yet and it's already a nominee for box office achievement - darsakdpk
• It’s not out yet…. What if it flops???? - jimtalks
• Proof Avatar is an industry plan - hellspawn_jero

Clearly Sam Worthington's wife isn't the only one asking questions here. It remains to be seen exactly how Avatar 3 performs at the box office, and if we end up seeing James Cameron's fourth and fifth installments as originally planned. While the original Avatar was the highest grossing movie of all time, only time will tell if Fire and Ash is able to live up to those expectations.

All will be revealed when Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters on December 19th as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll just have to see if its able to make enough money to justify its Golden Globe nomination.

James Cameron’s Avatar is without a doubt one of the most epic franchises to ever grace the big screen, and just three years after the long-awaited sequel, the third installment Avatar: Fire and Ash is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar on December 19. Talk about an early Christmas present! Early screenings have begun, and first reactions are lauding another visual masterpiece, though moviegoers have one nagging issue (and it’s not the run time exceeding 3 hours).

Avatar: Fire and Ash picks up about a year after Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) joined the Metkayina clan, as they continue to grieve the loss of their oldest son Neteyam. They encounter a new enemy clan led by Varang (Oona Chaplin) as the conflict on Pandora escalates. Courtney Howard loves this addition, saying this is why we go to the movies. In the critic’s words:

Chris Parker also says he enjoyed the upcoming action movie, also praising Oona Chaplin and the incredible animation, though the critic has one nit-pick:

And here’s where we get into the complaints about Avatar: Fire and Ash repeating some of what we’ve already seen in the first two films. However, while Shaurya Chawla makes note of it, the repetition doesn’t take away from what he calls “great spectacle filmmaking.” Chawla writes:

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture says Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña are doing some of their best work yet in Avatar 3, which is beautiful, thrilling and admittedly a little frustrating. Even with some questionable choices, Neglia writes, it’s still better than most of the other blockbusters out there. The critic continues:

Adam Patla agrees that less new material equals more repetitive stories, but this critic really enjoyed the heavier themes of mourning and conflict, writing:

Any complaints in these first reactions shouldn’t keep people from checking out the upcoming movie, because every critique was couched within glowing responses to the product James Cameron has put out. Anthony Gagliardi of The Movie Podcast says:

Jacob Kolness uses a couple of negative-sounding descriptors before conceding that nobody else out there is making films like the Avatar series. Kolness writes:

Erik Davis says Avatar: Fire and Ash is the epitome of what James Cameron does best, with his strong ambition and heart. Davis loves how the three films are brought together as the Sully family fights to define who they truly want to be. He continues:

We’ve still got a couple of weeks to wait until we can witness the next chapter of this science fiction epic, as it hits theaters on Friday, December 19. Will James Cameron be able to make the “two metric fucktons of money” he needs in order to justify those fourth and fifth Avatar movies he’s already working on? Only time will tell.

There are few things that can kill a franchise faster than repetition. Filmmakers can create a cinematic world full of vibrancy and eclectic characters, but audiences are going to get bored if the same basic plots and relationships get reused and/or don’t evolve. Even the box office powerhouse that is the Avatar series wouldn’t be immune to this, which is why director James Cameron is changing things up with the dynamic between Jake Sully and Col. Miles Quaritch in the upcoming Avatar: Fire And Ash.

Jake and Quaritch have been combative forces ever since the former joined the fight to stop humans from destroying Pandora in the original Avatar, and they had a hell of a tussle in the third act of Avatar: The Way Of Water, but we can expect something different from the two characters in the second sequel – which is now just a few weeks away from arriving in theaters. Discussing the conflict recently with Empire , Cameron explained,

Per the filmmaker, one major thing that is impacting the development of Miles Quaritch (played by Stephen Lang) is the existence of Miles "Spider" Socorro (Jack Champion) – the colonel’s 16-year-old son who lives as part of the Sully family. The hardened military leader is going to be grappling with questions of his existence and the nature of both who he is and was: his former human form biologically produced a child, but he is now a Recombinant and living in a Na’vi body.

As for his relationship with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), the franchise hero is not interested in pursuing his violent conflict with Quaritch further – per Cameron – and he wants his nemesis to eventually become his ally and connect deeper with the nature of Pandora. Added the filmmaker,

James Cameron is certainly no stranger to “villain becomes the hero” plotting, as Arnold Schwarzenegger famously went from being an unstoppable killing machine in Terminator to being the world’s best body guard for humanity’s savior in T2: Judgement Day. Even if we don’t see Quaritch start to change sides in Avatar: Fire And Ash, there are still at least two more stories planned in the future – with Avatar 4 dated for December 2029 and Avatar 5 scheduled for December 2031.

Also featuring the talents of Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet in addition to the aforementioned Sam Worthington, Stephen Lang and Jack Champion, Avatar: Fire And Ash is set to be the biggest movie released at the end of 2025, and it will be arriving in theaters everywhere on December 19 (and it will be sporting an epic 195 minute runtime). Be sure to keep heading back here to CinemaBlend between now and then, as we’ll have plenty more coverage of the blockbuster on the way in the run up to the release.

This December, the long-awaited Avatar: Fire and Ash will finally arrive, marking the third entry in the franchise. Considering the first two films have made multiple billions of dollars at the global box office, it’s all but certain that the already planned Avatar 4 and 5 will be happening in short order. However, it appears leading man Sam Worthington isn’t taking the sequels as a given.

Speaking recently with Variety, Worthington was asked about the status of the next two Avatar films. All he did was confirm that James Cameron has written the scripts, and that there are plans to film them. Of course, that's all assuming that Fire and Ash shows that fans are still interested in the franchise. The actor explained:

When the plan for four additional Avatar films was originally confirmed, we were told that the movies would be filmed in two blocks, with the second and third installments being filmed together, and the final two films set to be filmed at once, with production starting sometime after the release of the threequel.

Sam Worthington might be playing coy and not revealing everything he knows. However, based on the way he’s talking, it sounds like there haven’t been any conversations about when filming for the next two films will commence. They may really be waiting until next year to even begin the conversation.

Considering that Avatar: The Way of Water made over $2 billion at the global box office, officially putting to bed any arguments that nobody cares about Avatar, it seems odd that the other two sequels are still so up in the air. Of course, anything could happen. There was a decade between the first two Avatar films, but we’ll only have three years between the second and third. Maybe people really will be less excited now.

Of course, if for some wild reason the final two Avatar movies don’t materialize, it means there will be some filming that has already happened will never see the light of day. Worthington confirmed that early scenes in Avatar 4 have already been shot. As for why that photography took place, Worthington alluded to a time jump that will occur early in the fourth film:

Avatar 4 is currently slated for a 2029 release, with Avatar 5 following in 2031. That is, of course, assuming that production gets underway on time. In the meantime, grab a Disney+ subscription and stream the first two movies in the saga.

James Cameron a visionary director, and the Avatar franchise continues to push the boundaries of filmmaking possibilities. While it took years between the original movie and The Way of Water (both of which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription), the hype is real around the third movie Fire and Ash. Although Ash’s Sam Worthington's comments about Jake and Neytiri's relationship has me nervous for them.

What we know about Avatar: Fire and Ash is limited, but it's expected to break new ground in regard to the world of Pandora. The story will follow up on The Way of Water's ending, and in an interview with Empire Worthington revealed how the previous film fill influence the threequel. In his words:

Now this is an intriguing twist for the leading duo of Avatar, who have always found a way to unite in the face of adversity. The death of their firstborn son has forever changed the family dynamic forever, and it seems we'll see that play out throughout Fire and Ash's runtime.

Zoe Saldaña has also teased the pain Neytiri is going through in the forthcoming threequel, so that's no doubt going to be a huge part of the story. Things will be further complicated with the family's inclusion of Spider, a human Neytiri resents. I'm personally glad we'll see these stories continue to evolve, rather than simply moving past that major character death.

The teaser for Avatar: Fire and Ash showed a glimpse of this interpersonal struggle, which will occur as our heroes are battling with the Ash People and a new villain. Later in that same interview Worthington further spoke about the way his character and Neytiri are dealing with their grief, offering:

While the Avatar movies are obviously known for being visual spectacles, but there's also a deeper story involved. Once Jake and Neytiri's circle expanded to a family, we got a handful of new characters to care about. Let's just hope they all make it out of Fire and Ash alive.

As previously mentioned, our heroes are going to come to battle with the Ash People, which is the first time that we'll see different tribes of Na'vi in conflict with each other. And with the looming threat of the RDA and Quaritch, it sounds like we're in for a layered story.

Our questions will be answered when Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters on December 19th as part of the 2025 movie release list.

It goes without saying that James Cameron is considered one of the most revolutionary filmmakers of all time. Cameron's best movies demonstrate how he constantly pushes the envelope by effectively taking advantage of technological developments. Ahead of the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, leading man Sam Worthington is speaking about being the “guinea pig” on the Canadian filmmaker’s ongoing sci-fi franchise with all the filmmaking risks he takes.

While many before him made strides in the realm of motion capture, James Cameron arguably perfected it with 2009's Avatar. The director knew he wanted actors to be able to give complete performances through the use of the technique and pull it off seamlessly. In fact, a cool BTS fact about Cameron's film is that he was so set on that tech, that even came up with the concept for the movie in 1994, he waited until technology advanced before making it.

Just when it looked like Avatar already changed the game with its motion-capture effects, James Cameron took it a step further with performance capture underwater scenes in 2022's The Way of Water. Sam Worthington, who plays Jake Sully in the blockbuster franchise, spoke to Collider about being James Cameron’s “guinea pig” amid the director’s technological advancements, and he didn't exactly complain about that:

James Cameron’s dazzling underwater technology truly was a standout within the first of the Avatar sequels. When watching the film, one could really feel like they were underwater with the Na’vi. Another of series' stars, Sigourney Weaver, felt The Way of Water took so long to make, because the Oscar-winning director wanted to perfect his technology. Sam Worthington, like his co-stars, had to put in a lot of work, but I'm glad he can appreciate the finished product.

Filming those mo-cap underwater scenes sounds ridiculously hard, with actors wearing motion-capture water suits swimming in a massive tank. Special underwater cameras were used to capture the reflective markers to ensure their body movements and facial expressions were seen. On top of that, the adult and child actors had to learn to hold their breaths for extended periods of time.

In my opinion, Sam Worthington is lucky to have been one of the first to partake in James Cameron’s innovative technological endeavors. The Australian actor went on to explain to Collider that his desire to work in fresh filmmaking territory goes beyond his collaboration with the Terminator helmer as well:

The Avatar series isn’t the first time James Cameron pushed the envelope in his filmmaking journey. Terminator 2’s special effects in creating the “liquid metal” for the antagonist T-1000 assassin were revolutionary at the time. Also, for one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, The Abyss, Cameron invented new equipment like special helmets for the actors’ faces to be seen clearly underwater and filmed the deep water scenes in an enormous tank. So, yeah, Cameron certainly likes to try stuff out.

Considering everything he's done so far, I'm excited to see what the Titanic director has planned for Fire and Ash. He previously teased that a darker, sinister group would be introduced and called the “Ash People.” There's not too much we can go on at this point. However, based on history, I'd assume that the director, Sam Worthington (who I may now lovingly refer to as "guinea pig") and their collaborators are going to up the ante again when it comes to filmmaking.

Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters on December 19 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. Until then, you can watch the first two movies of the franchise on your Disney+ subscription.

Warning: slight SPOILERS for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 are in play. If you haven’t hitched up your wagon, and headed out on this particular trail, you’ve been warned.

This past weekend, audiences were given the chance to start the journey that is writer/director Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga. Chapter 1 begins the half of the tale that occupies the 2024 movie schedule, with two more installments planned to close out the story. Which means that viewers following characters like Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington’s Frances Kitteridge and Trent Gephardt should get set to keep tabs on the beating heart this potential couple represents.

However, you may want to prepare yourself for some potential heartbreak. I have my reasons for saying that, which came after asking both Miller and Worthington how they felt about their characters’ place in the wide world of Horizon: An American Saga.

Their responses, while not being terribly spoilery, can be read as potentially setting us all up for some tears to be shed on the road ahead. But just in case, if you’re looking to stay away from this sort of deep dive, you can enjoy our Kevin Costner ReelBlend interview and get some more background on Horizon while you wait to get into the fun yourself.

How Sam Worthington’s Horizon Remarks Start Setting Up Potential Heartbreak

It was an honor to be able to sit down to a virtual junket with Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington on behalf of Horizon Chapter 1’s recent release. With the ending of the picture starting to lay down the groundwork for the widowed Frances and the restless Trent, it’s the last beat of the story proper before Chapter 2’s events are teased via montage.

I actually can’t think of a better note that would have stoked the fires of anticipation, as a subtle moment by a clothesline sees Miller and Worthington taking a moment that seems to signal that the two of them are going to romantically go for it. Noting as much in my Horizon: Chapter 1 review, it’s safe to say that I’m enjoying where these two are headed.

As far as his feelings on the matter are concerned, Sam Worthington was all in on playing a part of Horizon: An American Saga’s potential romance. It was in sharing those feelings with CinemaBlend that Sam planted the seed that got me to start worrying:

Is it just me, or did one word in particular stand out to anyone else after reading Sam Worthington speaking about Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1? Considering that the textbook definition of starcrossed is, “thwarted or opposed by the stars; ill-fated,” hearing the actor most famously known for his role in the Avatar movies gave me much pause.

That was only the beginning though, as Sienna Miller had her own contributions to share on the matter. In light of the comments that followed, Horizon: Chapter 1 sounds like it just might represent the best of times for Frances Kitteridge and Trent Gephardt.

Sienna Miller’s Comments On Future Horizon Movies Are Even More Curious

Turning to Sienna’s thoughts on the day of our interview, the veteran of everything from G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra to High Rise has tackled her own fair share of genres. Horizon: An American Saga definitely puts her through the paces, as her character Frances endures some pretty hard times in the first act.

Knowing that she lost her husband and son, we see the widow Kitteridge and her daughter Elizabeth (Georgia MacPhail) begin to rebuild their lives at Camp Gallant. This being the U.S. Army camp where Francess and First Lt. Trent Gephardt start to form a connection, it’s a far cry from Horizon; where she and her daughter end up buried alive after a devastating attack decimates their home.

Setting up the road ahead for Horizon: Chapter 2 and beyond, Sienna Miller added this quick follow-up to Sam Worthington’s statement, when speaking with CinemaBlend:

So we have a violent and difficult story with star-crossed lovers on the western prairie that doesn’t turn out how you’d expect. While that further intrigues me as a fan of what Horizon: An American Saga is doing so far, I honestly can’t say that I’m any more optimistic about Frances and Trent living happily ever after.

There’s always a chance that something might change by the end of the overall narrative being built into Kevin Costner’s Horizon plan. Or at least, that’s the hope I’m hanging onto after Ms. Miller’s added this further context in our conversation:

Sam Worthington was notably silent during that point of the interview, and I don’t know about you, but I could totally feel the guarded energy in the room when watching that footage again. That only makes me more fearful that with the looming Civil War in the air, Trent might find himself sent into a battle, and potentially never return home.

Such was the way of the West, I know, but that beautiful final moment between these magnetic performers is enough to make you want to see them together. So you don't necessarily need to be a Western fan to enjoy this story's impact. You just need to know when to look, as there's plenty to gaze upon in the multitudes of Horizon, and much more where that came from.

Simultaneously, it’s an exciting time to be a fan of the best Western movies in history, as Horizon: An American Saga might join those ranks soon enough. As Chapter 1 currently plays in theaters, audiences can prepare themselves for Chapter 2’s August 16th release by partaking in this sprawling, old fashioned epic.

Considering how mixed Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1’s critical response has been so far, it may be a little longer before we can tell if this flick is truly dead on arrival or just waiting to find its audience. In my opinion, I’d say if you’re on the fence about enjoying Kevin Costner’s well-crafted epic on the big screen, you should get onto your mount of choice and head out to a theater near you. It’s truly a cinematic experience, and one you won’t want to miss.

There are some actors whose entire careers are defined by their most iconic role or by their best performance (which are not always one and the same). There are also some actors who really only have one well-known role or acclaimed performance to their name, while the majority of their career continues to live in obscurity or even ridicule. The following are some notable examples of actors who never really got to shine beyond that movie or TV show that clicked.

Sam Worthington (The Avatar Movies)

Sam Worthington's performance as Jake Sully in 2009's Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water from 2022 is not exactly "acclaimed." However, James Cameron's blockbuster sci-fi franchise is the only thing on the actor's resume that has managed to make a substantial connection with audiences and can be called a rousing success.

Hayden Christensen (Shattered Glass)

Playing Anakin Skywalker in the two latter installments of George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy has earned Hayden Christensen equal amounts of fame and ridicule that has haunted him most of his career. That is because not enough people know about 2003's intense journalism drama Shattered Glass, in which he gives his best performance as real-life fraudulent reporter Stephen Glass.

Tom Arnold (True Lies)

For years, Tom Arnold's claim to fame was his marriage to Roseanne Barr and, when reviewing his filmography, it remains what he is best known for to this day. Yet, he does have the honor of playing Arnold Schwarzenegger's right-hand man in True Lies, a role he almost did not get, if not for the insistence of writer and director James Cameron.

Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)

Brandon Routh was relatively unknown when he was cast as Clark Kent in 2006’s Superman Returns — a role that should have earned immediate entry to the A-list. While he does have an amusing reputation for playing multiple comic book characters — including Todd Ingram in the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast — his one-time donning the old red and blues remains the peak of his fame.

Linda Blair (The Exorcist)

One of the top horror movie Scream Queens of all time is undeniably Linda Blair for her Academy Award-nominated role as Regan MacNeil in 1973’s The Exorcist. However, the demonically possessed 12-year-old is still the only character most mainstream audiences associate with the actor.

Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects)

Stephen Baldwin has a scene-stealing turn as Michael McManus in the classic 1995 crime thriller, The Usual Suspects. However, because his remaining credits have never quite lived up to that performance — or the film itself — most would call him an unusual suspect for mainstream success these days.

Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense)

Haley Joel Osment is still a steadily working actor, appearing in notable films like Kevin Smith’s Tusk and hit TV shows like The Boys. Yet, any time he does show up onscreen, we would not be surprised if he still regularly identified as “the kid who saw dead people in 1999’s The Sixth Sense.”

Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls)

You could argue that Lacey Chabert really did come close to making “fetch” happen with her standout role in 2004’s Mean Girls as Gretchen Wieners. While she has made a name for herself elsewhere with voice acting and leading several Hallmark Channel originals, the gossipy plastic is still the singular defining moment of her career.

Steven Seagal (Under Siege)

Even most of the fans who consider Steven Seagal to be one of the top action movie stars of the ‘90s might agree that he really only has one true quality film to his name: Under Siege. Both a critical and commercial success, director Andrew Davis’ Oscar-nominated 1992 thriller stars Seagal as a former Navy SEAL serving as a cook on a battleship taken over by terrorists.

Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee)

Can you name another character played by Paul Hogan who is not the title character from the 1986 fish-out-of-water movie classic, Crocodile Dundee? The eponymous Outback hunter was also the brainchild of the Australian actor, whose career has been almost completely overshadowed by the role.

Roddy Piper (They Live)

To be fair, the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s main claim to fame was professional wrestling, but his subsequent film career was nowhere near close to on par with, say, Dwayne Johnson or John Cena. At least he can say that he was the star of one of John Carpenter’s best movies, They Live, in the memorable role of an impromptu alien hunter, John Nada.

Alicia Silverstone (Clueless)

Had 1997’s Batman & Robin been a hit, Alicia Silverstone could have been one of the best Batgirl actors ever and her career could have flourished from it. Instead, her breakthrough film role as Cher Horowitz in 1995’s Clueless is the single performance she is most acclaimed and recognized for.

Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone)

Macaulay Culkin’s career beyond child stardom has certainly had its highlights, such as his role in Party Monster, his appearance on American Horror Story Season 10, and his podcast, The Bunny Ears Podcast. However, after all these years, it is still difficult to see him as anyone other than the young, mischievous Kevin McCallister from the Home Alone movies.

Rupert Grint (The Harry Potter Movies)

We do not mean to discredit Rupert Grint’s performances in the Snatch TV show, M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant, or anything else he has done outside of the Harry Potter movies. However, the British actor will always be Ron Weasley in our hearts.

Jessica Alba (Sin City)

Anyone who does not love actor and entrepreneur Jessica Alba probably has not seen her performance as exotic dancer Nancy Callahan in 2005’s Sin City, which is the single most acclaimed title in her filmography. She did earn a Golden Globe nomination for a breakthrough role in Dark Angel, but that short-lived sci-fi series is largely forgotten these days.

Robert Englund (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Playing Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise made Robert Englund a horror movie icon and earned him a long career of countless other spooky roles. Yet, have any of his subsequent credits — horror or otherwise — been nearly as popular as the grotesque, razor-glove-wielding boogeyman? Maybe in his dreams.

Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Edward Furlong made a stunning acting debut in the pivotal role of a teenage John Connor in one of the greatest action movies of all time, 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Unfortunately, his career never reached the same level of prowess or popularity again, which can be partially attributed to his history of substance abuse.

Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That)

Actor and model Rachael Leigh Cook has had a steady career all her life. However, none of her credits have quite stood the test of time like the 1999 teen movie favorite, She’s All That, which spawned a Netflix original gender-swapped remake, He’s All That, in which she appeared in a new role.

Anthony Perkins (Psycho)

Anthony Perkins is considered one the biggest Hollywood stars of his time, but only for one role in particular: Norman Bates in one of the greatest horror movies of all time — Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic, Psycho. He would actually reprise the murderous momma’s boy and motel manager twice more in 1983’s Psycho II and Psycho III, the latter of which he also directed three years later.

David Schwimmer (Friends)

Much of the Friends cast managed to outlive their roles on the hit sitcom with versatile projects that helped them avoid being typecast. We cannot quite say the same about David Schwimmer, whose distinct portrayal of Ross Gellar seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

Jaden Smith (The Pursuit Of Happyness)

Seven-year-old Jaden Smith made a promising debut as the onscreen son of his real-life father, Will Smith, in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, but very few of his roles since have made a genuine impression on critics and audiences. That being said, the older he got, his acting roles became less frequent as he focused more on his music career.

Carrie Henn (Aliens)

If you ever wondered what happened to Newt from Aliens, she became one of the many child stars who walked away from Hollywood, but did so quicker than most, as the 1986 sci-fi classic is her only acting credit. So, in this case, we can call Carrie Henn — who went on to become a teacher — an acting “one-hit-wonder” by choice.

Alex Winter (The Bill & Ted Movies)

Alex Winter had such astonishing chemistry with Keanu Reeves as the dim-witted, titular heroes of the Bill & Ted movies. Yet, while Reeves climbed up the A-list, Winter never really found a role as popular as Bill S. Preston, Esq. He would find some success working as director in film and TV, however.

Fran Drescher (The Nanny)

Actor and comedian Fran Drescher earned rousing success when she co-created the hit sitcom The Nanny, in which she also starred as Fran Fine. The boisterous character remains her most famous role to date, as Drescher is better known today for being elected President of SAG-AFTRA in 2021.

Adam West (Batman)

The late Adam West is, undeniably, one of the most legendary live-action Batman actors, having played Bruce Wayne in the classic 1960s TV show, its feature-length spin-off, and two animated films decades later. However, he is really the only one in that club so far who can say that playing Batman is the singular defining role of his career.

Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite)

As the title hero of 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite, Jon Heder gave one of the most legendarily bizarre and uniquely funny performances in a comedy movie for its time, if not all time. The success of the indie sleeper hit would garner more roles for the actor, but none that earned nearly the same acclaim or notoriety.

Frankie Muniz (Malcolm In The Middle)

Playing the fourth-wall-breaking title role of Malcolm in the Middle in the early 2000s made Frankie Muniz one of the top child stars of his time, but his subsequent success later in life was decidedly hit or miss. He still acts to this day but has also taken up a career in NASCAR racing.

Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous)

Whatever happened to Patrick Fugit — the actor who launched his career in 2000 by leading the Almost Famous cast as young, aspiring music reporter William Miller? There’s a good chance you have seen him in one of his many credits over the years — such as Gone Girl or 2022’s Babylon — but just failed to recognize him. 

Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy)

Katherine Heigl had a relatively successful run in movies, especially as the female lead of 2007’s Knocked Up, which she famously spoke negatively of. Said comments would actually have a negative impact on her career and, thus, her Emmy-winning role on in the Grey’s Anatomy cast as Dr. Izzie Stevens in the mid-2000s is still her most famous and commendable role.

Peter Ostrum (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)

At the end of 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, poor Charlie Bucket becomes wealthy after the titular chocolatier (Gene Wilder) gives his factory to him. As for the actor who plays the lucky boy, Peter Ostrum, he immediately abandoned his acting career in favor of becoming a veterinarian.

Bo Derek (10)

Bo Derek is an undisputed legend in the modeling industry, but we cannot quite say the same about her acting career. She did have one acclaimed hit to her name, however, in the form of Blake Edwards’ Oscar-nominated, 1979 rom-com, 10, opposite Dudley Moore.

Justin Chatwin (War Of The Worlds)

If you are not sure who Justin Chatwin is, there are two movies we could name that could help you identify him. There is Steven Spielberg’s 2005 adaptation of War of the Worlds, in which he plays Tom Cruise’s onscreen son, and there is also 2009’s universally reviled live-action anime adaptation, Dragonball: Evolution, in which he was grossly miscast as Goku.

For the actors above who are still with us and are still interested in the craft, we hope to see them in another surefire hit soon enough.

Typically, actors will work their hardest to promote a film to the best of their ability... at first, that is. Sometimes, years (or months) after said movie releases, the stars will not hold back on their true feelings. See for yourself by taking a look at some of the, so-called, worst movies starring famous actors who would admit that even they agree with the most brutal critiques.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Most would agree that he is one of the best live-action Batman actors, but Ben Affleck’s first stab at playing a superhero in 2003 was not very well received. The actor himself wasn't pleased either, as he told EW (via E!) that he agrees Daredevil “didn’t work, at all.” However, he later explained that what he appreciates about DD is that his commitment to accurately portraying Matt Murdock’s blindness paid off, at least.

Christian Bale (Newsies)

Newsies — a musical retelling of the 1899 New York newsboy strike — was a flop for Disney in 1992 but gained a cult following that star Christian Bale is not a part of. He told EW that the “wounds” he feels he suffered from starring in it healed over time. We suppose leading some great live-action Batman movies and winning an Oscar for The Fighter helped him as well. 

Halle Berry (Catwoman) 

When Halle Berry accepted her Razzie for Worst Actress of 2004 for Catwoman in person, she was one of the few actors to do so and thanked Warner Bros. for putting her in such a “god-awful movie.” At least the actor — who also has an Oscar for Monster’s Ball and a few well-received comic book movies under her belt (the X-Men movies) — has a sense of humor about starring in a DC movie that even John Rogers, one of its writers, thinks is bad.

Josh Brolin (Jonah Hex)

Future MCU and Deadpool 2 star Josh Brolin made his comic book movie debut in 2010 as the titular character in the DC Comics-inspired Western, Jonah Hex. The actor (and star of one of the best Neo-Westerns and, simply, best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men) later told CBR (via CinemaBlend) that he would remake it if he had the chance, as he was not happy with how it turned out.

Sandra Bullock (Speed 2: Cruise Control)

Speed is considered one of the best action movies of all time, but Speed 2: Cruise Control is not remembered so fondly by most, including star Sandra Bullock. The Oscar winner brought up the 1997 sequel — which is set on a cruise ship — when asked by TooFab about movies she was initially embarrassed by before coming around later. However she never actually changed her tune on this one.

George Clooney (Batman & Robin)

While there are some people who actually do enjoy Batman & Robin, George Clooney — who played Bruce Wayne in the 1997 flop — is not one of them. On The Graham Norton Show, the Oscar winner talked about his propensity to constantly apologize for, as he believed at the time, ruining the Dark Knight’s big screen legacy forever, before Christopher Nolan saved it.

Sean Connery (The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen)

It's a shame to learn that an actor is not proud of their final live-action acting credit and such is the case with the late Sean Connery and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The former James Bond actor recalled in a 2007 interview unearthed by Heat Vision (via THR) how he tried to salvage the 2003 Alan Moore adaptation in the editing room and described director Stephen Norrington as insane.

David Cross (Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked)

According to The Washington Post, David Cross once felt the need to defend his participation in 2007’s Alvin and the Chipmunks, but he wasn't so kind about its 2011 threequel. During an appearance on Conan, the comedian recalled his “miserable” experience making Chipwrecked and recommended that the audience that was present not see the family film.

Viola Davis (The Help)

Even though her performance as 1960s Mississippi maid Abilene expanded her notoriety and earned her an Oscar nomination, Viola Davis regrets starring in 2011’s The Help. As she told Vanity Fair, “there’s a part of me that feels like I betrayed myself, and my people, because I was in a movie that wasn’t ready to [tell the whole truth]” and was “created in the filter and the cesspool of systemic racism.” 

Colin Farrell (Miami Vice)

When Michael Mann brought Miami Vice to the big screen in 2006, the action flick did not get the best reviews, based on its Rotten Tomatoes score of 47%. Lead actor Colin Farrell wasn’t too hot on it either, revealing to Total Film (via Far Out) that he “didn’t like it so much,” adding he felt it was “style over substance." Additionally, he even accepts some of the responsibility for that.

Crispin Glover (Back To The Future)

How could anyone dislike one of the best time travel movies ever made, 1985's Back to the Future? Well, George McFly actor Crispin Glover told AV Club that he felt the ending — which saw Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly return to an alternate present in which his family is rich — sent a misguided message, which is why he opted not to appear in the sequels.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars)

The Force was not strong with the Star Wars movies’ original Obi-Wan Kenobi actor, Alec Guinness, apparently. In 1975, the Oscar winner wrote a letter to his friend, Anne Kaufman — which was quoted in his biography and republished by Business Insider in 2013 — describing George Lucas’ script as “fairy-tale rubbish.”

Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up)

In 2008, Knocked Up cast member Katherine Heigl told Vanity Fair that it was “hard for [her] to love the movie,” as she believed it portrayed women in an unfavorable light. While the 2007 comedy is still remembered as one of the best Judd Apatow movies, the former Grey’s Anatomy cast member’s honest comments about sexism would have a negative impact on her career, unfortunately.

Bob Hoskins (Super Mario Bros.)

In 2011, the late Bob Hoskins was asked by The Guardian about his worst job, biggest disappointment, and element he would edit out from his past? His answer to each question was the infamous video game movie adaptation, Super Mario Bros., from 1993.

Jennifer Lawrence (Passengers)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence revealed to The New York Times that Adele actually recommended she should say “no” to 2016’s Passengers — in which she and Chris Pratt's characters wake up from a commercial interplanetary journey way too early. Lawrence then said she wished she hadn't ignored the advice from the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.

Lindsay Lohan (I Know Who Killed Me)

According to a 2013 report by The Daily Mail, Lindsay Lohan was once tweeted at by a fan who told her she had watched I Know Who Killed Me twice the night before. The Parent Trap star replied by saying this fan had watched the 2007 psychological thriller “two times too many.”

Bill Murray (Garfield)

When Bill Murray said he regretted making Garfield during his iconic Zombieland cameo, that was not just a joke. In fact, it was during an interview with GQ that Murray said the only reason he agreed to voice the 2004 live-action movie’s titular cat was because he thought one of the Coen Brothers was writing it, only to learn too late that the scribe was Joel Cohen.

Paul Newman (The Silver Chalice)

According to the Irish Film Institute, Paul Newman’s choice for the “worst motion picture produced during the 1950s” was his screen acting debut: The Silver Chalice. Despite his feelings about it, the late, legendary actor actually received a “Most Promising Newcomer” Golden Globe nomination for playing the Holy Grail’s sculptor in the 1954 drama.

Robert Pattinson (Twilight)

There's no denying that playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies made Robert Pattinson the star he is now, but that doesn't change the fact that he's not big on the films. His 2011 interview with Vanity Fair, in which he says “representing something you don’t particularly like” is “weird” in reference to the teen vampire romance stories, is just one of many times the Batman actor has admitted to this.

Christopher Plummer (The Sound Of Music)

When asked about his most challenging role during a roundtable interview with THR, Christopher Plummer’s answer was Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. His reasoning was nothing akin to Julie Andrews’ rough time shooting the iconic hill sequence, but was that he found the beloved 1965 musical itself to be “so awful and sentimental and gooey.”

Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern)

Has an actor ever been more shamelessly and frequently vocal about their disdain for their own work than Ryan Reynolds with Green Lantern? Most recently, Reynolds shared his horrified reaction to the 2009 DC flick at London’s Just for Laughs festival in 2023 (according to The Independent). But his most public and unapologetic expression of disappointment can be seen in both Deadpool movies.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Red Sonja)

While recognized as a cult favorite today, Red Sonja — which is being rebooted — is certainly not a film Arnold Schwarzenegger would call one of his best movies. In fact, the former California governor is quoted in Far Out as saying that he used to punish his children by forcing them to watch the 1985 comic book adaptation, which stars Brigette Nielsen as the titular warrior.

Sylvester Stallone (Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot) 

Apparently, Sylvester Stallone has Arnold Schwarzenegger to blame for his decision to star in Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, which the Rocky star later told Ain’t It Cool News was “one of the worst movies in the entire solar system.” According to SlashFilm, the Terminator star revealed he tricked his then-rival, Stallone, into signing on for the panned 1992 comedy by feigning interest in the script.

Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra)

Radio host Howard Stern once named G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra as guest Channing Tatum’s star-making moment. In turn, Tatum bluntly admitted he hates the 2009 cinematic adaptation of the action figure line, claiming he was “pushed into” making it by Paramount. That explains why he requested to be killed off in the 2013 sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation.

Charlize Theron (Reindeer Games)

Academy Award winner Charlize Theron did not hold back when telling Esquire that she believes 2000’s Reindeer Games is a “bad, bad, bad movie.” However, she does not regret starring in the Ben Affleck-led Christmas action flick, as it a gave her the chance to work with director John Frankenheimer.

Mark Wahlberg (The Happening)

On a ranked list of M. Night Shyamalan movies, most people might put The Happening at a pretty low spot, including one of its stars. During a press conference for The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg admitted that he does not like The Happening either in an expletive-filled tirade. This came after he revealed that Amy Adams was up for Zooey Deschanel’s part in the unintentionally hilarious 2009 disaster thriller.

Sam Worthington (Clash Of The Titans)

Despite the fact that 2010's Clash of the Titans remake is one of his bigger hits outside of the Avatar movies, Sam Worthington is not a fan. He revealed to IndieWire that he put the blame on his “bland performance” as Perseus and promised to make up for it with the 2012 sequel, Wrath of the Titans.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Shallow Hal)

When Gwyneth Paltrow tested her friend and assistant Kevin Keating’s knowledge of her for a video on Netflix’s X account, he (almost) correctly names her least favorite performance of hers as Rosemary in Shallow Hal. The Academy Award winner and MCU star then describes the Farrelly Brothers’ 2001 fantasy rom-com, which also stars Jack Black, as a “disaster.”

Nicole Kidman (Australia)

Nicole Kidman revealed in an interview with a Sydney radio station (via Daily Mail) that she rarely watches her own movies but did attend the premiere of Australia, which reunited her with Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann. However, she found herself squirming in her seat over her performance in the 2009 romantic period drama, which paired her with Hugh Jackman.

Alec Baldwin (Rock Of Ages)

His fondness for director Adam Shankman and admiration for the all-star cast, including Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones, convinced Alec Baldwin to star in Rock of Ages. However, as he revealed in a 2013 interview with American Magazine Media Conference in New York (via The Wrap), the 2012 movie based on a Broadway hit featuring ’80s rock tunes was a “complete disaster” in his eyes.

Brad Pitt (The Devil’s Own)

An action movie starring Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt sounds like a surefire success by those details alone but, as Pitt would share with Newsweek, The Devil’s Own is not all it's cracked up to be. Apparently, the 1997 thriller was a disaster from behind the scenes with the cast and crew being forced to make up the story as they went along after the previous “great script” was “tossed for various reasons.” In addition, Pitt and Ford couldn't get on the same page.

James Franco (Your Highness)

When James Franco jokes about not wanting to do a homemade sequel to 2011’s Your Highness in This is the End, he wasn't exactly kidding. The actor told GQ in 2013 that he thinks the medieval stoner comedy from director David Gordon Green “sucks."

Whether or not you agree with these celebrities’ opinion of their own films, you cannot deny that it takes guts for an actor to admit when one of their own films missed the mark in their eyes.

Warning! The following contains SPOILERS for Avatar: The Way Of Water. Read at your own risk!

Avatar: The Way Of Water is out in theaters and transports audiences back to a franchise that hasn't released a new movie in over a decade. Many audiences returned to Pandora after having been away for a long time and may not remember a lot about the original movie beyond a few key details. One thing that definitely stuck out to me is that Jake Sully changed entirely personality-wise, and for some, that was a small problem in an otherwise great movie. I was confused by this decision at first, but having taken in the sequel after re-watching of the original, I think it was a change that really worked for a few reasons. 

The Jake Sully of Avatar is completely different from the Jake Sully of Avatar: The Way Of Water. The new Sully is tough, emotional and even somewhat harsh at times to his children. He’s far from the perfect father, but I think it’s a character development that makes total sense when considering the events of the first movie and what’s happening in the sequel. 

Jake Is No Longer The “Baby”

It’s worth noting that Jake Sully spent the vast majority of Avatar (which is currently available on Disney+) relatively unaware of the wonder of Pandora and what it meant to be Na’vi. It’s only because of Neytiri that he even managed to survive long enough to ingratiate himself with her people and survive that fight with Colonel Quaritch. As Neytiri very bluntly noted in the first movie, he had a strong heart, but he was basically a baby because of his ignorance of the world. 

Avatar: The Way Of Water takes place roughly a decade and a half later. Jake Sully is not the baby he once was, but he’s the father to many children who are. That’s even more true with the return of Colonel Quaritch and the Marines, something his children hadn’t faced before. They are the babies in this instance, but one might think that would make him more understanding.

Perhaps in other circumstances that would be the case, but not with what’s happening in Avatar: The Way Of Water. Jake may come off like an asshole with his reaction to both of his sons, but it’s only because he knows that the Marines and even Pandora are far more dangerous than they can imagine. He’s not tough because he doesn’t care. He’s tough because he needs to be to protect them as best he can.

Jake Is Stressed About The Re-Emergence Of The Marines 

I think it’s interesting there’s an acknowledgment by some that Jake Sully is different in Avatar: The Way Of Water, but not a lot of understanding as to why that is. Jake rejected his human body to remain Na’vi, but he sacrificed his morals as a Marine and turned his back on humanity to do so. Sure, in the context of Avatar, humans are the bad guys, but that doesn’t make it any less painful. 

When Jake and Neytiri’s family exiled themselves from the Omaticaya, it was painful. Jake is leaving the Na’vi he gave up his past life for, and Neytiri is leaving the only world she’s ever known. This is where they’re stories intertwined, where they raised children and where they fell in love. To leave all that behind would be tough enough, and it’s even more so with a team of soldiers looking to kill you and your family. 

I’m not excusing Jake Sully’s behavior in Avatar: The Way Of Water, but I think context is important to note here. I think under normal circumstances, like what we see early in the movie, Jake would be in better spirits and less on edge. He’s operating through most of the sequel in survival mode and doing whatever he can to navigate safety for his family, as well as himself. That’s a lot of pressure to take on and wasn’t easy to pull off. 

Jake’s Harsh Attitude Toward His Children Gives Depth To The Story

One important disconnect between Jake and his children in Avatar: The Way Of Water is their status as outsiders. Jake Sully used to be human and only came to Pandora after his brother died. He had a completely human life before transitioning into his Na’vi vessel permanently, and he’s perfectly aware that he’s an outsider and what that means to other Na’vi who may not know him as well. 

That experience is entirely different than what’s experienced by his children when they seek refuge with the reef people, the Metkayina. They’ve grown up their whole lives with “demon blood,” but because they were with the Omaticaya, everyone knew their story. Sure, there may have been some teasing growing up, but given that Jake was instrumental in saving their people way back when, I doubt they really ever experienced a ton of criticism until their exile. 

Jake’s advice to his children is to keep their heads down and learn fast so they’re not “useless.” While that’s generally good advice given the Metkayina’s terms, he lacks the empathy to understand the weight of this struggle for them. 

Jake willingly gave up his past to become Na'vi and did so well into adulthood. That is quite effectively an entirely different thing than being forced out of your homeland as a child and being tasked with acclimating to an entirely different way of life. Jake takes the same attitude as Neytiri does when they first met in Avatar in dealing with his kids’ various issues, but as we saw, this didn’t really help at all. 

Jake might not make the best calls when it comes to being a dad in Avatar: The Way Of Water,  but I think that really works in the context of the movie. Just because he’s a bad dad in this specific circumstance, I think it’s more than fair to assume he wouldn’t be like this in other circumstances. As for his brash and standoffish nature, it certainly helps propel the film along and makes that tragic death towards the end that much more impactful.

I tried to think of how this movie would’ve been had Jake been the supportive and understanding father the whole way through, and I think Avatar: The Way Of Water would’ve suffered for it. He’s a mild antagonist for his sons for the bits in the film where it’s slowed down, and without that, we’d just be watching them swim in water for the second part of the movie. Given that alternative, I’m ultimately ok with Jake being harsher than he was in the original Avatar. 

Avatar: The Way Of Water is currently in theaters, so it’ll be a minute before fans can stream it with their Disney+ subscription. As for how long that’ll take, that could depend on whether or not the box office numbers continue to perform.

Avatar: The Way of Water has finally arrived – after only 13 years of waiting. For some, it may be crazy to think that it’s been over a decade since the public’s last trip to Pandora. Though there are probably others who felt every bit of that long gestation period. Like the public as a whole, the stars of the franchise themselves had also been looking forward to James Cameron’s science fiction follow-up. However, they’ve all been busy since the first film’s release, as evidenced by their lengthy filmographies. On that note, CinemaBlend put Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and their co-stars to the test by having them guess how many films they’ve done since 2009.

CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell sat down with the cast during the Way of Water press junket. During the chats, he asked whether the stars knew just how many big-screen productions they’d been a part of since the first movie in James Cameron’s planned saga. When the question was posed to Sigourney Weaver, who plays Kiri, she admitted that she didn’t, before learning that she’d done 24 movies in that time span. She then provided an interesting response: 

Sigourney Weaver clearly knew filming was going to be challenging, and that turned out to be true. Like her co-stars, Weaver had to train for the water-related work that was necessary for production and ultimately pulled it off tremendously. The same is also true for Miles Quaritch actor Stephen Lang, who’s done 38 films since the first installment in the franchise. The veteran actor was asked whether it feels like he’s done that much work since then and dropped an honest answer: 

Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington, who portray Neytiri and Jake Sully, have also been busy, with the former tallying 22 and the latter 25. Saldaña quipped that she thought it was only five, while Worthington mused that 21 of his “never came out.” Saldaña has, of course, starred in a number of blockbusters, and two of the movies released in that time – Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame – are among the all-time highest-grossing films alongside Avatar. The actress went on to discuss her good fortune and what it means to be able to grow within the entertainment industry: 

These stars have definitely had professional journeys that few actors get to embark upon, and it’s great to see that they’re fully conscious of that fact. Of course, it’s not over yet, as there are three additional Avatar movies planned, with each in a different stage of production. I’m eager to see how many flicks Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and their co-stars can get in the can between the releases of those installments. 

Avatar: The Way of Water is playing in theaters now, while the first movie can be streamed using a Disney+ subscription. As the year winds down, also be sure that you check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to learn about what’s arriving next year.

The world continues to hold its breath as it waits to see who will be named the new face of the James Bond movies. With the usual rumors, front runners, and casting notes floating around, people can start speculating what the series’ producers are looking for. And yet, when it comes to Avatar’s Sam Worthington and his story of his own failed 007 audition, there’s one evergreen component he knows he was missing when he tried out for the lead role.

As one of the eight actors screen tested for Casino Royale, Worthington scored  one of the most intimidating auditions an actor can ever endure. In a recent interview with Variety, the lead of Avatar: The Way of Water shared his recollections of the process, and why he thinks he wasn’t a good fit for Commander Bond’s tuxedo:

Whether Sam Worthington’s suit literally didn’t fit or if he’s merely employing an apt metaphor, the man knows why he wasn’t selected as the 007 to kick off the latest era in the storied franchise. Just as you need to be able to clear a room of enemy combatants, it’s equally important to possess the charm and charisma that wins a room to your side in an instant. 

At the same time, the young Sam Worthington learned a lesson that would be crucial to his breakout role in James Cameron’s Avatar. While he didn’t win the role of James Bond, that experience with series producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson showed how the collaborative process can inform a performance. That lesson came at the right time too, as Worthington’s now a full fledged franchise lead who’s at the heart of the Avatar sequels we know about.

Much like Henry Cavill’s Casino Royale story, reading through Sam Worthington’s audition story has us wondering what could have been. Everything worked out for the better in the end, as Cavill and even Worthington got a boost to their careers just by auditioning, with Daniel Craig’s five 007 adventures reinventing the series all over again. In the face of established history, and knowing how hard edged the Craig era would become in the long run, it’s interesting to think of how much different things would have been if fate had taken another turn. 

Then again, those of you who enjoy Sam Worthington as Jake Sully wouldn’t be able to see him in Avatar: The Way of Water were that the case. At least on this timeline, you can catch Worthington in theaters this weekend, in another 3D win for the Avatar series. And if you’re nostalgic for the thrill ride that started it all, Avatar is currently streaming once again for all who hold a Disney+ subscription. 

The stars of James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” including Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri), Sam Worthington (Jake), Kate Winslet (Ronal), Sigourney Weaver (Kiri) and Stephen Lang (Quaritch) discuss the “Avatar” sequel in this interview with CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell. Zoe and Sam have hilarious reactions to finding out how many movies they've been in since 2009's "Avatar," Kate talks about what makes her and James Cameron get along so well and much more.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver & The 'Avatar 2' React To The High Volume Of Movies They've Been In Since 'Avatar'
01:19 - Zoe Saldaña Has Immense Gratitude For 'Avatar' And James Cameron's Filmography
02:27 - Kate Winslet Braces Herself to Watch 'Avatar 2'
02:47 - Kate Winslet: 'Titanic' Was ‘A Terrifying Experience’ For James Cameron
03:35 - Kate Winslet Pinpoints What Makes James Cameron's Screenplays Resonate
04:52 - Zoe Saldaña: 'Neytiri Challenged Me The Most In 'Avatar: The Way Of Water.' She's Fighting Fear'
06:16 - Zoe Saldaña Teases What's Next For Jake And Neytiri
06:53 - Sam Worthington: '[James Cameron] Has a Great Track Record For Sequels'
07:38 - Stephen Lang Describes The Nuances of What Makes A James Cameron Script
08:52 - Sigourney Weaver's Chief Concern About Returning For 'Avatar: The Way Of Water,' And How It Was Resolved
10:52 - Kate Winslet Was Honored to be part of the 'Avatar' Cast
11:23 - How Kate Winslet Felt When 'Avatar' Topped 'Titanic' At The Global Box Office

Avatar took the movie world by storm in 2009, eventually earning — and then re-earning — the honor of highest-grossing movie of all time. So it really can’t be overstated how high anticipation is for its first sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. Over a decade later, audiences are finally set to return to Pandora and continue the story of Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully and Zoe Saldaña’s Neytiri, among others, when the film hits theaters on December 16. The reviews are in, and it’s no surprise critics are lauding the incredible animation, but what are they saying about the story?

First reactions to the Avatar sequel had many saying the ground-breaking technology surpassed the stunning visual effects of the first movie, but there were some concerns about the story. As for what we know so far about Avatar 2, the plot wasn’t revealed too much through the trailers, so let's take a look at what the critics have to say, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Avatar: The Way of Water. Our own Corey Chichizola rates the sequel 4.5 stars out of 5, saying the legendary director expertly expands the world of Pandora, while also keeping the story centered and family-driven: 

CinemaBlend managing editor Sean O’Connell also praises the sequel, saying it’s got a better story and develops the characters much more fully than the first film. While he says he felt the 3-plus hour runtime toward the middle of the film, everything pays off, and the final hour is James Cameron at his finest. He also rates the movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. Check out more from O’Connell’s spoiler-free video review of Avatar 2: 

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gives a similar rating — 3.5 out of 4 stars — but that’s based much on visuals that are “some of the most dazzling, vibrant and gorgeous images I’ve ever seen on the big screen.” The plot, however, is relatively thin and would garner just 2.5 stars without the visual portrayal of Pandora. He says: 

Some critics point out some similarities in plot between the first and second movies, but USA TODAY’s Brian Truitt says the younger characters breathe new life into the story when it starts to feel repetitive. He rates the film 3 stars out of 4, saying: 

IndieWire’s David Ehrlich says when the first movie ended 13 years ago, he didn’t think he’d care enough to sit through one Avatar sequel (or six), but his reaction to The Way of Water seemingly proves the movie's boost in storytelling. The critic says the sequel’s ending left him champing at the bit to see what happens next, grading the film an A-: 

Tom Jorgensen of IGN rates the movie a “Great” 8 out of 10, also noting improvements over the first movie. The critic uses words like “simple” and “cliché” to describe the plot, but says it’s well worth the price of admission to escape to Pandora for a few hours. More from this review: 

Most of the critics seem to agree Avatar: The Way of Water is an upgrade from the 2009 blockbuster — great news for excited fans. Many are praising the improved story of the sequel, but even those who find fault in the plot give high recommendations to see this film, and to see it on the biggest screen available. The sequel is set to hit theaters on Friday, December 16, so you might want to buy your tickets early, as there are high hopes at the box office. Also be sure to check out what’s coming in the new year with our 2023 Movie Release Schedule. 

I have something to confess: I had never seen Avatar until this year, which feels like something a movie buff should never admit. It seems like many people are rewatching Avatar for the first time in many years to prepare for its highly anticipated sequel Avatar: The Way of the Water which is among the remaining theatrical releases on the 2022 movie schedule. However, I was over here immersing myself in the world of Pandora for the first time, and I have some thoughts.

I gotta say, I do get it now, I understand why Avatar is such a big deal. However, watching it over a decade late, I was left with a lot of thoughts that may not have come about if I would have seen the movie like everyone else in 2009. So, without further ado here are the thoughts I had while watching James Cameron’s Avatar for the very first time.

I Get The Hype Now, However, I Also Get Why No One Seems To Remember What Happens 

I vividly remember when Avatar came out in theaters, and the fact that for some reason everyone went and saw it. I now understand the visual masterpiece that the movie is, and back in 2009 CGI and 3D were just starting to evolve into what they are today, and what James Cameron made was groundbreaking. Being able to see a spectacle like this in theaters would have been astounding, especially since the special effects used at the time were not commonplace. For that reason, I totally understand why it became one of the biggest movies of all time. However, now that I’ve seen the film, I also understand why no one can seem to remember what happened in it all these years later.

When I decided to watch this movie, my friend (who did see it back in 2009) watched it with me. I asked her what the movie was about and she responded with something along the lines of “I think it’s about blue people who explore a planet, and something bad happens.” While she’s not wrong, those things do indeed happen, she couldn’t remember anything specific about the plot, and I can’t say I blame her. The story of people fighting over land is a tale as old as time, and sadly it made the plot quite forgettable. What's memorable is the gorgeous world of Pandora.

It’s Impressive That The CGI From A Movie Made In 2009 Still Holds Up

I was genuinely shocked by how well the CGI in this movie holds up. I expected to go into it cringing at outdated special effects, like I do with just about any action movie I rewatch from the early 2000s. However, I was actually stunned by the beauty of Pandora and the people who live there. While it took me a second to get into the movie – I’ll be honest, I felt like I was watching a video game for the first 30 minutes – once I was in, I was immersed and truly bought into the film. I’m 100% positive if I would have seen this movie when it actually came out, I would have been shell-shocked by the CGI and absolutely blown away.

Considering how well the computer-generated world and characters held up all these years later, it makes me so excited to see how technology has advanced in the years since. Just from the Avatar: The Way of the Water trailer alone, these new underwater effects seem to one-up the already stunning CGI from the first movie. 

In 2022, I Found The Villains One-Dimensional 

Maybe in 2009 the villains of Avatar, Colonel Miles Quaritch and Parker Selfridge, were more interesting bad guys. But, today, in 2022, I had a really hard time buying into either of the characters because they were quite one-dimensional. Throughout the entire movie, I felt like they were two guys purely driven by greed and nothing else. They really had absolutely no reason to be destroying the Na'vi's land, and by the end of the movie, it seemed like they were causing destruction for destruction's sake. 

These days, having complex villains who have motives that almost make you understand why they do what they do is really important. For example, in the MCU Thanos in the last two Avengers movies, and Killmonger in Black Panther both had motivations behind their villainous choices that go past just wanting power. While what they did is unforgivable, their motives are almost understandable. I wish this would have been the case with the main villains in Avatar, and then maybe the plot would have been a bit more memorable. 

I Appreciated The Film's Complex And Critical Take On Colonialism

While the overarching plot of this film is kind of generic, I do think when you really start to think about the commentary the film makes on colonialism it’s quite critical and complex. The overarching story centers around a group of people from a different planet attempting to colonize the indigenous people of Pandora. Watching this film reminded me a lot of everything I learned about Western Civilization throughout school, and just how much damage colonizers did to indigenous peoples and their homes. Overall, I think this movie does a really good job of re-contextualizing the issue of colonialism and forces the viewers to see the settlers through a critical lens. 

Zoë Saldaña Is A Powerhouse, And I’m So Happy She’s Become So Successful

I feel like Avatar was really the movie that started to turn Zoë Saldaña into a household name. For good reason too, her performance as Neytiri is extremely powerful, and for sure a standout among the cast. I mean to see her be absolutely gutted when she learns Jake’s secret truly broke my heart. To see her reach the level of success she has in the 13 years since her first outing as Neytiri brings me so much joy, and it’s so well deserved.

To break it down for you, since the release of Avatar Saldaña has gone on to star in many massive franchises and critically acclaimed films. If you’ve watched the Marvel movies in order you would have seen her as Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Along with the MCU, she joined the Star Trek universe as Uhura and is set to reprise her role as the lieutenant in an upcoming sequel. She will also appear as the wonderful Neytiri in three more Avatar films following Way of the Water. Proving she is a true powerhouse.

I’m Happy They’re Making More 

Even though I was 13 years late to the party, I’m thrilled that I watched Avatar, and I’m so happy James Cameron and co. are making more. It’s become incredibly clear to me just how much Cameron cares about these movies and this universe, and his passion for them is infectious. I mean, he loves this world so much he played the Titanic card on the studio during the making of the first film so he could show audiences more of Pandora. 

Plus, with his stellar track record for sequels that are better than the original. and his confidence in releasing a sequel a decade later, I’m sure Way of the Water will likely be better than the first one. 

Overall, I am so happy I finally watched Avatar and I can see why it was, and still is, such a major moment in modern movie history. While I wasn’t in the theater to witness Pandora in all its glory back in 2009, you can bet your bottom dollar I will be in the IMAX to see Avatar: The Way of Water on December 16. 

Additional Thoughts

• Papyrus was a choice for the title font.
• I understand the whole tail connection concept, but did it low-key weird anyone else out?
• I really loved the Na'vi people's connection to nature, especially the tree. 
• Watching this movie really made me want to go to Pandora at Disney World.
• I thought Michelle Rodriguez's character was badass, and I'm really bummed her helicopter went down.
• I loved the banshees, and I really hope there's more flying around the world in Way of the Water. 

When Kevin Costner made his directorial debut with 1990’s Dances With Wolves, the actor became the recipient of the Best Picture and Best Director Academy Awards at the time. That legacy continues to follow Costner, but it’s been nearly 20 years since he’s been behind the camera. That’s about to change thanks to his planned film Horizon, which just got some exciting casting news, which includes a Stranger Things star coming aboard. 

Jamie Campbell Bower, who played Eleven’s most formidable foe to date, Vecna, a.k.a. Henry Creel/One, is set to be part of Kevin Costner’s upcoming western alongside Costner himself and two other exciting additions. Deadline reports that Avatar’s Sam Worthington and American Sniper’s Sienna Miller have also signed on to the project as well. 

Bower first confirmed his involvement in Kevin Costner’s movie earlier this month on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which he called a “Western saga,” and spilled he’ll be going off to Utah likely in October to begin shooting it. As Costner previously shared, he is planning to make four movies around his Western concept, with the first movie set to film this fall and the others shooting consecutively starting in April 2023. 

Costner’s Horizon movie is an ambitious Western story told over the course of 15 years, and is about America’s expansion into the West. The triple threat has teased it will touch upon the treatment of the United States' indigenous peoples before it became the country it is in an “honest and forthcoming way,” per Costner. 

Since Horizon was announced early this year, it’s been said it’s reportedly been a longtime passion project of Costner’s. The actor is not only directing, starring and co-writing the script with Filth’s Jon Baird, he’ll also be producing and financing the project as well. It’s great to see Jamie Campbell Bower, who has proven he is capable of great things in a surely large and uncomfortable costume and prosthetics as Vecna in Stranger Things Season 4 (now streaming with a Netflix subscription), be part of Costner’s vision for a western.

Bower is a British actor whose past credits include Sweeney Todd, the Twilight movies and a long tenure voicing the character of Skiff in Thomas & Friends. With his villainous role of Vecna, who had some major kills this past season of Stranger Things, it looks like he’s gaining a larger profile in Hollywood, especially as one of the stars in Horizon. 

His costars are no strangers to high profile films either, with Sam Worthington also set to reprise his Avatar role this December with James Cameron’s The Way of Water, and Sienna Miller previously finding herself in many critically acclaimed movies like Foxcatcher and Layer Cake. For the moment it’s unclear whether the Horizon movies will be made for theatrical or a streaming service, but we’ll keep you updated as we learn more. 

James Cameron is a filmmaker whose name is synonymous with striking visuals and cutting edge technology. Case in point: the Avatar franchise, with the 2009 original movie breaking records and debuting stunning motion capture innovation. Anticipation is high for the sequel The Way of Water, which required the cast to do extensive filming underwater. And Avatar star Sam Worthington recently explained why that was the “hardest” thing he’s ever had to do.

Sam Worthington plays protagonist Jake Sully in the Avatar franchise, with his character becoming a full-fledged Na’vi by the end of James Cameron’s first blockbuster. The Way of Water and its sequels presumably required way more motion capture, as well as filming at the bottom of a pool with folks like Kate Winslet. In a recent interview with Empire Magazine (via Deeperblue), Worthington explained just how difficult it was to do all that filming submerged in water. As he put it,

He’s got a point. While trying to emote as a character is difficult enough, it can be hard to control one’s facial expressions when worrying about the possibility of drowning. As such, it sounds like Sam Worthington had his share of obstacles while filming his highly anticipated role in Avatar 2. We’ll just have to see how those struggles (and the extensive visual effects) ultimately play out when the blockbuster sequel hits theaters. 

Sam Worthington’s comments to Empire come from the magazine’s exclusive story about Avatar: The Way of Water. James Cameron’s return to Pandora has been a long time coming, with fans already waiting over a decade for the story to continue. Luckily anticipation was buoyed thanks to theme park attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage.

While Sam Worthington had a hard time filming underwater for Avatar 2, he likely had to get used to it. After all, it seems like a ton of focus has been put on the free diving Na’vi community known as The Metkayina; water is literally in the movie’s title. Kate Winslet broke a world record while filming her upcoming role as Ronal, so she presumably had an easier time filming the sequels while also reuniting with Titanic’s James Cameron. You can see the first teaser for The Way of Water below,

Information about Avatar 2’s plot is largely under wraps, but more tidbits and images have been shared as we get closer to its release. The movie will feature a time jump, and follow Sully and Neytiri’s new family. We’ll also see the return of the villainous RDA, and see as Na’vi clans unite to protect the planet of Pandora. 

Avatar: The Way of Water will finally hit theaters on December 16th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Over ten years since the theatrical debut of James Cameron’s Avatar, which would unseat Titanic and become the highest-grossing movie of all time, the science fiction adventure franchise will finally return later this year with a sequel. We only know so much about The Way of Water right now, and more is sure to be revealed. But one major element of it that we do is that it'll introduce Jake Sully and Neytiri’s kids, who were added to the storyline for a specific reason that's near to the filmmaker’s heart. 

James Cameron has been planning his Avatar sequels pretty much since the original movie released in 2009. The writer-director is a shrewd filmmaker, who is typically very deliberate when it comes to the creative decisions that he makes. When Cameron was asked about the decision to give its protagonists, played by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, children, he explained that it adds something crucial that he doesn't think is present in contemporary fantasy films:

As the legendary director explained to Empire, in some large franchises, heroes stand alone without families. Also, James Cameron himself has a large family, and it's an important part of his life. With that, he decided to add the young characters to the upcoming 2022 movie and presumably the other planned sequels. 

From what we know, Jake and Neytiri will have three biological Na’vi children in Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and Tuktirey (Trinity Bliss). Additionally, they will come across an orphaned human boy that they take in played by Jack Champion. Additionally, Sigourney Weaver will play a Na’vi teen named Kiri, thanks to the power of motion capture. Her original character in the franchise, Dr. Grace Augustine, died in the first movie. 

Also part of the Avatar: Way of the Water cast are Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Cliff Curtis and Jemaine Clement, just to name a few. The movie implements some cutting-edge technology, especially when it comes to its many underwater sequences, which were filmed with performance capture... underwater – a first in cinema history.

James Cameron is making Way of the Water to specifically be enjoyed on the big screen, which he is confident the “audience wants.” And considering the massive number of views the Avatar 2 trailer received when it dropped online (which allowed it to surpass recent Star Wars movies along with Black Widow and Incredibles 2) this could be another huge release for Cameron. 

We don’t know the runtime, but given James Cameron’s recent words about it, it looks like it’ll be a long sit. But if the dynamic amongst this new movie family is as compelling as the director is teasing, it should be entertaining throughout. Avatar: Way of the Water hits theaters on December 16th. You can also stream the first movie now with a Disney+ subscription.

We have seen countless major movie franchises come and go, but few have had the global appeal of James Cameron's Avatar, which continues to hold the record as the highest-grossing movie of all time, pulling in $2.85 billion worldwide as of 2022 when the 2009 blockbuster was re-released. The year also saw the reveal of Avatar 2’s official title – Avatar: The Way of Water – along with a visually stunning first trailer and special footage shown at CinemaCon, which boosted fan anticipation by lightyears. 

Luckily, after fans have patiently waited years for sequels -- during which some people have experienced the original for the first time -- the wait finally came to and end in December 2022. In fact, the day on the 2022 movie release schedule when the latest installment of the Avatar franchise hit theaters is where we shall start in our breakdown of everything we know about the blockbuster.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Came Out in December 2022 

Originally set for release back in 2015, Avatar: The Way of Water suffered one delay after another in the years following. Situations that led to this extended wait would involve the surprise announcement of the fifth installment in 2016, the Disney/Fox merger in 2017, and, of course, the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. 

Luckily, it was in September of that year when James Cameron confirmed that principal photography had wrapped on Avatar 2 and that the third installment was also almost finished. By then, the film had been set for a theatrical release on December 16, 2022, and would surpass $1 billion less than a month later.

James Cameron Returns To Direct Avatar: The Way Of Water

The first Avatar was truly a passion project for James Cameron, as the filmmaker spent years and years developing both the script and the technological advancements that it needed to be made. So, you didn't really expect him to hand off the sequels to someone else, did you? While the filmmaker later told IGN he would have to train an apprentice to finish the franchise if he is unable to himself, Cameron did come back for just Avatar: The Way of Water -- which Sigourney Weaver said is also a very personal film for the director -- and also intends to helm the third, fourth, and fifth installments as well.

He also spoke about his big plans for the technological side of things, such as filming at higher frame rates and using performance capture underwater. The sequel, indeed, pushed the boundaries of what can be accomplished in modern filmmaking. Cameron wants to show that the first film's success was not a fluke, and the director is certainly not expecting success to come automatically to the Avatar sequels simply because the first one did well.

James Cameron Co-Writes The Avatar 2 With Multiple Writers

James Cameron brought in a full team of collaborators to help write the Avatar sequels, including Josh Friedman -- David Koepp's co-writer on Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds remake -- who is credited as helping write the story for Avatar: The Way of Water along with Rise of the Planet of the Apes veterans Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver and Armageddon's Shane Salerno. They will also be working side-by-side with Cameron on further sequels, which will introduce "whole new worlds, habitats, and cultures." This very well could mean that we will get to meet more kinds of intelligent alien species beyond what the second chapter introduces.

While the Avatar sequels were written as one large, ever expanding beast, and are being largely filmed together, we're being told that each of them have been created as standalone films, rather than being four parts of a larger story. As we now know about Avatar: The Way of Water, specifically, the story is focused around the oceans of Pandora. The details we have about new characters would appear to confirm that much.

Avatar 2’s Plot Involves Jake And Neytiri’s New Family And A Water-Based Na’vi Tribe

In 2016, while promoting Toruk, James Cameron teased that the sequels -- which were still in their early development at the time -- would be a family saga, following the continuing adventures of Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their children. That description was essentially echoed by producer Jon Landau in 2020, when he provided more specific details about the plot of Avatar: The Way of Water, long before the then-rumored title was confirmed.

Landau added that Jake and Neytiri’s family would be forced to leave their home and explore the further regions of Pandora, especially those that are overridden with water. This is where they would become acquainted with an aquatic Na’vi tribe known as the Metkayina.

Sam Worthington And Other Cast Veterans Return In Avatar 2

As the plot details above would suggest, Australian actor Sam Worthington and MCU star Zoe Saldana signed a deal to reprise human-turned-Na’vi Jake Sully and his native-born lover (and fierce warrior), Neytiri, respectively, in the Avatar: The Way of Water cast and in subsequent films. Other Avatar veterans who joined them on this new journey include Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel, Joel David Moore as Jake’s human buddy and Na’vi enthusiast Norm Spellman, Giovanni Ribisi as the greedy RDA administrator Parker Selfridge, and CCH Pounder as the Na’vi’s spiritual leader, Mo’at.

Another cast member whose return was more surprising upon announcement is James Cameron’s Oscar-nominated Aliens star, Sigourney Weaver -- whose character in the first film, Dr. Grace Augustine, passed away -- as Jake and Neytiri's adoptive teenage daughter, Kiri. Stephen Lang -- who calls the new film "gorgeous" -- is also back as the ruthless Col. Miles Quaritch, despite receiving two arrows to the chest, along with Matt Gerald as Corporal Lyle Wainfleet, who was crushed by a hammerhead titanothere. 

Kate Winslet And Other Franchise Newcomers Join The Avatar 2 Cast

Also reuniting with James Cameron for Avatar: The Way of Water is Titanic cast lead and Academy Award winner Kate Winslet as Ronal -- a somewhat rival of Neytiri -- from the Metkayina tribe, whose chief, Tonowari, is played by Cliff Curtis. Other newcomers include Jemaine Clement (according to Twitter) as marine biologist Ian Garvin, and Edie Falco as Gen. Ardmore and Brendan Cowell as Capt. Mike Scorseby from the RDA.

There are also many young newcomers in the Avatar 2 cast, such as the three playing Jake and Neytiri’s children -- Jamie Flatters as the oldest son, Neteyam; Britain Dalton as the middle child, Lo'ak; and the youngest child, Tuktirey, is played by Trinity Bliss. Youngsters from the Metkayina tribe include Filip Geljo as Tonowari’s son, Aonung; Bailey Bass as freediver Tsireya; and Duane Evans Jr. as Roxto. Playing a human named Spider is Jack Champion.

Many Avatar 2 Sequences Were Actually Filmed Underwater

No discussion about Avatar is complete without mentioning the technology involved. The Academy Award-winning visual effects for the first film by Weta Digital sparked a major revolution in the movie industry, particularly its cutting-edge use of performance capture before it became a far more common process. It has, of course, been used again to make Avatar: The Way of Water, but the sequel also charts new territory with the method.

James Cameron, the crew, and the cast (in full performance capture) went as far as actually submerging themselves to film sequences that take place underwater. Kate Winslet reportedly managed to stay underwater seven minutes at time while playing Ronal. Cameron also talked to Vanity Fair about filming in a large tank with some of the younger new cast members who, not being able to speak, used a “kind of sign language” to convey their dialogue.

Future Sequels

Even with a runtime that exceeds three hours, there are more stories to tell following Avatar: The Way of Water in the form of at least three more movies. Avatar 3 was filmed concurrently with Avatar 2, is currently scheduled for release on December 20, 2024, and was mostly finished as of late 2021. Cameron and co. still have some things to finish for Avatar 4, which is currently set to come out on December 16, 2026.

The fourth installment actually went a few years without a proper greenlight from Disney as it was being developed. The same goes for Avatar 5, which is slated for December 22, 2028, at the moment.

Despite its success, it is no secret that Avatar had its critics. However, it appears that the ones who truly do still have a special place in their hearts for the action-packed, visually stunning sci-fi spectacle will have the opportunity to spend a lot of time in Pandora for the next few years. The journey has continued with Avatar: The Way of Water, which is now playing in theaters.

SPOILERS ahead on the Netflix movie Fractured.

How did the Fractured movie end on Netflix, and what's the deal with that final shot of Sam Worthington's character Ray? Director Brad Anderson weighed in with details on the ambiguity of the ending.

Like many Breaking Bad fans, I watched El Camino on Netflix the day it was released. But I also noticed Avatar star Sam Worthington was in a new movie released the same day, called Fractured. Without knowing anything about it, I jumped in for the 1 hour 40 minute ride. Through the film, I tried to anticipate the twists ahead, knowing there would be something but not quite sure what screenwriter Alan B. McElroy and director Brad Anderson had planned.

The movie started with Sam Worthington's Ray Monroe fighting in the car with his wife Joanne Monroe (Lily Rabe) as their daughter Peri Monroe (Lucy Capri) sat in the backseat. They were driving home from a bad Thanksgiving dinner with her family. They made a pit stop so Peri could use the bathroom and she ended up taking a hard fall in an area the police probably should've blocked off as a major danger site to prevent this entire story from happening.

At any rate, that's where the story has a schism that we don't realize until the end. After both Peri and Ray fall, Ray gets up and -- in his mind -- takes Peri to the hospital with Joanne. They say she has a fractured arm.

At the end of Fractured, we realize most of that was in Ray's head, and the "shrink" the hospital brought to talk to him was right. He created a false reality after Peri fell, because she died. In his shock, he stood there while Joanne raged at him, and he pushed her to the side without even seeming to see her. She hit her head on a spike -- seriously, the police need to shut that area down -- and also died.

Ray kept his wife and daughter's bodies in the car, but in his mind he thought he was rescuing them from a hospital that was stealing and selling patients' organs. Turns out, that was not the case. I'm most worried about the random patient still in Ray's car as he drove away. The police didn't give chase to get that person back to the hospital?!

The end shot of Fractured initially shows a closeup of Ray smiling, after looking through the rear-view mirror and seeing his imagined wife smile at him and say let's go home. But then his face gets a darker look for the last frame -- a screenshot of that look is posted in the photo above.

Fractured premiered at Fantastic Fest in September before its October 11 debut on Netflix. While at Fantastic Fest, director Brad Anderson -- who previously directed The Machinist, Session 9, and Beirut -- talked to Fresh Fiction about the ending and the choice of that final shot.

The director talked about the question Fractured leaves fans with at the end of the movie:

You have to imagine the police will show up at some point. Or someone will ask about the live (or maybe dying and on the way to death) patient in the backseat, and the two dead bodies in the trunk. Ray doesn't have a solid grip on reality, so I'm wondering if he'll still see that as the corrupt world trying to gaslight him. Everyone is in on it, etc. As director Brad Anderson added:

Interesting. Did you see that particular Fractured ending twist coming, or were you expecting something else? At one point I thought maybe Ray had imagined the entire hospital. It didn't seem logical anyway that that many people would be out at a hospital in the middle of absolute nowhere.

Anyway, Fractured is just one of the many Netflix originals headed your way. There are plenty of films and also TV shows to see in October -- including lots of good horror -- and more will be coming soon in November. Sam Worthingon will be back as Jake Sully for James Cameron's Avatar sequels, with the first one arriving in 2021.

Most of us saw Avatar when it came out back in 2009, which means most of us got to see Sam Worthington in the role. However, what you may not know is that Worthington competed against two other major names when the movie was initially coming together: Chris Evans and Channing Tatum. James Cameron revealed on the Empire podcast that there was one big reason Sam Worthington beat his competition, noting,

At the time Avatar was coming together, Channing Tatum had already been in movies like She’s The Man and Step Up and Chris Evans had the Fantastic Four movies under his belt. Sam Worthington had fewer memorable projects going before he landed Avatar, but James Cameron said Worthington's ability to put everything he had into a big speech moment was what put him ahead of the other two guys.

Of course, in the time since, Channing Tatum has had numerous hits and Chris Evans has made a name for himself playing Captain America. Obviously the other guys who tested have been very successful and it sounds like James Cameron put them through a bunch of rigors before landing on his choice. In fact, he told Empire:

Intriguingly, a lot of movies may have looked different if Chris Evans or Channing Tatum had landed the roles. Tatum broke big a couple of years after Avatar with 21 Jump Street and Magic Mike. It was around the same time that Chris Evans broke big as Captain America in the MCU. If anything, Sam Worthington is the smaller name these days, but he is busy with the upcoming Avatar franchise films and James Cameron does not seem to regret his choice.

It’s been a long, hard haul to bring the Avatar franchise into fruition, and in a lot of ways James Cameron is still getting started. Although the popular director has one movie under his belt already, there are four more to go. We also know Sam Worthington is on board for Avatar 2 and 3, which are expected to hit theaters in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

While we wait to see actual footage from the upcoming projects, it's nice to think about what could have been. Be sure to look at what will be with our full guide to Avatar 2 and see what's coming out in the meantime with the 2019 movies schedule.

Manhunt: Unabomber was one of Discovery Channel's big hits of 2017. A strong cast that consisted of Sam Worthington, Jane Lynch and Paul Bettany paired with the story of the FBI's hunt for the Unabomber found universal acclaim amongst critics and audiences, though some have come forward to share their gripes with the series. Ted Kaczynski, the actual Unabomber, recently penned a response to how he felt about the show. And he's not a fan.

Not surprisingly, Ted Kaczynski is not a fan of how his story is portrayed in Manhunt: Unabomber. Though Kaczynski admitted he had not seen the series personally, he said the letters he received since the show's airing led him to believe that Manhunt: Unabomber is more fiction than fact. Specifically, Kaczynski noted that much of what is reported about the study he underwent at Harvard that was led by psychologist Henry Murray was not nearly as unpleasant as the general public has been led to believe. Some in the past have suggested that Kaczynski's experience in the Murray study could be tied to his bombing spree later in life, which is why the study has become such a point on interest in telling the story of the Unabomber.

Ted Kaczynski doesn't appear to buy into that theory, and told CNN's Andrew Kaczynski (no relation) in a letter the whole event was "wildly, wildly, exaggerated." Kaczynski also took the opportunity to advertise his new book, and point the reporter in the direction of another person's take on the accuracy of Manhunt: Unabomber, ex-FBI agent Greg Stejskal:

Greg Stejskal's main issue with Discovery's Manhunt: Unabomber was the show's overstating the role of FBI agent Jim Fitzgerald, who he claimed was only a minor player in the hunt for Ted Kaczynski. Stejskal also said that Fitzgerald never interviewed Kaczynski, though the series made it look as though he was the sole player who brought the Unabomber to justice. Fitzgerald didn't deny the claims made by Stejskal, and while he stated the series was largely accurate, he stated his portrayal in the series was definitely a composite character to connect various events.

Manhunt: Unabomber is currently available to stream on Netflix. For a list of other Netflix titles that are worth streaming, be sure to head over to CinemaBlend's Netflix premiere guide to see what new shows and films are on the horizon. For a look at what's coming down the pipeline for television in general in 2018, check out our midseason premiere guide.

In a time when movie sequels are usually coming out every two to three years, it's hard to believe that the follow-up to 2009's Avatar still hasn't arrived yet. Director James Cameron has been spending a lot of time working on the stories for Avatar 2 and its three successors at once, but it appears production will finally begin later this year. In the meantime, Sam Worthington has read the script already, and he's excited for what's coming up.

While speaking with We've Got This Covered, Sam Worthington, who plays main protagonist Jake Sully, noted that Avatar 2's production will kick off this summer, but more importantly, he delved into how the new sequel will explore Jake's new life as a family man...or rather, family Na'vi. He detailed:

James Cameron mentioned last September that the Avatar sequels would follow Jake and Neytiri as they raised their children, calling them a "family saga." Now Sam Worthington has confirmed that not only will almost the same amount of time have passed for these fictional characters as it has for us, but that Jake will still be discovering new things as a Na'vi. In case you've forgotten, Avatar ended with Jake transferring his consciousness into the Avatar body permanently. Since then, he's been living with the alien race as one of their own, but there are a lot of mysteries on Pandora he hasn't uncovered yet.

This also isn't the first time we've heard praise directed towards the Avatar sequel scripts. Back in December, Sigourney Weaver, who plays Dr. Grace Augustine, complimented the stories for their "scope," and said that since James Cameron had taken care of the "heavy lifting" in the first movie, he would have a lot more room to "play" in future installments. The first Avatar definitely felt cookie cutter with its Dances With Wolves-type story, so learning more about how family will drive Avatar 2 and the other movies makes the continuing franchise sound more novel and unique.

Avatar 2 is expected to be released in theaters on December 21, 2018, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates. Also, if you find yourself at Disney World this summer, you can experience a taste of what Pandora has to offer in the Pandora: The World of Avatar attraction.

We're about to lose Sam Worthington for a couple of years. Soon, he'll be headed back to Pandora for a set of Avatar sequels, losing himself in James Cameron's fanciful world of cat people and uncaring military types. But first, the guy's gonna cram some real acting roles in there, and one of them is that old standby: the hitman.

Sam Worthington will be starring in Hunter's Prayer, according to Screen Daily. Formerly going by the title For The Dogs (yikes, terrible title), this action thriller should sound mighty familiar to anyone fond of scouring the direct-to-DVD bin. Worthington will play an assassin assigned to kill a beautiful young girl. Once he decides he can't go through with it (because he has a penis), the two of them go on the run and learn exactly why she's being targeted and by whom. At $25 million, this is basically the mid-budgeted version of Jupiter Ascending . Which is awesome, because Sam Worthington would look great with elf ears.

This comes from director Jonathan Mostow, who has been out in the wilderness for awhile. He previously directed Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, which benefited from later seeming much better than Terminator Salvation by comparison. Sadly he could only leverage that gig into directing a more-surly-than-usual Bruce Willis in Surrogates and has only worked on TV since. The movie will shoot in Hungary and the UK, so Mostow is a bit far afield of Hollywood.

The film, which apparently was going to co-star Emma Roberts or Hailee Steinfeld before both balked, has got a colorful group of writers behind it as well. Mostow reunited with John Brancato and Michael Ferris, his Terminator 3 and Surrogates writers (who, never forget, also brought us Catwoman and are currently in charge of XxX: The Return of Xander Cage ). Also having a hand in the screenplay is Paul Leyden, who recently wrote the John Cusack thriller The Factory. And because not enough names were already attached to this script, it's also been in the hands on Oren Moverman, who previously wrote and directed critically-acclaimed movies like The Messenger. Oren Moverman gotta eat. This foursome is adapting the book For The Dogs by Kevin Wignall.

As for the premise, well... Mostow was always a promising action director, but with a $25 million budget, this just feels like something a bit more downmarket and not too exciting; the type of thing that would get Nicolas Cage's spider-sense tingling. The script does seem like it's been in the hands of some highly regarded writers, which is promising, though Moverman, an extremely talented writer-director, has previously lent his talents to forgettable for-hire stuff like The Quiet Ones.

This thing lives or dies on two elements. One, why exactly does someone need to pay to kill this girl? Who is she, and what is her family involved in? And two, how worthy will Worthington be in it? Will he have a real character to play, or will he just be another action figure?

In a move that should surprise nobody, 20th Century Fox has made a deal with both Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana to have them reprise their roles as Jake Sully and Neytiri in not only Avatar 2, but also Avatar 3 and Avatar 4. Up until this point the only actor actually attached to all of the movies in the franchise was Stephen Lang, who will play the "Darth Vader" of the series and the central antagonist.

The Hollywood Reporter first posted the news about Worthington and Saldana, though they don't have any details regarding exactly what the new movies will be about. Insider sources have told them that Sully and Neytiri will actually have kids together in the first sequel, but there's no information about what kind of role they will play in the plot. James Cameron is co-writing all three of the new films with Josh Friedman, duo Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, and Shane Salerno, and reports from last October said that production is being scheduled to start this fall. The sequels will be shooting back-to-back-to-back, and Fox is planning to release them in successive Decembers starting in 2016.

Interestingly, the article makes only a passing reference to Sigourney Weaver. Back in February 2010 - when Avatar was still in theaters and blowing up at the box office - the actress revealed that there were plans to resurrect her character, Grace, from the dead. Presumably Cameron is still planning on bringing her back, but it's possible that Fox is still trying to work out a contract.

Since getting his big break with Avatar in 2009, Worthington has been keeping busy with a mix of both small dramas and blockbusters like the Clash of the Titans series. Last year his only film in theaters was the surfing movie Drift, but he has a number of projects in store for 2014, including the Civil War thriller The Keeping Room and David Ayer's action flick Sabotage.

While Worthington's work has mostly kept him on planet Earth, Saldana has dug out a nice niche for herself as one of science fiction's go-to actresses. In addition to playing Uhura in both J.J. Abrams' Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, this summer she will be covered from head to toe in green body makeup to play the alien assassin Gamora in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy. She was most recently part of the fantastic ensemble collected in Scott Cooper's dark drama Out of The Furnace.

If Fox is making deals with Avatar's stars, that may mean it won't be too long until we start hearing about new additions to the franchise. If you were casting the movie, who would you want to see take a part?

James Cameron created a sensation when he released Avatar in December of 2009. Holding the top spot at the charts for seven weeks in a row, the film wound up making nearly $750 million domestically when it was first released, and it continues to be the only film other than Titanic to make over $2 billion at the global box office. Fans have waited patiently ever since for Cameron to get around to making the sequel, and were excited back in August when the director promised Avatar 2 for December 2016. But when does that mean cameras will start rolling?

According to star Sam Worthington, the answer to that question is about one full year from now. Variety picked up on an interview that the actor did with an Australia radio station called NovaFM and revealed both when and how they will be shooting the sequels for Avatar. “We are going to start this time next year and we will do two, three and four,” he said. “In one shot, we’ll do them simultaneously. I’ll be grateful if it finishes.” He added, "I think Jim is building the ship to Pandora, to be honest."

This, of course, won't be the first time that a major blockbuster franchise has filmed a bunch of movies at the same time. Peter Jackson decided that this method was the best way for him to make his Lord of the Rings trilogy - a series that went on to become an unquestionable success - and he did it again when it came time to start filming The Hobbit. What makes this such a challenging way to shoot is that the production needs to have all of the scripts in place before production begins, which means that Cameron and his writers have to have three full scripts ready to go. This would also go a long way in explaining why it's taken so long for these sequels to get going.

Making three movies in one go could also suggest that all three will be playing out one big over-arching storyline while each of the individual movies have full narratives of their own. Hopefully this means that Cameron and screenwriters Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds), Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planets of the Apes), and Shane Salerno (Savages) are putting more thought into the story than what we saw last time. They'll certainly have a ridiculous budget to work with thanks to the box office earnings of the first movie, so we'll just have to hope that they use it appropriately.

Director Daniel Alfredson, best known for helming the Swedish adaptations of both The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, has put together a strong ensemble of stars to frontline his next film, the thriller Kidnapping Freddy Heineken, with an Oscar winner sitting pretty at the top of the list. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Swedish filmmaker has enlisted Anthony Hopkins, Sam Worthington, Jim Sturgess, Ryan Kwanten, Dutch star Mark van Eeuwen and newcomer Tom Cocquerel to star in the new movie, which is based on a true story.

Set in 1983, the film will follow a team of criminals who attempted to kidnap Alfred "Freddy" Heineken, the grandson of the founder of the Heineken Brewery. The crime stands out in history because the case involved a ransom of 35 million Dutch guilders - the largest ever paid up to that point and equivalent to about $21,704,000 today. Sadly the trade doesn't mention who most of the cast will be playing in the movie, though they do say that Hopkins will be playing the title character/kidnapping victim.

Alfredson has not previously ventured into American filmmaking, but I'm willing to bet that the mix of his heritage and name is bound to cause some confusion. "Daniel" also happens to be the first name of fellow Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa, who brought us both Snabba Cash and Safe House:

And "Alfredson" is the surname of fellow Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson, best known for making Let The Right One In and Tinker Tailor Solider Spy.

Trying to keep all of those names and filmmographies straight could end up being a good challenge.

Production on Kidnapping Freddy Heineken is gearing up to start later this month and will be filming all around the globe, shooting in Belgium, Amsterdam and New Orleans.

Surfing movies are often about overcoming an obstacle or a tragedy, set to beautiful scenescapes and some inspired sporting scenes. Ben Nott and Morgan O’Neill’s recent movie, Drift, is a little different in the surfing movie canon. It’s not about winning a competition or overcoming the death of a friend, although both of those themes do pop up. Instead, it’s about building a business in the changing surfing world in the early seventies, all with the help of a few friends. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has graciously extended us an exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus clip from Drift, which takes a look at Lesley-Ann Brandt’s character, Lani, and her role as a friend, fellow surfer, and business dreamer in the film.

Drift is about the Andy and Jimmy Kelly (Myles Pollard and Xavier Samuel), two brothers who live along the coast in Australia and who have put together a new and shorter type of surfboard. The guys decide to give business a go, but just when things seem to be taking off, a rogue biker gang and a young lady named Lani may come in the way of the partnership.

Lani’s a free spirit from Hawaii, who shows up with a man named JB (Sam Worthington) to surf some waves and ends up in a sort-of love triangle with the two brothers. In the clip, we get to see her big arrival on the scene, as well as a few moments where the brothers jab at one another as they compete for her affections. It’s amusing stuff, and it works even better within the context of the film as a whole, providing lighthearted moments amidst scenes that are shot in black and white for affect or feature no music to tell us how to feel as a large wave comes crashing down.

If you’re a sucker for surfing related movies, Lionsgate Home Entertainment is bringing Drift on to Blu-ray and DVD on September 17. The set doesn’t come with a ton of bonus features, but the bulk of the features are a set of behind-the-scenes interviews like the one we included above. If you are simply wanting to give the R-rated flick a shot, it’s currently available to rent via outlets including Amazon.

You can check out the official trailer for Drift and see more of how the characters interact, below.

While it is doubtful the phrase “Academy Award winner Sam Worthington” is going to sincerely come out of someone’s mouth anytime soon, the guy definitely has an enviable career, mixing gigantic budget affairs like Avatar and Wrath of the Titans with low-budget flicks like Texas Killing Fields. Put him in anything, and he’ll be serviceable. So why not a Civil War thriller?

Deadline reports he's the latest to join The Keeping Room, the second film from Harry Brown director Daniel Barber - and I think it’s safe to call him the male lead. He joins Brit Marling (Sound of My Voice), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Nicole Beharie (42) in the film, which was written by Julia Hart.

In The Keeping Room, Worthington will play a soldier in the last days of the Civil War who breaks off from the impending Union Army and stumbles upon a group of women who are left to fight for themselves. While it doesn’t say which side he’s on, I’m assuming this film will not feature his character murdering three women in cold blood, so there will probably be 1865 war games afoot with four against all.

Next up, you’ll be able to see Worthington in the surf drama Drift – and we all know how great surfing dramas are – and he also stars in David Ayer’s upcoming action thriller Ten, with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Principal photography on The Keeping Room should start up some time in June, with the film looking for an unspecified release date in 2014.

Between Avatar and Terminator Salvation, Sam Worthington seemed poised to be the next big thing in 2009. However, the latter feature was loathed by critics, and the former drew buzz for its spectacle, not its performances. Still, Worthington's been doing all right, scoring roles in action films like Clash of the Titans and Man on Ledge and dramas like Last Night and Texas Killing Fields. Still, he's yet to really establish his brand. Could a thriller helmed by Clear and Present Danger director Phillip Noyce make all the difference?

Variety reports Worthington has signed on to headline For The Dogs. Based on the Kevin Wignall novel of the same name, the film follows recently retired hitman Stephen Lucas who is asked to watch out for Ella, the spirited college-aged daughter of a friend. But when her whole family is murdered, Lucas comes out of retirement to protect her and help her exact a bloody revenge. Worthington will presumably play Lucas; no mention is made as to who might play Ella.

For The Dogs will be Noyce's first feature film since the 2010 Angelina Jolie vehicle Salt. The screenplay for this thriller was initially adapted by Paul Leyden (The Factory). However, while he will continue to produce the pic, writer-director Oren Moverman (The Messenger, Rampart) has been brought in for rewrites.

On paper, this sounds like it could be a satisfying thriller. Noyce is known for corralling engaging action sequences, and Moverman's built his reputation on stirring character dramas. For his part, Worthington is a competent actor, but in all I've seen of him I've yet to see him really come alive onscreen. Typically, I find him fine, but forgettable. All the same, he'll appear opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2014 action-thriller Ten, and possibly in James Cameron's Avatar sequel(s).

Surfboards. Beer. Babes. Drift seems to have all of the ingredients of a bitchin’ surf lark, with Sam Worthington and his Aussie buds opening a surf shack as a means of putting life on hold for a few more years. Those tasty waves don’t last forever, after all.

But the latest trailer for Morgan O’Neill and Ben Nott’s sport-drama suggests a darker turn that suddenly has us pretty excited for the Australian export. Twitch just posted it. Check it out below:

The one-liners in the clip are a little groan-worthy, and the titled cards (“They didn’t wait for the perfect wave … the built it from scratch!”) wouln’t be out of place in a Gerard Butler-Katherine Heigl rom-com commercial. But there’s something about surf photography that has always looked amazing on the big screen, and the surfing scene in O’Neill and Nott’s flick look bodacious.

Worthington’s name will be on the poster, as he’s the lone “marketable” talent in the ensemble. But it looks like he’s third-banana to the scrappy surfing brothers played by Xavier Samuel and Myles Pollard. Their combustible chemistry likely will be the foundation on which Drift builds, and if we’re going to buy into the story being told here, they are going to have to give us characters to root for. Hopscotch plans to release Drift in Australia in 2013, with a probable rollout to the States in the early part of the year. With the trailer, there comes an official synopsis. Tell us, are you interested in Drift?

Sam Worthington reportedly wasn’t on his best behavior over the weekend in Atlanta, but luckily for him, he won’t see any real fallout from it. The outstanding charges filed against the actor have been dropped because the plaintiff decided not to pursue the matter, leaving the Avatar star with nothing to clean up but his pride.

According to TMZ, Worthington was in Georgia over the weekend filming scenes for Ten, his upcoming film with Arnold Schwarzenegger, when he decided to enjoy the local nightlife. Unfortunately, by the time he made it Vortex, a local restaurant, he was allegedly inebriated and without identification. When the bouncer refused to provide him access, Worthington supposedly pushed the doorman twice, got belligerent and ended up with pepper spray all over his face. The police arrived not long after, and the mystery doorman turned Worthington over. He was promptly arrested, hauled off to the station and charged with disorderly conduct—fighting. His initial court appearance to answer the charges was this morning, but without a complaining witness, there wasn’t any point in moving forward.

I can’t imagine producers were too pleased with Worthington’s behavior, but with all of the charges now out of the way, his little brush with the law shouldn’t affect the movie’s shooting schedule. Plus, one would hope this entire mess would serve as a nice lesson as to why having a little less fun is usually the better call.

Sam Worthington and Arnold Schwarzenegger have never shared a scene together, but in a strange way they have. Worthington, of course, was the star of Terminator Salvation, which Schwarzenegger wasn't involved with, but the Australian actor did share a scene with a fully-CGI terminator that was made to look like the Austrian bodybuilder/former governor. But for those of you who thought that was just too much of a tease and want to see the real actors together on screen, I have some good news to deliver.

Variety reports that Worthington is now in talks to star in David Ayer's Ten, which already has Schwarzenegger attached. The thriller, which is loosely based on Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, is about a DEA task force that plans to rob a drug cartel's safe house while pretending that it's a raid. While the job goes well and everything seems to have worked out, they begin to panic as the members of the squad are killed off one-by-one. The film will be Ayer's follow-up to End of Watch, his new cop drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, which is set to come out on September 21st (it was recently bumped up one week from its original September 28th release date). Skip Woods, who is best known for scripting movies like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The A-Team and the upcoming A Good Day To Die Hard, was given the pen for the project. The trade doesn't say when production is scheduled to begin.

Worthington has already appeared twice in 2012, having starred in both Man on A Ledge and Wrath of the Titans. He will next be seen in Ben Nott and Morgan O'Neill's Drift, which doesn't have an official US release date as of yet.

It ain’t easy getting work in this industry, especially a film like Wrath of the Titans, but boy did director Jonathan Liebesman take on, well, a monster. While Clash of the Titans went on to make a killing at the box office, $493.2 million worldwide, many moviegoers weren’t particularly happy with the experience. In a way, not only is Liebesman responsible for making his own movie good, but also for making up for the last one a bit.

Sam Worthington is back as Perseus, who is now a father. With the gods’ power waning, Zeus (Liam Neeson), Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston) are unable to maintain control of the Titans and, led by their once banished father Kronos, they threaten humanity yet again. Perseus has no choice, but to leave his son and quaint life as a fisherman behind to go head to head with some of the most vicious monsters of the underworld.

Kronos, Chimeras, Cyclopes, explosions an ever-changing labyrinth, some of the most prominent actors in the business, an extra dimension and more – forget the franchise’s past; Liebesman had his hands full regardless. Now, in honor of Wrath of the Titans’ March 30th release, Liebesman took the time to sit down and run through the entire process from the preparation needed to do 3D right to the steps to making the real world elements blend with those digitally created and much more. Check it all out in the interview below.

How does something like this fall into your hands?

Jonathan Liebesman: It doesn’t really fall into your hands. [Laughs] In my case it took like ten years now that I think about it. You work on movies and then I did this film Battle: Los Angeles where I had to fight for the job really hard and fortunately on this one they approached me. And obviously the cast is incredibly and the subject matter is fun and the budgets they give you are amazing, so it’s kind of a no-brainer as an opportunity.

So after you get this great opportunity is there ever a moment where you go, wow, now how am I going to pull it off?

There’s always that. Even when you’re doing a student film, you go like, ‘Fuck, how are we gonna do this?’ There’s the exact same anxieties. It’s no different. It’s just as big a part of your life.

And how about the fact that there’s another film in this franchise and that that film made a ton of money, but some people didn’t necessarily think it was worth theirs?

Well, it’s hard because you hope that they’ll pay for this one and come back and see it. Everyone acknowledges and wants to make something better and, you know, they’re such talented people whether it’s the cast, the crew, everybody. Look, if you’re gonna go into something completely intimated, don’t do it. I think what money gets made is out of my hands. There’s The Hunger Games this week, which no one expected, which is destroying the universe. So you can’t expect these things; you just try and make the best movie you can make.

How about the 3D because a big reason people weren’t thrilled with the first is you pay so much money for the ticket and then the 3D wasn’t that great?

The thing is, that was an easy solve because the 3D on the last movie was shit because they finished the film and decided to convert it and gave it six weeks to be converted, which is 1,800 shots in six weeks, no shots were even planned to be 3D shots, no sequences were planned to be 3D sequences. You can’t win. We knew we were gonna be a 3D film so you plan everything for 3D, you have a stereographer on set everyday, you start your post conversion a year in advance instead of six weeks in advanced and you create moments that suit 3D. It was a different ballgame. Those poor guys were set up to fail. This was a completely different situation. We had a great team from Harry Potter that did great conversions, so we always had our best foot forward with the 3D on this movie.

Now how does that affect your preparation process in terms of storyboarding or whatever it is you do to get ready to shoot?

You think in terms of what can we bring into negative space or what happens often, I had to learn this, negative space means when something is in the audience and so if you bring Perseus and Pegasus into negative space, there’s an effect where they feel miniaturized, but we actually used that to the advantage, say, in scenes with Kronos, because you really feel like Perseus is tiny and Kronos is massive with the 3D. So the 3D really enhances things. Also I believe the best looking 3D is when you bring little things into the audience, like embers or water droplets or stuff like that, so we added a lot of that or showed a lot of that stuff so you could bring it into the audience.

Funny you say that, at one point there was this one ember that felt like it was coming right towards my eye and I actually winced!

I think that stuff works the best. For 3D to be good you can’t cut things off in the frame and so embers are tiny, so they’re not gonna be framed out and the longer something stays in frame for 3D, the more effective it is, so those are always best - bubbles, embers, dust.

So going from the highly technical to black and white, when you get a script like this what happens if you come across something that isn’t working? Do you have the ability to make adjustments?

Well, you ask a lot of people, you sit down with the writers. It’s always a discussion on a movie like this. Unless you’re Chris Nolan, it’s always gonna be a discussion of can we make this better, this is what I’m going for, it’s about fathers and sons, maybe we can push that more in this scene. That’s studio filmmaking. The benefit of a studio filmmaking is you get an incredible distribution and you get an incredible budget. The downfall is obviously you are responsible to the people giving you the money.

Speaking of the father son stuff, the added drama here kind of creeps into the action, too, specifically in terms of the use of close-up shots in the battle sequences.

I think for me the most effective action that I’ve seen is movies like Private Ryan or the Bourne movies where it is subjective and the action is character driven. In say Bourne, it’s like Matt Damon’s stress as he goes through situations or Private Ryan, the fear of the soldiers or even in M:I 4 it was really great the way they used Tom Cruise and he’s always under pressure in every scene and it’s about him so you don’t even think you’re in an action scene. You just know you’re in a scene where he has to win. So those are my favorite action scenes and we were just trying to, I guess imitate that kind of stuff.

How do you do that and also make sure that the audience understands the geography of a battle?

It’s interesting. I think it’s more important to know emotionally what the character wants. I asked that exact question to Paul Greengrass after I saw Bourne Ultimatum because I was like, ‘Paul, I don’t know how you managed to let me know where the hell I was because it was just so quick and fast.’ I said, ‘How do you know when to cut wide, when do you go in close?’ He didn’t really answer me, but what I realized was you just know what the character wants and you go with it and you feel like you know the geography. Of course you have a wide shot that shows you a vibe of the location, but it’s more about if emotionally you’re with the character, the geography matters a lot less.

Can you tell me about your locations? Obviously there’s a ton of green screen and CGI, but imagine a lot of the material must have been there physically, too.

We were on a ton of locations, which is important. We wanted to shoot as much on location as possible and I think effects have gotten to a point now that sometimes you don’t even know it was green screen. Especially in contemporary modern movies, you have characters in a city and the city wasn’t there and you’re like, really? There was a lot of stuff here where they put a landscape behind someone and it was like, holy shit, I forgot we were on a green screen there. So location as much as possible, but for practical reasons, sometimes you have to shoot green screen and just know how to light so you look like you’re outside.

How do you go about blending the real people with all your digital monsters?

If you want effects to work, they have to interact with the world and the characters as much as possible, so what you’ll do is set charges on trees that’ll blow a tree up and then the animator has something to interact with and it’s always gonna look real. With the Chimera running through a village, you’re blowing up walls and stuff. And also, Sam is excellent at creating things. There’s a shot where the labyrinth is coming apart and reconfiguring, and Sam’s looking all over the place and that’s giving everyone cues to do things. If the actor’s not giving you that, it’ll never seem real. It’s a lot of how you light a scene. I like hard sunlight on CGI because it blows out the highlights. When you design a creature, make sure the textures you’re picking for them are textures that computers render well. That’s why Transformers looks so good, because steel and plastic is very easy to render with CGI whereas flesh and biological stuff is difficult. So it’s just a lot of making decisions to make your life easier.

Speaking of that labyrinth scene, you’ve got one shot during the reconfiguration where it looks like a piece of the set legitimately slid under Sam’s feet. Is that practical at all?

That’s CG. That’s all CG. That was what blew me away. You want to know the one which really blew me away was where Bill Nighy is doing that thing with the door [mimics motions of Nighy grabbing portions of the door], the door isn’t there and I was like, ‘Holy shit.’ That, to me, blew me away when I started seeing those dailies. He’s just doing this to green blocks and they rendered it so photo-realistically, I was like, holy shit, I should have made like a door monster or something. [Laughs]

How was it working with guys like Bill, Liam and Ralph? You’ve had great casts before, but these guys are some really heavy hitters.

Fantastic. These guys are incredible and you feel stupid directing them because they’ve been directed by like geniuses in genius movies and you feel not worthy and stupid, like you’re gonna fuck their career up.

Was there ever an awkward moment, like maybe the first day you were directing them, and you just didn’t know how to do it?

There’s always awkward moments, but, as the director, you must always pretend you know. Even when they go, ‘That’s a stupid idea,’ you’re like, ‘It’s a joke guys. Calm down. Did you think I’d really ask you to do that?’

Does that trick work on a set with hundreds of crewmembers and extras?

Always. Always works. ‘Guys I was just joking. Come on! We don’t have to do this,’ you know? [Laughs]

What’s the hope from here with this movie? I assume if all goes to plan, there’ll be round three.

I hope it makes some money!

Is there any option in your agreement to return?

No option in my agreement, but I hope it makes a lot of money and they want to keep going. That’s up to them, not to me.

Activision released a follow-up to the "Vet and n00b" Modern Warfare 3 commercial that made the rounds last month. In this latest video, Sam Worthington and Jonah Hill return to continue their odd couple schtick.

The premise of the original trailer was that Jonah Hill is the clueless MW3 noob that uses his grenade launcher at every opportunity and sprays his weapon around without aiming. Worthington is the calm and experienced soldier that shows him the ropes. If you missed the ad when it first debuted, check it out here.

The new video extends one of the scenes from the original ad. Hill and Worthington get a chance to put their guns aside and engage in some banter. It almost feels like an outtake from the first trailer.

MW3 is available worldwide on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Read our review to find out more about it.

Every actor needs a great submarine movie to round out their career. Where would Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman be without Crimson Tide, or Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin without The Hunt for Red October? Well, they’d still be as successful as they are now, but those movies are decidedly awesome because there’s just something cool about big steel tubes firing torpedoes at each other underwater.

Gerard Butler, occasional romcom specialist and frequent object of middle-aged ladies’ affections, is in talks to join the ranks of awesome actors whose careers are made more awesome thanks to their roles in submarine films. Variety has it that the 300 star may be taking on the lead role in Hunter Killer, about a rookie submarine captain forced to test his mettle. His mission: cooperate with a Navy SEAL team to help rescue the kidnapped Russian president and prevent World War III. Lofty, I know.

Joining Butler will be action hero “it” guy Sam Worthington who’ll play the SEAL team leader, but no other assignments have been doled out yet. At the helm for the film will be acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua who has so many movies in development it’ll make your head spin. It surprising that he’s finding time to get Hunter Killer together for the proposed release next Christmas among everything else he’s working on.

Based on the novel Firing Point by retired submariner George Wallace and his collaborator Don Keith, Hunter Killer may not be setting up anyone involved for Oscar nods, but undoubtedly this movie will be big action with some heavy drama as Butler’s character tries to survive his trial-by-fire. More on Hunter Killer as the cast fills out.

James Cameron and Sam Worthington are already planning a reunion for Avatar 2, which is presumably happening at some point, though chatter has been minimal lately. But apparently Jake Sully and the inventor of Pandora like each other so much that they're teaming up to tackle another sci-fi story entirely, though not one that will presumably take them away from Avatar 2, whenever that gets going. THR reports that 20th Century Fox is about to pick up the sci-fi pitch Myth from Will Staples, an action-packed story that Cameron would executive produce, with Worthington and Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing.

No deals have been made yet, but Cameron isn't planning to direct and Worthington isn't planning to star, meaning the movie can be advertised as "the team that brought you Avatar" without actually sucking up all their time (kinda like the way Sanctum was produced by Cameron, but was awful in a way Cameron's movies never have been). Staples is a newcomer to screenwriting, with a handful of projects in development that he wrote with writing partner Sean O'Keefe, but has a long background in writing the Call of Duty video games, experience that ought to give him a leg up in writing Myth, which THR describes thusly: "It's big, it's sci-fi, and it's got lots of action."

Big original sci-fi projects seem to be more popular these days than ever, surely in no small part thanks to Avatar-- Ridley Scott is bringing us the Alien prequel-but-not-really with Prometheus, Neill Blomkamp is busy preparing the outer space-set Elysium, and Prometheus writer (and Lost mastermind) Damon Lindelof is planning another one at Disney. Even with J.J. Abrams delaying Star Trek 2 and no start date in sight for Avatar 2, it's a good time to go to outer space at the movies.

Last Night stars two actors from two of the biggest movies of all time, Pirates of the Caribbean's Keira Knightley and Avatar's Sam Worthington. And yet, this stripped-down and very, very intimate drama is maybe exactly what you wouldn't expect form the two of them, baring their souls as married couple Michael and Joanna, separate for one evening and each running into temptation toward very different kinds of infidelity. Michael is on a business trip with a very comely co-worker (Eva Mendes), while Joanna bumps into a former flame (Guillaume Canet) who's in town for only one night; what decisions each of them make, to cheat or not to cheat, even while loving each other dearly, make up the minutely observed and constantly heartbreaking Last Night.

Massy Tadjedin makes her directorial debut with this film, which you almost never got to see-- it was purchased by Miramax in its third week of production and then languished there while the company went up for sale, and Miramax parent company Disney unwilling to do anything with the film for fear of stepping on the toes of Miramax's eventual buyer. As Tadjedin put it they caught a lucky break when Disney allowed them to take the film to the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, where it was the closing night gala and where Tribeca Film-- the company behind the New York festival and a new distributor-- sparked to the movie set in their neighborhood. Tribeca Film is releasing Last Night now theatrically (it expands wider this Friday) and on-demand.

I caught up with Tadjedin at the tail end of the Tribeca Film Festival and asked her about the headaches of making a film only to see it sit unreleased for nearly two years. We also talked about how to tell a story about infidelity without judgment, how she built the film around Knightley (who she had worked with on the 2005 film The Jacket, which Tadjedin wrote) and why the central couple lives in an incredibly huge apartment by New York standards. For more on the film you can also read my review here.

You cast Sam Worthington well before Avatar came out. What did you see in him that made you want him on board?

I had seen him in this Australian film called Somersault with Abbie Cornish, and both of them had caught my eye. I sent Sam the script and met with him while he was shooting Avatar-- it was well before anyone knew Sam was going to go on and do these enormous films. He had great sympathy for the character of Michael, and I thought he would have a great married chemistry with Keira.

Because you had known her before this. Did you write the role with her in mind?

I hadn't written it for her, but I haven't yet written for people. I do sometimes write with people in mind. I think the Joanna I had in mind was somewhere between Julie Christie and Natalie Wood. I think my men tend to be written with Paul Newman in mind.

So you write for actors who can never do it.

But I had to persuade Keira to do it, and that anchored the casting process. They're not four roles you can cast simultaneously, because they're very chemistry dependent. A couple needs to have a certain texture to their relationship and their marriage that is very different from the physicality and the attraction with their respective others. So it's one at a time. Then Guillaume Canet I met first as a director. He was screening his film Tell No One. These things are so instinctive; I just thought, they will have great chemistry together. Eva, I met her and really thought she would be great in presenting Laura warmly.

It seems like you feel the need to defend that character, because she could be perceived as a homewrecker.

I do, because it's so easy to judge cheating when some of it is ostensibly seducing. When there is sexual cheating involved it's very easy to judge, because there's a clear line that's been crossed. Part of what the film is looking at is that there are degrees of everything. Sometimes there is a lack of awareness of our involvement with other people, what could be damaging or too intimate. It's so easy when you're watching or reading a story to just judge something. It puts that distance-- she's a vixen, she beelined for that man, that's just a person to avoid. And that's not how life works.

The movie occupies those spaces and really carefully observes the way the actors move around each other. How did you work with that chemistry and alter the film based on that?

I had never directed a film before, but you spend hours on a description or a line--and I still think having done this that it's extremely worthwhile, because that sentiment that you have written on the page and want revealed is passed on to the actor. Then when you go to set and the thing starts to breathe, and the people start to live in these bodies, they shorthand express it in a way that makes the three hours of work in the afternoon so unnecessary. You have a line and you know when you're shooting it, watching it up close, and you know that before they've delivered the line, their eyes have. The last look of the film, from Sam, it was scripted as a question-- "What did you do last night?" But it never felt honest when he asked it, because his eyes had already asked it.

Did you ever write any more of the scene between Keira and Guillaume? Their scenes together seem less written.

No, their scenes were like that. I think I cut a little bit of Michael and Laura, because we were able to get some of their tension from looks. But that was all scripted. We knew when were rehearsing, the chemistry the two of them [Keira and Guillaume] had, that the conversations would feel familiar to them.

Michael and Joanna live in this really gorgeous downtown apartment-- they're really young and really rich. How did you choose to make them that way?

First of all, the apartment was really hard to find. We looked for the apartment for three weeks and we came down to the wire. I still stand by the choice, but having said that, we were always concerned about how this would translate to the screen. We were trying not to have them be uber-weatlhy, just a successful working couple. But there are logistical concerns. We needed access for an elevator, space to fit the crew-- it was always important to me in that apartment for there to be enough corners and places in the apartment to show how these two have inhabited this space. What corners are hers, what corners are his. There's not a lot of history in the film. The history is really in the flea market furniture that belongs to them, the TV that belongs to him but not to her. But at the same time she's claimed a whole corner of the apartment for her books and stuff. But it is a larger apartment, and I wonder if we had an extra week to look… But it is important that this be like life that we know it, not as a very rarefied couple in New York knows it.

There's a consistent look to this movie that just feels like downtown New York-- the Soho House, the neighbor's apartment, the loft party.

We wanted it to feel like life right now in downtown New York. And I love when you watch films from the 70s and 80s and get a glimpse of what it meant to live at that time, or even if it's not the everyday life of most of us at that time, what the aesthetics of that tie were. And I also wanted it to have a timelessness in terms of the decor and look of the film. I didn't wants it to be hyper trendy. I wanted this film to look relevant.

Wasn't there a point where you thought it might only be released on DVD?

We really had no idea how or if it was going to come out. Occe a year is passed everyone is generally concerned. And there was the question of it coming out in Europe, and that makes me very worried, because everything is so immediately online. Everything is so easy to get your hands on. . The thing I think I learned on this, and it was a good thing to learn, is that there is no point at which you are certain of the outcome. So you have to take the enjoyment and satisfaction that you can int he making of it and trust that it will find its way.

Was the warm reception at Toronto a huge relief for you?

What was great about Toronto is that we hadn't seen the film with an audience. To see it at Roy Thompson Hall, just to watch it with a group of people after that long wait, it was hugely rewarding. The biggest thing you have when you finish the film is, "Is anyone going to get this?" You write something and direct it and wonder, is anyone going to get what we were trying to say? And you don't really get that until you sit with an audience.

VOD is so crucial for films like this, being so small and getting seen. I think the intimacy of this film really works for that format, but since no filmmaker ever makes a movie with TV in mind, I wonder how you feel about that.

It's all very new to me, so I'm interested in seeing how it goes. It is very satisfying to watch it with an audience for me, because you get to see the collective resistance or anxiety about what these characters are doing. But I do watch films by myself alone in my house, a lot, and this being available to watch that way is a good thing. I grew up in Yorba LInda, and we didn't have a movie theater in Yorba Linda. We had one theater in Anaheim, and it didn't have the movies that I was dying to see. And I would have to wait a very long time for those films to come and be available on VHS. I think then I really would have appreciated. My 14-year-old self would have been able to see this movie.

With the Tribeca Film Festival about a month away, promotion has begun for Last Night starring Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last fall and has been making its way around the world festival by festival for about six months before being picked up for release by Miramax and Tribeca itself, which will release the film on-demand on April 25, about two weeks before the theatrical release.

This new trailer isn’t that much different than the trailer we saw a month ago, but it does away with the questionable title cards and adds a big fat Tribeca bumper to the front. Last Night looks like one of those well-done movies about love and relationships that just makes you want to bang your head against the wall in frustration and depression. It is one of those movies that reminds you that even when you’re in a happy marriage, someone could come along who is better and either steal you or your spouse away.

Below we’ve got the new trailer, which you can see in glorious HD at Apple, as well as a new poster which hit across the pond at HeyUGuys. Check out the trailer if you’re looking to question your relationship.

When the Clash of the Titans remake was announced, we all had a pretty good idea of what the film would be about. After all, why stretch too far from the 1981 Desmond Davis movie? But with a sequel going into production, it's been a mystery as to exactly what the new story would tackle and what characters/actors would return. Today we get the answer.

ScreenRant has received a press release announcing that Clash of the Titans 2 - apparently no longer called Wrath of the Titans - has gone into production, and included is the full cast list and plot details. Set 10 years after Perseus (Sam Worthington) defeated the Kraken, the hero is trying to live a quiet life as a father to his son, Helius. But while this is going on, things are going a bit crazy on Mount Olympus, as the gods can no longer control the imprisoned titans due to the humans' lack of faith. The leader of the titans is Kronos, who also happens to be the father of Zeus (Liam Neeson), Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). But when Hades and his son Ares (Edgar Ramirez), the god of war, team up to help Kronos capture Zeus, Perseus is called back into action. Bringing a team together that includes Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Argenor (Toby Kebbell), son of Poseidon, and Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), a fallen god, they head into the underworld to rescue Zeus.

One name that you might notice is missing is Gemma Arterton, who is currently filming Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, suggesting that she's known for a while that she wouldn't be involved. Directed by Battle: Los Angeles-helmer Jonathan Liebesman, the film is currently scheduled to be released on March 30, 2012.

Thanks to the complicated sale of Miramax, two upcoming titles - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and Last Night - have been caught in limbo. Recently, however, the tide has turned and both projects have seen forward motion, the former recently getting an August 12 release date and the latter landing a distribution deal. In celebration, we now have the second trailer for Last Night.

Posted by Miramax on their YouTube page, Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington play a married couple who suddenly find themselves in dangerous situations. Worthington is on a business trip with his beautiful co-worker, played by Eva Mendes and Knightly runs into an old flame, played by Guillaume Canet. Set over the course of one night, the question is whether or not they can resist temptation and stay loyal to each other.

Check out the trailer below.

Even though it closed last fall's Toronto Film Festival and stars two of the world's most famous people, Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington, Massy Tadjedin's infidelity drama Last Night has had trouble finding a distributor, mostly because it is owned by the floundering, just-exploiting-our-back-catalog Miramax Films. Now a brand-new distributor based in the neighborhood where the movie is set has stepped up to the rescue. In a press release Miramax and Tribeca Film have announced they'll team up to release the film both on-demand and in theaters starting this spring.

Tribeca Film will actually be distributing the film, and though they've previously released a handful of films for limited repertory engagements in New York and L.A., this will be the widest distribution yet for the company also behind the annual Tribeca Film Festival. Miramax will release it on DVD and digitally in the long-term. The partnership is exciting and unusual, but also hugely promising for a lot of independent films that thought they had lost a major option when Miramax started weirdly focusing only on remaking the movies it already owns.

In Last Night Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington star as a well-off New York City couple who are separated from one night, he on a business trip with a comely and flirtatious colleague (Eva Mendes) and she reuniting with an old French boyfriend (Guillaume Canet) who still carries a torch. The entire film hinges on "will they or won't they?" while sustaining a romantic, pensive mood; reviewing it from Toronto Cinematical wrote that "it should be a guideline for what separates a tired story from an engaging new adventure." Now, after looking like it would languish on the shelf forever, Last Night will finally get its chance to enthrall new audiences.

Having just yesterday rewatched Avatar for the first time since its release, I was reminded that while the story is recycled, it’s an endlessly fun and beautiful film to watch. That said, any news of its sequel will excite roughly 98% of the world’s population, even if it’s just very slight details.

The film’s star, Sam Worthington, recently talked to Moviefone about where writer/director James Cameron is in the process. Spoiler alert: He’s still got quite a way to go.

The Australian-as-hell actor also had a few ideas of his own about where the story would take them once the helmer starts putting a script together.

I’d like to hear where you think Cameron should take this first of two planned sequels. Sound off in the comments below and those who can only say “Avatar was stupid,” please simply let the fans have a discussion and move along to today’s next top story. I have high hopes for this sequel and I fully trust the genius James Cameron to meet them.