Science fiction icon Sigourney Weaver will be back for the Avatar sequels, even though her character died in the first film. Director James Cameron confirmed on Monday that his Aliens star will be back.
In a statement to Deadline, Cameron noted that he is good friends with Weaver, so it “just feels right that she’s coming back for the Avatar sequels.” Her first character, Grace Augustine, died, but she’s taking on a more “challenging” character in the new films, Cameron said.
Monday’s announcement is nothing more than a formality, since it is no surprise that Weaver will be back. After all, it was Weaver who said in 2012 that Cameron would be making the three sequels back-to-back, which is still how he plans on making them. Plus, if Stephen Lang can play the villain again after dying in Avatar, why couldn’t Weaver come back?
While Cameron wrote and directed 2009’s Avatar solo, he has picked a screenwriting team to help him develop the further adventures of the Na’vi. The three sequels are all scheduled to be released in December of 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Cameron is producing the films with his Lightstorm partner, Jon Landau. Fox will release them. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana are also set to return.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com