Avatar 2 is a long-awaited sequel and with Disney now at the reins, they could use several ideas to help build upon the franchise before it releases.
2009’s Avatar is still the highest-grossing movie that James Cameron has ever directed, yet a sequel to the 2008 hit still hasn’t been released yet. Avatar 2 has been in development for quite some time and has been delayed over and over again for various reasons.
With the movie currently set for release in December of 2021, it may finally be time to start revisiting the planet of Pandora once more. There’s a lot of space to fill in anticipation for this massive film though and Disney may be looking at ways to slowly reintroduce this science fiction world to audiences. Luckily for them, they have a track record of successfully expanding big franchises.
10 Pandora Rising
The mobile game market is still a massive one. While there’s plenty of older games that audiences still love to pick up and play, there’s also a slew of new projects constantly in development. Pandora Rising is just one of those many games.
The world of Avatar hasn’t been brought to mobile quite like this. With the game having its own delays, it looks like it will finally be releasing in 2021. Of course, this may open the door for many other mobile games from Pandora if the first is successful.
9 Park Expansions
One of Disney’s biggest expansions in terms of its parks in the last few years has to be the arrival of Pandora. Beautifully designed and mesmerizing to explore, the Imagineers really hit a home run when it came to creating something that would fit the movie’s legacy.
This is surely only the first step in a much larger plan for expansion though. Whether it’s bringing elements of Pandora to other Disney Parks across the globe, or updating the existing versions, there’s surely going to be a few changes in order to coincide with the release of Avatar 2.
8 Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics have been given huge licenses over the years. A trusted publisher of some of the world’s biggest titles, much like they had control of Star Wars before Disney’s acquisition, they have also had access to the Avatar IP.
They have released a few different comic arcs under the brand, the most well known of which is a semi-sequel to Avatar known as The Next Shadow by Jeremy Barlow and Josh Hood. Disney may want to replicate the success of these comics by turning to Dark Horse once more.
7 VR Game
James Cameron is well known for embracing new technology. With Virtual Reality headsets continuing to defy expectations, it may be possible that Avatar could be revitalized as a VR game or experience unlike anything else in the market.
Besides the fact that Pandora would be a perfect location for audiences to explore in this medium, it’s also a path that Disney has started to explore. Tales From The Galaxy’s Edge is a great example of what could be achieved on this platform.
6 Animated Show
Disney and animation go hand in hand since it’s really this art form that managed to capture the imagination of millions and come to define Walt Disney’s legacy. Since then, a number of well-known live-action franchises have been developed into animated shows.
The latest to meet that fate is Night At The Museum, a former FOX property that is currently in production as an animated project. The visual complexity of Pandora means it would be difficult to bring to live-action on a streaming budget but could thrive in an animated setting.
5 Marvel Comics
Comic books are a fantastic medium to explore when it comes to branching out from the original Avatar movie. This is clearly evidenced by the deal made with Dark Horse. With Disney now in control of the property, it may be they set one of their own divisions to the task.
Marvel Comics has a long history of working with the biggest movie and toy franchises. Avatar would certainly work in their favor as the house of ideas tries to develop new stories in this fantastical universe. If anyone’s up to the task, it’s Marvel.
4 Live-Action Series
Although the budget may be a huge concern, technological developments mean that a live-action series may be on the cards. The likelihood of Disney releasing this before Avatar 2 is slim to none. Stranger things have happened though.
After all, the Avatar sequels have been in production for so long, there’s definitely potential that footage left on the cutting room floor could be repurposed in some form. Ultimately an ongoing series would definitely expand the universe; unfortunately, it is far less feasible compared to other properties like Willow, which Disney will revisit as a live-action show.
3 Canon Novels
Canon novels are often used by filmmakers in order to get some of their unused concepts out into the world. Avatar has tried this approach before with releases like James Cameron’s Avatar: The Na’vi Quest by Benjamin Harper.
It’s an idea that should be revisited though as Disney has demonstrated it has a great command of the publishing industry. The recent release of the High Republic for the Star Wars franchise for instance is a perfect example of what can be achieved through print.
2 Shorts
Disney has allowed its studios to turn to short-form content more and more, in regards to populating its streaming service. Pixar Popcorn is a great addition to Disney+ for instance, with the studio telling smaller stories about some of its most beloved characters.
There’s no reason for Avatar to not try a similar approach. In terms of budget, it would be a lot more economical and would be a smaller way for fans to prepare for the sequel before its release. Other science fiction properties have tried something similar; Blade Runner: 2049 for instance saw the release of three short films before it hit cinemas.
1 Podcast Series
Podcasts are one of the most popular platforms for storytelling today. There are hundreds of brilliant scripted podcasts to check out and some of Disney’s brands have turned to this medium to develop their own franchises. As an example, Marvel has made great use of this new format with their Wolverine title.
Avatar would provide any writer with a huge array of options in regards to developing some kind of audio narrative. While the vibrancy of Pandora would be best enjoyed on screen, there’s something quite unique about discovering the franchise again from another angle, using different techniques.
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