James Wan Eyes Avatar: Could He Succeed Cameron?
James Wan has hinted at his desire to direct an Avatar film, should James Cameron ever step aside. The Aquaman director shared his thoughts in a recent interview, sparking curiosity about the franchise’s future.
James Wan, best known for his work on Aquaman and a string of horror successes, has made no secret of his interest in the world of Pandora. In a recent chat, Wan admitted he’d be quite keen to take the reins of the Avatar series if the opportunity ever arose.
“I have not done Avatar,”
he remarked, before adding,
“Yeah, if you could put a good one for me with James Cameron, I’d love to take a crack at that.”
It’s a tantalising prospect, though not one likely to materialise any time soon.
James Cameron, the creative force behind the blue-hued epic, has been at the helm since the very beginning. While there’s been the odd murmur about him possibly stepping back after the next instalment, Fire and Ash, Cameron himself seems rather attached to his creation. When pressed on whether he’d ever hand over the director’s chair, Cameron was unequivocal:
“Absolutely not,”
he said, making it clear he’d always want to be involved, at the very least as a producer.
“I don’t think there’d ever be a version where there’s another Avatar movie that I didn’t produce closely. But in terms of it taking over my life, you know, that’s a threshold issue for me.”
Wan’s Ambitions and Cameron’s Reluctance
Wan’s enthusiasm is palpable, but Cameron’s grip on the franchise remains firm. The veteran director has spent decades nurturing the Avatar universe, having first penned the story back in 1995. He recalled,
“I’ve been in Avatar land for 20 years. Actually, 30 years, because I wrote it in ’95, right, but I wasn’t working continuously on it for those first 10 years. There was a brief flurry of interest in ’95, and then everybody said, ‘You’re out of your mind,’ and I shelved it for 10 years, and then we got serious in 2005. Yeah, absolutely. Sure, if this is where it ends, cool.”
Despite the long journey, Cameron’s willingness to let go seems conditional at best.
He did, however, suggest that financial performance could play a role in his decision to continue.
“Absolutely,”
he replied when asked if he’d walk away should Fire and Ash underperform. Yet, with the latest film having recently sailed past the $1 billion mark at the box office, the likelihood of a handover appears remote.
The Future of Pandora
For now, the Avatar saga shows no sign of slowing. The next chapter, currently slated for release in late December 2029, is already generating a fair bit of anticipation. Cameron’s ongoing involvement seems all but assured, at least for the foreseeable future. Wan’s hopes, while intriguing, may have to wait their turn.
Still, the idea of a director with Wan’s flair stepping into the lush, alien world of Pandora is enough to set imaginations racing. Whether or not it ever comes to pass, it’s clear the Avatar universe continues to attract some of the industry’s most inventive minds.