“Avatar sequels have fully replaced Star Wars as the definitive space opera”: James Cameron May Have Finally Defeated George Lucas
Space Operas are on their way to making a comeback in the industry. With a hefty helping of Star Wars content every year, prestige content like Dune, and animated series like Final Space and Star Trek: Below Decks, Hollywood might as well have entered a silver age of Space Operas.
In recent years, while Star Wars content has become a dime a dozen, another cinematic franchise has emerged to become the quintessential space opera of our times, bringing in the spectacle as a whole rather than piecemeal as has become the case with other franchises: James Cameron’s Avatar.
James Cameron’s Avatar has unseated Star Wars, according to the fans
Fans have taken to X to talk about how they feel about James Cameron’s Avatar, in particular how it has replaced Star Wars as the benchmark for Space Operas. According to fans, the franchise has brought back spectacle not only to the genre but also to the medium of cinema, realizing the beats of such stories on the big screen with immense satisfaction.
still unbelievable to me how the AVATAR sequels have fully replaced Star Wars as the definitive space opera, where each future film feels like the rarest and most special of big-scale cinematic events
— Brendan Hodges (@metaplexmovies) November 25, 2023
I’m far more invested in the future of Avatar than Star Wars right now simply because I know Jim has some absolutely batshit insane stuff planned for the sequels. Star Wars in comparison at the moment just feels too safe and stale.
— local Godzilla enjoyer (@xweaver1) November 25, 2023
In Cameron We Trust. 🤌🏻
— Alex B. (@firstshowing) November 25, 2023
i love that everyone (myself included) was like man why the hell do we need 5? watched WoW and thought yeah we could have this moment every couple of years, perfect blend of old cinema and cgi clashing together
— benner (@bennebpasta) November 25, 2023
100% accurate, it’s the definitive escapist adventure event cinema series for our time. Star Wars I’m sure will have another great turn at the wheel again, but Avatar is the series I’m most invested in. It knows how to give an unparalleled and emotional epic movie experience.
— Paj Sandhu (@PajSandhu) November 25, 2023
Fans as a whole are thoroughly impressed by the fact that James Cameron is able to blend old cinema with modern CGI to produce a franchise that has yet to misstep. The two films shave both grossed over 2 billion USD each, cementing Avatar as one of the most lucrative franchises that Hollywood has, bar none.
What can we expect from Avatar?
The Avatar franchise has a lot on its plate. While the time between the first film and the second film was well over 10 years, Cameron is hellbent on releasing the next few sequels in a shorter time, exploring the world of Pandora through various lenses to talk about the themes and motifs established in the first 2 films.
As far as the third Avatar film is concerned, the film will focus on a mysterious race of Fire Na’avi, the kind that will be cast in a more villainous role to mitigate the good vs. evil narrative established in the franchise so far. The film is scheduled to be released in 2025, with successive sequels in 2029 and 2031. The third Avatar film has already wrapped principal photography, having been shot simultaneously with The Way of Water. Ocean scenes that are to be featured in Avatar 3, 4, and 5 have already been filmed during the production of The Way of Water, according to LA Times.
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