'Avatar 2' release date, news: 'Avatar' actor Stephen Lang says sequel will begin filming in 2017

The long-awaited sequel to the 2009 sci-fi epic "Avatar," has been in pre-production for years now and will begin filming early next year, "Avatar" actor Stephen Lang has confirmed.

In a recent interview with Ain't It Cool, Lang, who played the villainous Colonel Miles Quaritch in the original film, dished out about the delay of "Avatar 2" and explained director James Cameron's meticulous and groundbreaking work on the "Avatar" franchise.

"We're getting there," Lang told the website. "We're in good shape. We'll be starting certainly early in the new year."

"But you know, the thing is, as you can imagine with a film like 'Avatar,' it's not like the work hasn't been going on," he added. "The design, the production design, the various worlds, and creatures and environments, that's all being worked on."

"Avatar," which holds the record for the highest worldwide box office gross, received mostly positive reviews when it came out, with many commending the film's technical breakthroughs and underlying social themes. As such, fans have been impatiently waiting for "Avatar 2," the release of which has already been moved twice.

In January, The Wrap reported that the sequel will not be finished in time for its scheduled December 2017 release date. This was the second delay for the film, which was originally scheduled for a December 2016 premiere.

In April, Cameron confirmed that "Avatar" will be followed by four sequels. The Wrap noted that the director is planning on filming all of the "Avatar" sequels concurrently in New Zealand. The outlet also noted that Cameron and his team were already working on the computer animation for "Avatar 2."

In his interview with Ain't It Cool, Lang explained Cameron's directorial style, saying, "That's what he's done, he creates problems in which he then needs to invent a technology and a new way to do it..."

According to the actor, while the effort is undeniably massive, "It's going to be an absolute joy to behold."

"Avatar" stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana reportedly signed up to reprise their roles in "Avatar 2" and the rest of the franchise back in 2014.

"Avatar 2" is scheduled to hit theaters in December 2018. The other three sequels will be released in December 2020, December 2022, and December 2023.