Avatar 2 Release Date Delayed To Late 2017; Script Delay Hits James Cameron's New Movies

Those who are waiting for the sequel to the blockbuster film "Avatar" will have to wait another year. Director James Cameron has revealed that finishing the scripts for all three new Avatar movies was taking longer than expected, and that has forced the first sequel to be pushed back to December, 2017.

Cameron was speaking in New Zealand at an event connected with the country's film industry, when he made the revelation that the scripts for the three films were proving tough to finish. He is planning to film all three sequels simultaneously rather than just make one then start on the script of the next, and he stated that there was "a layer of complexity in getting the story to work as a saga across three films which is not there in a stand-alone film."

However, Cameron also stated that the goal was to complete the scripts for all three films this month, after which they will be handed over to Fox. In his statement he mentioned how in addition to creating the scripts they were designing the creatures and environments which will be featured in the films.

Variety magazine has reported that news of the delay confirms rumors that Cameron did not provide a shooting script to 20th Century Fox in time for budgeting and production to start.

Cameron, speaking to Variety, elaborated on his plans for the sequels saying, "We've thought through the story arc of the next three films, and I believe in the stories I'm telling more and more."

He also added that they did not want to rush things just to try and capitalize on the initial film.

"Avatar" which was released in December 2009 took over $2.8 billion at the worldwide box office. In addition to breaking several records it currently holds the record for the highest grossing film ever in terms of pure box office income.

In 2013, it was reported that Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver would also be in the sequel along with leads Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana.