“This is his legacy project”: Zoe Saldaña Says James Cameron’s Legacy is No Longer Titanic, it’s Avatar 3, 4 and 5
When director James Cameron unveiled his sci-fi passion project Avatar in 2009, few could have predicted its record-shattering impact. Now, with multiple sequels in the works spanning into the 2030s, star Zoe Saldaña boldly asserts that leading this new frontier will eclipse even Cameron’s classic Titanic as his career-defining achievement. Gearing up to reprise her role as Na’vi heroine Neytiri in the upcoming threequel, Saldaña previewed that Cameron has truly outdone himself with his ambitious vision.
Does James Cameron’s Legacy Beyond Titanic Now Rest on Avatar?
Clearly, even after starring in last year’s smash follow-up The Way of Water, Zoe Saldaña feels we’ve only scratched Pandora’s surface. According to ScreenRant, she said,
“It’s going to be amazing. Avatar 3, it’s going to be amazing, and Avatar 4 and 5, it just gets crazy. It’s true. It really does. He’s blown our mind. This is his legacy project. We all thought it was Titanic, and it turned out that Avatar is his legacy, and for us to be a part of something so groundbreaking and trailblazing, it’s like it’s a legacy for us, too. So I’m excited to go back. We go back to work next week, so I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone.”
From era-defining hits like Terminator 2 and Aliens to Titanic shattering records, Cameron boasts no shortage of titans in his directorial filmography. But Saldaña believes firmly embedding himself in audiences’ hearts over a decade through Avatar’s chapters cements his most enduring prestige. “This is his legacy project,” she proclaimed, positioning the deepening saga as Cameron’s career capstone.
Rather than simply revisit proven past triumphs, it’s undeniable that Cameron has nurtured Avatar with uniquely hands-on dedication. He immerses fully in the trilogy’s world-building and technical innovations, crafting immersive 3D event experiences that demand big-screen spectacle. If the next movies achieve creative and commercial highs akin to Titanic, Saldaña’s case gains credibility.
Also Read: James Cameron’s Mother Launched ‘Avatar’ Director’s Career By Helping Him Write ‘Aliens’ Script
What Does the Future Hold for Pandora and Beyond?
With immense imagination and resources poured into Pandora, it appears audiences have only scratched its wonders. Saldaña already returned last April for months of more performance capture filming. This powers animators bring the Sully clan, Jake, Neytiri, and their children, back to vivid life amidst cutting-edge CG environments.
Saldaña further teased that week one back on Cameron’s set saw shoots “no one has ever done before.” Surely the director’s passion for revolutionary tech like underwater motion-capture used on The Way of Water persists. Beyond pushing visual bounds and upping stakes for the central family’s survival, expanding luscious worlds and cultures should captivate old and new fans.
Also Read: James Cameron Compared the Terminator Franchise To His ‘Avatar’ Films For 1 Crucial Reason
If Cameron sustains his ambition, there may be no limit to how extensive his Avatar umbrella grows even after 2028’s presumed finale wraps filming. More installments centering different Pandoran tribes seem feasible down the line. But Saldaña is right that she and her fellow castmates also share the privileged, legacy-defining opportunity of spearheading this next era of blockbuster storytelling. Audiences will ultimately determine to what heights Avatar soars past Titanic by the time Cameron concludes his sprawling labor of love.
