Actors Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington have signed on to reprise their Avatar characters in not one, but three sequels to the 2009 film.
The two actors played Neytiri and Jack Sully in the James Cameron Sci-Fi hit, which went on to earn nine Academy Award nominations and win three. The three sequels to Avatar are to be filmed back-to-back, according to the Hollywood Reporter, with the first film hitting theaters in December 2016
“Jake Sully is a rare combination of passion, strength, street smarts and soul, which requires a lot from an actor,” Cameron told THR. “Sam brought to the role a combination of sensitivity, vulnerability and strength. Zoe captured every aspect of the character I envisioned, bringing to Neytiri a mix of delicacy, fierceness and incredible physicality. I am beyond pleased they’ll be returning with us to Pandora.”
Surprisingly, actor Stephen Lang, who played Marine Colonel Quaritch in Avatar, has also signed on for the three sequels, despite the fact that his character was killed in the first installment.