Avatar: The Way of Water, the second entry in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, received a new trailer on Wednesday ahead of its theatrical debut in December.
Cameron’s latest film picks up more than 10 years after the events of the original Avatar, which was released back in 2009 and ultimately broke a slew of box office records.
Among the stars of the Way of Water cast are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. The screenplay, meanwhile, was co-written by Cameron with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Cameron reflected on how the film industry has changed since the arrival of the first Avatar film, particularly the market conditions. He expressed optimism about rolling out Way of Water, albeit with caution.
“It’s one thing to make a lot of money, it’s another thing to actually make a profit,” the director, whose filmography also includes classic megahits like Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Titanic, told Jake Coyle. “We’re not going to keep making movies that lose money even though they look good and make a ton of money. This is a wait-and-see, let’s-put-it-out-there-and-see-if-people-embrace-it kind of situation.”
See the new Avatar: The Way of Water trailer above. The film hits theaters on Dec. 16.
The new film’s arrival was preceded earlier this year with the theatrical re-release of the original Avatar. The film was remastered for its two-week return to theaters, with stars Saldaña and Worthington detailing the importance of the project in an interview with Karla Rodriguez for Complex in September.
“It’s giving us an opportunity to celebrate something that was deeply remarkable and groundbreaking and prepping us also for the future of what’s to come for Avatar: The Way of Water,” Saldaña said at the time. “And remember too, it’s been 12, 13 years since the release of Avatar.”
Of course, fans can expect the Avatar franchise to continue its expansion journey beyond this December’s sequel, with additional films set for release through (at least) 2028.