'Avatar 2' news: Film pushed back again to 2017

Avatar20th Century Fox

It has been six years since James Cameron's "Avatar" was released, and the film became one of the highest grossing movies of all time, raking in $2.782 billion worldwide. While fans are still waiting for the sequel, Cameron promised new locations for the movie and even a third and fourth installment in the series. But it looks like moviegoers are in for a long wait as the film, which was slated for release in December 2016, has been pushed back to 2017.

It is unclear why the movie was pushed back, as this is the second time that the film's premiere has been rescheduled. Moviepilot reports that initially, "Avatar 2" was slated for a 2014 release before it was pushed back to 2016. But it's possible that the delay is due to the fact that Cameron is still reportedly developing all new technology for the sequel.

Expectations are high for "Avatar 2" due to Cameron's revelations about the upcoming film. The director previously said that the film will be set in Pandora's ocean. Cameron said that visual effects house WETA Digital is working on underwater performance capture for underwater scenes.

"It's going to be like the Floating Mountains in the first movie," he said of the new setting of the sequel. "It's not going to be all underwater; it's going to be a place we go to, leave, and come back to."

Cameron also revealed that other Na'vi cultures will be introduced in the film, and some of them will most likely be seafaring people.

Meanwhile, Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington are expected to reprise their roles as Neytiri and Jake Sully. According to Cinemablend, Worthington has signed a deal that will see him reprising his role for the next four years or so. Sigourney Weaver will also return as Dr. Grace Augustine, and though her character died in the first movie, it will be interesting to see how the upcoming film will tell the story of her rebirth.