Cameron Unveils 'Avatar'

Source: THR

After a 12-year hiatus from the director’s chair, James Cameron introduced audiences at the 2009 Cinema Expo to his upcoming sci-fi thriller Avatar. Held at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam, Cameron’s presentation included a 24-minute compilation of action scenes from the first third of the Fox’s 3D film, which is set for a December 18 release.

Avatar, already touted as a revolutionary CGI and motion-capture picture, stars Sam Worthington ( Terminator Salvation ) as a remote-controlled humanoid caught in a war between Earth and a fictional planet called Pandora. Sigourney Weaver ( Aliens ) and Zoe Saldana ( Star Trek ) also star.

Cameron’s new project has been anchored by a reported production budget of at least $200 million. His last feature, the Oscar-winning Titanic, still holds the all-time box office record after grossing $600.8 million domestically—an amount equaling around $940 million when adjusted for inflation.

Avatar has a lot to live up to considering that many in the industry feel that it will be a landmark 3D film.