James Cameron hints at Sigourney Weaver’s return for Avatar sequels

Not gonna lie — much as I love Sigourney Weaver, her Na’vi incarnation in AVATAR was just unsettling. And despite her character’s journey to the great bioluminescent beyond in the first movie, she’ll probably still be visiting Pandora again in one way or another.

Vulture prodded filmmaker James Cameron at the recent Popular Mechanics event, and got him to drop some clues as to how Weaver’s scientist and/or her taller blue alter-ego might return: “But have you ever heard of nonlinear storytelling? A lot happens on that planet before she shows up, and before Jake shows up to join her. She’s there for fifteen years ahead of time. I don’t know, but I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. And I’ve already said way too much about AVATAR 2 and 3 here and there, but people piece it together like those voice cameos and tell the whole story!“

Further: “Okay, here’s the deal. When you have a science-fiction series, a science-fiction franchise, you’re never dead, unless your DNA is expunged from the universe. And then there’s always time travel!“

Clones, flashbacks, Eywa, wormholes, whatever… It sounds like he’s still kicking the story into shape for the sequels. In theory, he’s got plenty of time — AVATAR 2 is expected in December 2014.

Meanwhile, Disney is planning their own AVATAR theme park experience, and Cameron touched on what’s in the works there: “They have big plans for it. They want to do a land, a number of different attractions, maybe a flight attraction, and retail outlets, things like that, make a whole environment of it, a themed experience. You would feel like you’re on Pandora. So I think my job and what I look forward to doing is making sure it’s consistent with Na’vi culture, with the themes and values of AVATAR, and the next films as well.”