Disney+ just got a lot bigger and bluer. The original “Avatar” film from 2009 and directed by James Cameron will stream on Disney+ on the day of the streaming service’s launch on Nov. 12, Cameron announced in a video Friday.
Cameron and Disney are currently at work on a series of four Avatar sequels in New Zealand, and the film will be available for streaming in the US, Canada, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand at launch.
The film was not previously available on a streaming platform until now, but the film that was the highest grossing movie of all time up until the release of “Avengers: Endgame” earlier this yer will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on Dec. 18. “Avatar” grossed $2.78 billion worldwide upon its release, including $760 million domestically to make the third highest grossing film in North America.
Cameron’s “Avatar” sequels have been delayed and pushed back several times both as Cameron fine-tunes the film’s technology and between Disney reshuffling its schedule after acquiring 20th Century Fox. “Avatar 2” was previously pushed back a year to now open in Dec. 2021 after an expected opening in 2020. Then the third film will be released in Dec. 2023, a two-year bump from its originally planned date. “Avatar 4” opens Dec. 2025 and “Avatar 5” opens Dec. 2027, alternating years with “Star Wars” releases for the bulk of the next decade.
Cameron is shooting all four sequels simultaneously, and Fox had originally planned to release the first sequel as early as Christmas of 2016, but the massive undertaking kept that from becoming a reality. He’s also assembled an impressive cast that added Kate Winslet, David Thewlis, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin, Edie Falco, Cliff Curtis and CCH Pounder to all four sequels.
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang starred in the original sci-fi action epic about the alien planet of Pandora where a race of lanky, tall blue aliens live in harmony with the world around them, only to be forced to defend their home from invading human forces. Worthington plays a soldier who can enter into a Na’Vi body as a virtual avatar, and he forms a relationship with the Na’Vi until he finally joins forces with their cause.
“Avatar” was not among the many films that Disney+ announced in a massive Twitter thread would be added to the platform, which includes original and archival films and TV shows from the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and Fox libraries. Disney+ is now available for pre-order in the U.S. for $6.99/month or $69.99/year.
Get ready to return to Pandora, Na'vi Nation!
We're delighted to announce that Avatar will be streaming on #DisneyPlus in the US, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand starting November 12.
Excited? Find out more at https://t.co/r13tQ1VRCW. pic.twitter.com/OfmfP3Ze0W
— Avatar (@officialavatar) November 1, 2019