Aquaman Director Eyes Avatar Franchise If Cameron Steps Back
James Wan, who directed the highest-grossing DCEU film, expresses interest in taking over the Avatar series as James Cameron considers reducing his hands-on involvement in future installments.
The Avatar franchise continues its box office reign with Fire & Ash, making a fourth film increasingly probable despite James Cameron's earlier reservations. Disney's potential greenlight for additional sequels raises questions about Cameron's future involvement as director after two decades of pushing cinematic boundaries.
Should Cameron choose to step away from his intensive directorial approach, James Wan has publicly expressed interest in taking over the massive sci-fi property. The director behind Aquaman, the DCEU's most commercially successful entry, made his intentions clear in recent comments.
"I have not done Avatar. Yeah, if you could put a good one for me with James Cameron, I'd love to take a crack at that," Wan stated.
Cameron Weighs Future Involvement
Wan's filmmaking credentials position him as a strong candidate for the world's biggest standalone franchise. The decision ultimately depends on Cameron's vision for the property's direction.
Cameron has already outlined storylines for upcoming sequels, but recent statements suggest he's reconsidering his intensive involvement. The filmmaker has voiced uncertainty about maintaining his current level of control over every production detail.
"I've got other stories to tell, and I've got other stories to tell within Avatar. What won't happen is, I won't go down the rabbit hole of exclusively making only Avatar for multiple years. I'm going to figure out another way that involves more collaboration. I'm not saying I'm going to step away as a director, but I'm going to pull back from being as hands-on with every tiny aspect of the process," Cameron explained.
Wan's Proven Track Record
This collaborative approach opens opportunities for directors like Wan, who has demonstrated capability with large-scale productions. His success with Aquaman proved particularly impressive given the DCEU's struggles following Batman vs Superman and Justice League.
While Cameron and Wan employ vastly different directorial styles, with Wan primarily known for horror expertise, his work on Aquaman showcased his ability to craft family-oriented blockbusters. The underwater epic's success came against considerable odds within a troubled cinematic universe.
Avatar 4 remains distant on the horizon. Cameron's perfectionist reputation suggests he might ultimately choose to direct the fourth installment himself. Whether Cameron, Wan, or another filmmaker of Cameron's selection takes charge, the franchise's continued success will depend on maintaining the series' groundbreaking standards.
Avatar: Fire & Ash currently plays in theaters nationwide.