‘Avatar’ Plans Now Include 3 Sequels

LOS ANGELES â€" James Cameron and 20th Century Fox said on Thursday that they now expected to make three rather than two follow-ups to their hit film “Avatar.”

The first of the new films is now expected to begin production next year, for release in December 2017. The second film will follow a year later, and the third a year after that.

Mr. Cameron said he had hired screenwriters to collaborate with him on scripts for the films. The newly hired writers are Josh Friedman, Shane Salerno and the team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.

Shortly after the 2009 release of “Avatar,” Fox executives talked of having an initial sequel ready for release in December 2014. But Mr. Cameron spent considerable time pondering the next steps in a story that began with the rescue of an ecologically doomed world, Pandora, even as he pursued other interests, including the purchase of a new home in New Zealand.

“Avatar” took in about $2.8 billion in theaters around the world..