Avatar 2 release date, plot news: magical world of Pandora returns to the big screen in December 2018

Zoe Saldana as Princess Neytiri and Sam Worthington as Jake in Avatar20th Century Fox

The first "Avatar" movie seems to have been shown a long time ago. In 2009, the blockbuster hit took viewers to the magical world of Pandora and its fascinating native fighting for their lands.

There have long been plans to release the sequel, but it looks like fans will have to wait for two more years before being able to go back to Pandora.

According to Cinema Blend, the current plan is to release "Avatar 2" in December 2018. It must be noted however that the production and release of this movie have already been pushed back several times due to various reasons.

"Avatar 2" was actually initially scheduled for theatrical release in December 2014, or five years after the original. After it was announced that three more "Avatar" films are in the pipeline, the releases were rescheduled to December 2016, 2017 and 2018 releases.

Obviously, this time table wasn't followed. Last January, The Digital Spy reported that "Avatar 2" is once again delayed, with the presumption that it has run scared of the "Star Wars" franchise.

A separate report by The Digital Spy meanwhile quoted "Avatar" director James' Cameron as saying that the "very involved" writing process is causing the delays.

Nevertheless, Cameron hinted that the sequel will focus on "familial and imprisonment" themes. He also shared that "Avatar 2" will be set several years after the original, when human-turned-Avatar Jake Sully becomes the tribal chieftain, while Neytiri, his wife, becomes the high priestess.

Cinema Blend also reported that the next "Avatar" movie will feature "whole new worlds, habitats and cultures," which could mean that new alien species will appear in the second installment.

Cameron also shared that the theme of humans against nature will continue in the sequel.

"The primary conflict between the human view of kind of dominating nature, and the Navi view of integrating into nature stays the same, but it manifests itself in different ways," the "Avatar" director said, as quoted by Cinema Blend.