"Avatar" is finally hitting the big screens, but fans will have to wait a little longer based on the target date set by director James Cameron.

"Avatar's" sequel, "Avatar 2" was previously reported to be released in 2017, with two more sequels following a year apart from each other. However, Cameron already gave out a more specific timeline, and according to him the first sequel will come out in Christmas next year.

He also confirmed that two more will be released in 2018 and 2019. Although the critically acclaimed director did not reveal much when it comes to the plot, he did admit that making the sequels was really challenging.

As for the first sequel, "Avatar 2," Cameron revealed that the production design is in the "more or less finished" category and the team spent almost two years for this particular task.

He also shared that new creatures, worlds, and landscapes in the world of Pandora have been completed. As for the storyline, the team in the writers' room is almost finished. With all that set in place, "Avatar 2" will hopefully start production early this year.

Given the preparations done for "Avatar 2," and the fact that it took more than five years before a sequel followed, the movie is expected to be huge.

Even with Cameron's progress in the film, nothing gets easier, because according to him, he needs to challenge himself to come up with a much more impressive film.

"You have to challenge yourself. Obviously, expectations are going to be very high on these films, especially on Avatar 2, to make sure it wasn't just some big fluke the first time," he told Entertainment Weekly in a phone interview. "So we've got to deliver. I've created a nice rod for my own back, so they say," the director added.

"Avatar 2" is expected to hit theaters on Dec. 25, 2017.