It has been 13 long years since James Cameron’s revolutionary sci-fi epic Avatar (2009) was released in theaters, but the world of Pandora has finally started to expand. Not only was an open-world video game titled Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (TBA) announced last year, but more recently, we got the first official trailer to the long-awaited sequel Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).
And are we forgetting the equally ground-breaking themed land Pandora – The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Park? But before we get into what Avatar: Way of Water might mean for the immersive themed land, check out the trailer below for upcoming sci-fi sequel, which will no doubt break box office records and revolutionize cinema like its 2009 predecessor:
And here’s the official trailer for the open-world video game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
Suddenly starting to feel in the mood to re-immerse yourself into the lush alien world of the exoplanetary moon of Pandora? We thought you might. Now, here are three ways Avatar: Way of Water could also revolutionize the theme park attractions at Pandora – The World of Avatar in Walt Disney World.
1. An Underwater Attraction
An “underwater attraction” can mean many things, and we don’t for one minute think that Avatar: Way of Water would ever result in a ride that involves guests being able to free-dive and hold their breath for up to seven minutes like some of the cast members for the upcoming sequel.
However, it’s entirely possible, given the premise of Avatar: Way of Water, which will take place mostly underwater, that an underwater-based attraction could happen at Pandora – The World of Avatar. What this would look like is hard to imagine, but director James Cameron is well known for frequently deep-sea diving.
After the release of Titanic (1997), James Cameron began to deep-sea dive in hi-tech submersibles, in which he would often visit the wreckage site of the ill-fated ocean liner. And, evidently, the director has spent even more time underwater in recent years with the filming of Avatar: Way of Water, Avatar 3, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5.
As such, it’s more than reasonable to consider the possibility that guests will one day be able to venture deep beneath the waves of Pandora’s rich oceans and discover exotic marine life never before seen in the Avatar franchise. It would also be a fitting evolutionary progression of existing attraction Na’vi River Journey.
2. Underwater Animatronics
Speaking of Na’vi River Journey, if you’ve ever been lucky enough to experience this mesmerising attraction, you’ll no doubt remember its most jaw-dropping feature. While the entire ride is bursting to life with bioluminescent Pandora fauna, nothing quite beats the audio-animatronic of the “Shaman of Songs”.
This Na’vi was created by Disney Imagineers and is widely considered to be the best audio-animatronic at any theme park in the world. However, with Avatar: The Way of Water heading for theaters, it makes you wonder what else Disney Imagineering could conjure up in celebration of the film.
We aren’t experts on technology, but if an underwater-based (or at least themed) attraction is on its way to Pandora – The World of Avatar, what might that entail? There’s no doubt that it would feature bioluminescent coral, whether it’s a practical or simulator experience, but what about an underwater animatronic?
Okay, we’re pretty sure that such things aren’t very compatible with water – just take a look at the two Steven Spielberg classics – Jaws (1975) and Jurassic Park, each of which featured a giant animatronic that malfunctioned when exposed to water. But never say never when it comes to Walt Disney World.
Let’s now explore “real” Underwater Na’vi…
3. “Real” Underwater Na’vi
If underwater animatronics are out of the question, then what about actual people? If an underwater attraction at Pandora – The World of Avatar becomes a reality, then there are probably a few ways Disney Imagineers could go about it – you just need to look at the existing rides in the themed land and beyond.
As for the themed land itself, we have Na’vi River Journey and Avatar: Flight of Passage, one a practical experience with audio-animatronics as well as digital projections, and the other entirely simulator-based in wrap-around form.
Should a new attraction transpire, then it could either be practical, entirely digital, or a combination of both. Whether you’re marvelling at Pandora’s marine life from a safe height, or seeing it up, close and personal, perhaps the best way to go about this would indeed be a mixture of all forms of technology.
Either way, we think that nothing can quite capture the realism of the Na’vi than real-life actors. Sure, motion capture performance isn’t something that can exist off-camera, which is why new footage could be filmed for the experience, not unlike the exhilarating Avatar: Flight of Passage.
While the above may not happen, it’s good to fantasize. After all, without the power of imagination, the world of Avatar wouldn’t have been created. But until the themed land welcomes any new additions, whether it’s an attraction or an experience, at least we have Pandora – The World of Avatar to explore.
The themed land is home to two signature attractions – Na’vi River Journey and Avatar: Flight of Passage, floating mountains, alien wildlife, bioluminescent jungle, entertainment in the form of Swotu Wayä Na’vi Drum Ceremony, and shopping and dining outlets such as Windtraders and Satu’li Canteen.
As per 20th Century Studios, the official synopsis for Avatar: The Way of Water is:
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family, the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
Avatar: The Way of Water releases in theaters worldwide on December 16, 2022. Among its huge cast are Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Zoe Saldana (Neytiri), Michelle Yeoh (Dr. Karina Mogue), Giovanni Ribisi (Parker Selfridge), Kate Winslet (Ronal), and Sigourney Weaver, Vin Diesel and Stephen Lang in undisclosed roles.
Let us know what type of attraction you would like to see at Disney parks based on Avatar: The Way of Water by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
