#SDCC: James Cameron presents ‘Avatar’
In the grand hall denoted only as “H”, swarms of Comic-Con goers were given a treat of global proportions. 24 minutes of James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar was screened for those on hand. Of course all recording devices were banned from use, but that didn’t keep bloggers away from their terminals as soon as the panel was finished. Here’s the low down of what we know was shown:
Jake Sully (being played by Sam Worthington) is shown entering a military briefing, confined to a wheelchair. We’re reassured by a gruff officer that it’s his job to keep them all alive… but (dun-dun-dunnnnnn) he assures the soliders in the room, including Jake, that he won’t be successful.
From here, we move quickly to a lab where we meet Jake’s ‘Avatar’, an artificial/alien body that will be piloted by Jake after his DNA is combined (via the Avatar program, natch) with the Na’vi alien race. We meet Dr. Grace Augustine (played by sci-fi fan favorite, Sigourney Weaver), who helps load Jake into the Avatar machine, after a bit of playful banter.
Cue the special effects. We enter Oz, err, Pandora.
Jake, now an Avatar, akin to the Na’vi, is shown in several special
effect filled sequences on his adventure on Pandora. He’s joined by
Grace (in Na’vi form) and other soldiers, as they deal with several
native “creatures of impending doom”. Later in the footage, Jake has
swapped his “Military Fatigues” wardrobe for a more ‘Tribal’ wardrobe.
It would seem perhaps that Jake’s journey on Pandora may make him
question his loyalties to his brothers in arms? Who’s to know…
Filled with wonderful 3D special effects, Avatar is directed by James Cameron, with special effects by Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings effects cohorts, WETA. Avatar will also feature Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, and Zoe Saldana.
After
the screening of footage, James Cameron announced that August 21st, the
trailer for the film will be released. In tandem to this, they’ve
announced that day as being declared “Avatar Day”. In addition
to the trailer being released, you will be glad to know that they will
also preview the toy line, video game, bed sheet set, and happy meal
collector items on “Avatar Day” as well. This being San Diego, of course, somebody is already displaying them; and this being the Internet, of course, someone took pictures— in this case, io9.
Avatar opens in theaters everywhere December 18, 2009.
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