Sigourney Weaver Says James Cameron Wants Special Submarine For 'Avatar' Sequels

In the coming weeks, James Cameron will likely be making the press rounds to talk about Titanic 3D and, at that time, hopefully we'll get our first significant Avatar 2 update since last Fall. The director has reportedly been writing the film and its sequel, while simultaneously perfecting the 3D on his Best Picture winner. So there really hasn't been much Avatar news to report. There was a rumor the films could be delayed and recently, news broke that the director would be relocating to New Zealand where the films will likely shoot. But that's about it.

So instead we turn to the film's stars, specifically one actress who is no stranger to sequel talk: Sigourney Weaver. She's already suggested her deceased character will be back in the sequels and, in a new interview, hinted that Cameron needs a new submarine to go underwater for scenes in the follow-ups to the highest grossing movie of all time. Read more after the jump.

The quote in question comes from the Italian site Bad Taste (via Boing Boing). The Google translation is similar to this, but we asked /Film reader Claire L.V. to translate it a little clearer. Here's what she came up with:

Cameron will only begin filming the new Avatars after having gone underwater in a specially built submarine. It is thought that he would like to go to the Mariana Trench. Re-beginning work on Titanic for the 3D version has also given him many inspirations for Avatar.

Cameron used submarines to film not only Titanic but his 3D IMAX movies as well, Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep. So that's not a new thing for him. From Weaver's quote though, roughly translated as it is, it sounds like Cameron needs something more advanced to film what he has in mind for the underwater scenes that'll take place in Avatar 2 and 3. But whether it strictly for inspiration or actual filming purposes, we don't know for sure. We do know the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Earth's oceans so that sounds pretty spectacular.

Weaver also reiterated other details we already knew. She's read early versions of the script, both films will shoot concurrently and new areas of Pandora will be explored.

What do you make of Weaver's quote?