While we expect James Cameron to be hard at work writing a sequel to the well contained story for Avatar 2 (with Disney’s Pocahontas 2 and The Holy Road on hand to avoid similarities) it seems that he is actually writing a prequel novel that will set the stage and introduce us to some of the characters stories from the hit film.
Jim wants to write a novel that is a big, epic story that fills in a lot of things. [We] won’t have time to do [these stories] in the movie, or maybe in sequels, [So the novel will] give a foundation for the world. It would be something that would lead up to telling the story of the movie, but it would go into much more depth about all the stories that we didn’t have time to deal with — like the schoolhouse and Sigourney [Weaver’s character] teaching at the schoolhouse; Jake on Earth and his backstory and how he came here; [the death of] Tommy, Jake’s brother; and Colonel Quaritch, how he ended up there and all that.”
Do we really need to know the finer details of what came before the events of Avatar? Or do you think that the film covered that backstory enough in dialogue and setting to get us into the Avatar world? I thought it was covered quite well without spelling it all out for you. Like in Star Wars, when ObiWan says he fought alongside Luke’s father in the Clone Wars, did we need it spelled out for us? Well in hindsight I am sure some would say no, but even as poorly as they are received, the prequels do provide a lot of insight.
I don’t think its a bad idea, and if written well enough it should make for an interesting book on my shelf. Maybe it will offer some insight into some of the characters that will change my perspective in the film.
Like I might actually care about what happens to Sigourney’s character? Will I sympathize or hate Colonel Quiddich– I mean Quaritch?
