James Cameron arrives in New Zealand and goes into two-week quarantine before he restarts filming on Avatar sequels
James Cameron has entered a two-week quarantine after arriving in New Zealand to restart filming on the Avatar sequels.
The country, which became a popular movie-making location after the global popularity of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, reopened for film production this month.
However after traveling from the United States, the 65-year-old Titanic director is still going to quarantine by government rules.
Staying safe: James Cameron and producer Jon Landau have entered a two-week quarantine after arriving in New Zealand to restart filming on the Avatar sequels
Producer Jon Landau broke the news with an Instagram post of himself and James wearing masks while on the tarmac at Wellington International Airport.
‘Made it to New Zealand. Our 14-day government supervised self-isolation now begins. #avatarsequels #jamescameron #newzealand #airnewzealand #selfisolation,’ Jon wrote in the caption to his album.
While at the airport he also posed for Instagram in front of a sign that read: ‘All passengers must self-isolate for 14 days.’
The New Zealand Film Commission told Deadline on May 7 that a number of productions for film and television ‘are already safely underway’ in the country.
The rules: While at the airport Jon also posed for Instagram in front of a sign that read: ‘All passengers must self-isolate for 14 days’
Throwback: James is pictured in February at a party in Los Angeles
There have only been 22 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in New Zealand over the course of the pandemic, which has been nearly eradicated there.
When the lockdowns began in New Zealand principal photography had already begun on the Avatar sequels and so was suspended.
During the production shutdown, Weta Digital kept working on special effects and James and Jon kept virtual production going in California.
Throwback: James released the first Avatar in 2009, the first feature-length fictional movie he directed since his iconic 1997 movie Titanic
James released the first Avatar in 2009, the first feature-length fictional movie he directed since his iconic 1997 movie Titanic.
Avatar passed up Titanic’s record as the highest-grossing movie of all time and remained at the top spot until it was dislodged by Avengers: Endgame last year.
The first two Avatar sequels will bow in December 2021 and December 2023, and two more sequels have been greenlit but have not publicized release dates yet.
In progress: When the lockdowns began in New Zealand principal photography had already begun on the Avatar sequels and so was suspended