The Cast For “Avatar 2” Assembles For The First Time At Animal Kingdom’s Pandora

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Entertainment Weekly has given readers a first look at the new cast of “Avatar 2”. And what better place to introduce the future stars of the franchises then at Animal Kingdom’s Pandora – The World Of Avatar. Principal photography for “Avatar 2” began this Monday and the movie is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2020.

From EW:

Of course, in the above photo, you’ll have to use your imagination a bit to picture the cast in CG character as lanky blue cat-eyed Na’vi. That is, with one exception — Javier “Spider” Socorro (played by 12-year-old Jack Champion, who’s standing on the right in a blue shirt in the above photo). Spider is a human teenager born at the Hell’s Gate military complex, a crucial location in the first film.

According to producer Jon Landau, the kids of Avatar 2 represent the biggest focus shift from the original movie. “We never had this youthful element before, and that brings a different kind of energy to the film,” he says. “They represent the future generation of Pandora and play a very significant role — not just in this movie but throughout all the movies.”

Director James Cameron has famously spent years working on the scripts for the four Avatar sequels. The first is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 18, 2020. That hiatus is nearly as long as the 12 years between Cameron’s Titanic and Avatar — and the filmmaker proved skeptics wrong once Avatar passed Titanic as the highest-grossing film of all time. Landau remarks that Avatar 2 will silence any doubters who dismissed the first title as a one-time 3-D sensation.

“Nobody is watching Avatar [on home video] or waiting in four-hour lines at Disney’s World of Avatar or going to the sold-out Cirque du Soleil shows because of the film’s 3-D,” he points out. “People respond because of the movie’s characters, themes, and emotions—and we have all that again. When the cast read what Jim Cameron wrote [for the sequels], it hit them with even greater resonance than the first movie.”

Source: EW

Animal Kingdom Hosting ‘Party for the Planet’ for Earth Day

If you are looking for something to do at the Disney Parks from April 21st-23rd, Animal Kingdom will be having an event (free of charge with admission) called ‘Party for the Planet.’ ‘Party for the Planet will be a weekend celebration in honor of Earth Day, as well as the 19th birthday of the park itself which is April 22nd.

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Here are some things to look forward to when at the park during those days for the event:

  • Party for the Planet Times Guides will be available when you enter the park to help you plan the day.
  • Choose how you will “see nature” and tell the story of your day at the park. In the Oasis, select one of 10 different animal cut-outs (while supplies last) to enhance your experience while raising awareness of the animals Disney Conservation Fund is helping protect through our Reverse the Decline, Increase the Time initiative. Be sure to share your photos on social media using #DisneyAnimals!
  • Along Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia, take part in an activity focused on snow leopards, one of the amazing animals featured in Disneynature “Born in China.” You can also pick up a free activity packet (while supplies last) based on the film.
  • Disney PhotoPass photographers will create a special Magic Shot image based on “Born in China” and will have fun Earth Day props you can use to enhance your photos.
  • Treat yourself to a specialty Party for the Planet chocolate cupcake with chocolate mousse filling and buttercream icing at Creature Comforts and Isle of Java in Discovery Island or panda-themed cookies and candy apples at Zuri’s Sweets Shop in Africa.

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You will also be able to:

  • Shop special vendors in Discovery Island and Africa who are here for our Earth Day celebrations.
  • Be sure to arrive at “Flights of Wonder” early for special conservation-themed preshows and opportunities to meet a Disney veterinarian.
  • Show your animal side with face painters and caricature artists at Conservation Station.
  • Embrace the adventure! There are more than two dozen other family-friendly experiences and special interactions with our animal care experts and education instructors planned throughout the park, so relax, celebrate nature and enjoy Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

‘Party for the Planet’ will be April 21st-April 23rd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.