The Avatar: The Way of Water trailer debuted over the weekend, in theaters, playing in front of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness before being released online early Monday. Within 24 hours, it racked up 148.6 million views, with 23 million coming from China. That’s more than any of the recent Star Wars movies and most of the Marvel franchise. For example, within 24 hours, Black Widow‘s trailer received 116.8 million views. However– hold on to your hat– Avatar 2‘s views are lower than those for F9: The Fast Saga which was viewed 202.7 million times.
The massive views for the Avatar 2 trailer are kind of a middle finger to those who think this sequel comes too late, 13 years after the first, or that dismiss the original as “Fern Gully meets Dances With Wolves and looks like a video game.”
2009’s Avatar has made $2.84 billion, including re-releases, making it the highest-grossing movie of all time. It will make even more money when it is again re-released on September 23, ahead of the sequel.
Who Will Appear In Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water will be released on December 16. This is the first of a planned four sequels. James Cameron is expected to direct them all. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana will star as Jake Sully and Neytiri. Also returning from the first movie are Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch, Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge, Joel David Moore as Dr. Norm Spellman, Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel, CCH Pounder as Mo’at, and Matt Gerald as Corporal Lyle Wainfleet. Weaver played Dr. Grace Augustine in the first Avatar, but she will be playing a different role in The Way of Water.
The sequel adds new cast members Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin, Vin Diesel, and CJ Jones. Winslet and Curtis will play Na’vi characters, while Cowell, Yeoh, and Clement are confirmed to play humans.
In addition to releasing the first teaser trailer, 20th Century Studios has released several new still photos from The Way of Water. Check them out below:
If the trailer views are any indication, Avatar: The Way of Water is going to be HUGE. Once again, it opens in theaters in North America on December 16.
