Film fans have been treated to a first-look picture of filming from the upcoming Avatar sequels.
A photograph shared on Twitter shows Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sam Worthington and Cliff Curtis smiling up at the camera while filming in a water tank.
From the set of the sequels: @ZoeSaldana, Sam Worthington, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis taking a break from underwater performance capture for a quick photo!
Fun fact: Much of the performance capture took place in this 900,000 gallon tank, built specifically for the sequels. pic.twitter.com/NSfqoZ6jXJ
— Avatar (@officialavatar) May 13, 2020
The caption explained: “From the set of the sequels: @ZoeSaldana, Sam Worthington, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis taking a break from underwater performance capture for a quick photo!
“Fun fact: Much of the performance capture took place in this 900,000 gallon tank, built specifically for the sequels”.
Filming on the expected slate of Avatar sequels has been halted due to coronavirus.
The film’s director, James Cameron, recently told Empire magazine: “I want to get back to work on Avatar, which right now we’re not allowed to do under state emergency laws or rules. So it’s all on hold right now.
“We were about to shoot down in New Zealand, so that got pushed. We’re trying to get back to it as quick as we can.”
From the set of the sequels: @JimCameron directing the actors before they dive underwater for performance capture.
Fun fact: That layer of white on the water's surface is comprised of floating balls that prevent lights from interfering with filming underwater. pic.twitter.com/dOBwS6qOXF
— Avatar (@officialavatar) May 6, 2020
The original sci-fi epic from 2009 won three Oscars for its stunning visual effects, cinematography and art direction.
The film was set in 2154 and saw humans inhabit avatars so they could gain access to a planet called Pandora and starred Sigourney Weaver, Worthington and Saldana.
The first Avatar sequel is slated for a December 2021 release, pushed back from its original release date of December 2020.