It’s just too confusing. On the* very same day* that James Cameron’s long-planned Avatar announced its start date, M. Night Shyamalan and Paramount have announced plans to make a film called Avatar; this one, y’know, for kids.
Based on the Nickelodeon kids series Avatar: The Last Airbender, the film will be set in an “Asian-influenced fantasy world” full of magic and martial arts, wherein the latest in a long line of Avatars (we’re thinking it’s one of those hereditary positions) has to put aside his carefree childish ways and prevent the dastardly Fire Nation from conquering the Water, Air and Earth nations. It’s possible that Leeloo will crop up there somewhere, but frankly we’re not too hopeful.
M. Night will keep up his multi-hyphenate ways by directing, writing and producing the live-action adaptation (and we know better than to bet against a cameo). It’s the first time that he’s worked on an adaptation, or a pure kids film, but he’s signed a three-picture deal with Paramount and it’s possible that this won’t be the first film on his slate, so try to contain your excitement for the moment.
And what about all this title confusion? The nightmare scenario of little tots going in to see a kids movie only to be confronted with Cameron’s sci-fi epic – or, even worse, discerning sci-fi fans being confronted with childish derring-do – looms over both projects. But neither studio is giving an inch. Paramount say that they have registered the title of this project with the Motion Picture Association of America, while Fox (who are producing Cameron’s film) said, “We own the movie title 'Avatar.' There won't be another film called 'Avatar' coming from anyplace." Oooh, dem’s fightin’ words. It looks like someone’s going to have to back down, but it will probably be months or years before this pissing contest comes to an end, so keep watching this space.