Though 20th Century Fox ensured that James Cameron’s next film after Avatar would be a sequel to the highest grossing film of all time, the director has been taking his sweet time getting the project going.  Cameron’s been busy diving to the ocean’s deepest point and documenting it in the film Deepest Challenge, but it appears he’s finally getting ready to return to Pandora.  We previously heard that the director would probably be filming Avatar 2 and 3 at the same time, and latest word from the filmmaker was that he was “in the Avatar business period,” meaning he’s only interested in making Avatar films from here on out.  At the same time, Cameron first dropped word about a possible Avatar 4, and now star Sigourney Weaver claims that the director will film all three Avatar sequels at once.  Hit the jump for more.

In last week’s opening paragraph I welcomed the summer movie season into the fold by way of The Avengers. Earlier this week it dawned on me that another season is upon us as well. One that is nearly as costly as a summer blockbuster, albeit far less anticipated by yours truly: wedding season. Over the course of the next few months, I’ll attend no fewer than four ceremonies/receptions (not including my own) and, while I’ll be honored to have been invited to share a special moment with friends new and old, I’ll likely fall behind on my summer movie checklist. So, if you start noticing Top 5 opening paragraphs having less to do with film than what type of dessert was served at the reception, you have my most sincere advance apology.

Wedding disclaimers aside, awaiting you on the other side of this week’s Top 5 is James Cameron saying he only wants to make Avatar movies from now on, the first trailer for director Ruben Fleischer‘s Gangster Squad, Prometheus‘ R-rating, Matt’s letter of recommendation for Joss Whedon, and Dark Shadows coverage including interviews with Johnny Depp, Tim Burton, and Seth Grahame-Smith. A brief recap and link to each ensues after the jump.

After the absurd success of Titanic in 1997 and 1998, it took director James Cameron more than a decade to get around to his next feature film, Avatar, which debuted to more absurd success in 2009 and 2010.  We must always admire Cameron’s ability to deliver original properties that are both commercial hits and critical favorites.  But according to the director, he’s done with the worldbuilding aspect of filmmaking:

“Last year I basically completely disbanded my production company’s development arm. So I’m not interested in developing anything. I’m in the Avatar business. Period. That’s it. I’m making Avatar, Avatar 2, Avatar 3, maybe Avatar 4.”

Hit the jump for Cameron’s full explanation.

Given that you are a person and you’re alive, I’m assuming you’re quite aware that Titanic is being unleashed into theaters once again this weekend…in 3D!  Despite the fact that pretty much every person ever paid to see the movie in 1997, James Cameron is giving us the opportunity to pay to see it again, over a decade later.  Like the humorous honest posters we shared during awards season, an honest trailer for Titanic 3D has now gone online.  It hilariously makes some great points about the film itself (the Academy Award winner for Best Editing is nearly three and a half hours of establishing shots and waving), and throws in a Downton Abbey reference for good measure.  The gist of the trailer is that James Cameron is pretty much just stealing your money at this point.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer, starring Leonardo Da Vinci, Bill Pullman?, and Boobs.

In October 2010, we reported that Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 would be shot back-to-back, and Fox had scheduled the movies for December 2014 and December 2015, respectively.  In June 2011, writer-director James Cameron commented that the movies will be from one script, which would make the franchise “not really a trilogy, but just an overall character arc.”  But during the recent press rounds for Titanic 3D, producer Jon Landau said it was unlikely that they’ll be able to make the 2014 release date for Avatar 2.  He notes that they’re “taking the time to get it right”, and while that sounds like standard producer-speak, he does reminds us that Titanic was originally scheduled for a summer 1997 release, but was pushed back to December so Cameron would have more time to work on the effects.

Hit the jump for more.  Titanic 3D opens on Friday.

A few days ago, director James Cameron became the first person to travel to the ocean’s deepest point in a solo dive. While not busy breaking his own box office records, Cameron was secretly designing and building an innovative submersible to take him to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. He made the voyage a few days ago with LED lights and HD cameras in tow, and now the first footage from his dive has gone online. Cameron’s adventure will be chronicled in the 3D documentary Deepest Challenge, but this first footage is pretty incredible. Cameron will no doubt be channeling some of his experiences into the Avatar sequels, which are said to delve into Pandora’s oceans, but fellow science nuts can join me in geeking out over the ramifications this dive will have in the scientific community.

Hit the jump to watch the video.

When you’re James Cameron, you get to do pretty much whatever you want. That’s why instead of working away like a madman on Avatar 2 and 3 in order to meet a studio deadline, Cameron is out doing fun, hobby stuff like trying to reach the ocean’s deepest point; you know, for giggles. The Titanic director is teaming up with the National Geographic Society and Rolex (naturally) to “conduct deep-ocean research and exploration to expand our knowledge and understanding of these largely unknown parts of the planet.” The Deepsea Challenge expedition will be filmed for a 3D documentary, and marks the first extensive scientific exploration by a manned vehicle of the Mariana Trench’s lowest point in the Pacific Ocean, nearly 7 miles beneath the ocean surface. Hit the jump for more on this endeavor.

Coming off the success of Date Night and Real Steel, director Shawn Levy has a number of high-profile projects on his plate. He’s been attached to a 3D remake of Fantastic Voyage for quite a while, with James Cameron onboard as producer, and he’s set to take on a new iteration of Frankenstein. While Levy became involved in both of these projects last year, we haven’t heard much about their status as of late. Steve recently got the chance to sit down for an exclusive interview with Levy regarding the Best Visual Effects Oscar nomination for Real Steel, and the director talked quite a bit about what he has coming up. Yesterday we ran the portion of the conversation where Levy discussed the visual effects in Real Steel and the status of the Real Steel sequel, and today we’ve got updates on a few more of his upcoming projects.

Levy revealed that he’ll be using motion-capture SimulCam for the monsters (plural) in Frankenstein, and he also talked about how they’re tweaking the development status of the film in response to the competition project I, Frankenstein starring Aaron Eckhart. In addition, Levy talked about his ambitious practical effects approach to Fantastic Voyage, and revealed that he may actually film the comedy Interns with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson this summer. Hit the jump for much more.

The documentary Side by Side is certainly one of the most interesting projects I’ve learned about in the past few months, and now it looks as though the film will be heading to a theater near you this summer. Tribeca Film announced today that it has acquired North American rights to the documentary produced and presented by Keanu Reeves. The film explores the evolving landscape of filmmaking, specifically the advent of digital and how its popularity affects traditional filmmaking. While that subject matter alone is worth exploring, Reeves and director Chris Kenneally sat down with nearly every master filmmaker working today to get their musings on the future of moviemaking.

Side by Side features interviews with James Cameron, David Fincher, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Stephen Soderbergh, the Wachowskis, and many, many more. You can watch the trailer right here. Tribeca Film is planning a multi-platform summer release for the pic, followed by a broadcast premiere early next year in addition to screenings at college campuses and film schools across the country. The film is having its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Hit the jump to read the full press release.

A little over a week ago, a curious little documentary was announced called Side by Side. The project, spearheaded by Keanu Reeves, features interviews with a number of master filmmakers regarding the film vs. digital debate. Now the first trailer for the film has popped up and Side by Side is officially one of my most anticipated movies of 2012. The trailer showcases Reeves having candid conversations about the death of film (and the advent of 3D) with people like George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, and Steven Soderbergh. It looks incredibly intriguing, and I can’t wait to hear today’s foremost filmmakers weigh in on the future of moviemaking.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. Side by Side will be released sometime this year.

Cirque du Soleil is a unique experience that everyone should see at least once.  Paramount and James Cameron are going to try and make that happen by taking Cirque du Soleil out of the massive tent and bringing it into comparatively tiny theaters.  The film, entitled Cirque du Soleil World Away, will be written and directed by Andrew Adamson (Shrek) and be released in 3D because 3D is immersive and if you’re not immersed then you clearly hate cinema.  Worlds Away will have an original story, and show off the acrobatics and absolutely bizarre tone Cirque has become known for.  Don’t tell your kids, “Oh!  It’s a circus!”  They will be disappointed.  Instead, tell them “We’re going to see a man try to stick his head up his own ass!  In 3D!”

Hit the jump for the full press release.  Cirque du Soleil World Away will be released later this year.

A curious little website has popped up announcing a new documentary produced by Keanu Reeves that tackles one of the foremost issues facing filmmakers today: the advent of digital filmmaking. Entitled Side by Side, the documentary takes an in-depth look at the issue of film vs. digital, and “examines all aspects of filmmaking – from capture, to edit, to visual effects, to color correction, to distribution to archive.” Through interviews with numerous well-respected masters of the medium, Side by Side “explores what has been gained, what is lost and what the future might bring.” Take this sample quote from Christopher Nolan:

“No credible source really has been claiming to have invented something that is aesthetically superior to film at this point.”

The documentary will feature Reeves interviewing filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Lana and Andy Wachowski, George Lucas, James Cameron, Steven Soderbergh, and many more. Hit the jump for more details.

A new featurette for the release of Titanic 3D has been unveiled. Whether you’re a fan of the movie or not, it’s obvious that James Cameron has put an insane amount of work into making sure the 3D re-release is well worth your money. Sadly, this featurette doesn’t give us a look into the actual post-conversion process, but we do get to see a number of pristine looking scenes from the film intercut with Cameron speaking about the film. He explains that before they began with the 3D they went back and cleaned up the picture, so even if you go to see it in 2D it should be pretty damn good-looking.

Steve caught 18 minutes of the 3D footage and he raved about it being the best post-conversion he’s ever seen. The third act of the pic is some of the most intense 40 minutes put to film, so I’m looking forward to having a panic attack while almost drowning in IMAX 3D. Hit the jump to watch the featurette. Titanic 3D opens April 6th, 2012.

Paramount has released a trailer for James Cameron’s 3D update of his 1997 film Titantic.  I think the verdict is in on this movie, and since the trailer is on my computer, I can’t really comment on the 3D.  However, I was reminded of how much I hate “My Heart Will Go On.”  Click here for what Steve though of the footage he saw last month.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Jonathan Hyde, Victor Garber, Bernard Hill, David Warner, Gloria Stuart, and Bill Paxton.  Titanic opens in 3D on April 6, 2012.  It will also be re-released in 2D.

When James Cameron first announced he’d be post converting Titanic for a 3D re-release in April 2012, I was a bit skeptical.  After all, I think most of us can agree that post converted movies are usually substandard to ones being shot in 3D, and since the movie is 15 years old, I figured it would be an insane challenge to get it right.  However, earlier today I visited Paramount in Hollywood and got to see about 18 minutes of the converted film on the big screen.  So what did I learn?

Never. Ever. Bet against James Cameron.

The footage I saw this morning left me speechless.  I’m not joking around when I say it’s the best post conversion I’ve ever seen and it looks like they originally shot it in 3D back in 1997.  In addition, Cameron told us before they post converted they created a new 4K master and did a full color correction and cleaned the film.  So even if you see the film in 2D or 3D in April, you will not believe how crystal clear the images are and how good the film looks.   However, before you start to think Cameron made any changes to the actual film, he told us they are not editing a single scene.  He’s not pulling a George Lucas.  Hit the jump for more.