'Avatar 2' crew gets special permission in New Zealand

The crew of “Avatar 2” has been granted special permission to enter New Zealand to begin filming the second installment of the sci-fi epic. The country's borders are already closed to foreigners due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

“We've arrived in New Zealand. Beginning our 14-day self-isolation under government supervision,” producer Jon Landau wrote, posting a photo on Instagram. The film crew has rented a hotel in Wellington.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday that the crew had received government approval. The Guardian reported that Los Angeles film workers had received permission from Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford to return to New Zealand as “other essential workers.”

The government has also been criticised for the move: the New Zealand Immigration and Investment Association has called the exemption unfair: around 60,000 migrants with valid work visas are currently unable to enter New Zealand.

For the sequel to his 3D fantasy spectacle “Avatar – Departure for Pandora” (2009), director James Cameron is bringing actors like Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver in front of the camera. Cameron began production on four “Avatar” films simultaneously in 2017. The planned releases of the films have been postponed several times. According to previous information, “Avatar 2” will be released in theaters in late 2021, with the remaining parts in 2023, 2025 and 2027.