By Francisco Salazar (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Jan 14, 2014 11:34 PM EST
Tags Avatar

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana will star in the upcoming "Avatar 2, 3 & 4" Sequels.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the two actors have finalized deals to reprise their characters for the next three "Avatar" movies.

The three movies are being made back-to-back-to-back by James Cameron who has been in production on the films for the last year. Recently he contracted Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes"), and Shane Salerno ("Savages") to collaborate with him on the screenplays in order to "help bring his growing 'Avatar' universe to life and to expedite the process." Josh Friedman, who was previously announced, will write one of the films.

It was later reported that Stephen Lang, who played mad Marine Colonel Quaritch in the 2009 film, would return to the series.

At the moment, plot details are being kept locked up on Pandora, although THR has learned that Jake Sully and Neytiri, the characters played by Worthington and Saldana, have children in the upcoming installments.

Cameron recently said in an interview, "Jake Sully is a rare combination of passion, strength, street smarts and soul, which requires a lot from an actor. Sam brought to the role a combination of sensitivity, vulnerability and strength. Zoe captured every aspect of the character I envisioned, bringing to Neytiri a mix of delicacy, fierceness and incredible physicality. I am beyond pleased they'll be returning with us to Pandora."

Cameron and frequent partner Jon Landau will produce through their Lightstorm Entertainment banner.

The first sequel will hit theaters in December 2016, with the second to follow in December 2017 and the third a year later.

The original "Avatar" became the most successful film of all time and launched the most recent 3-D trend in filmmaking. The film made $760 million domestically and $2.7 billion worldwide. It was also nominated for nine Academy Awards, and took home three.

© 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.