Where Was Avatar 2 Filmed? Locations You Must Have Visited Before!

After setting the bar for visual effects in the first film, the expectations for the second part of the franchise were high The most anticipated movie of the year, Avatar 2 released in December 2022 and fans gave it the same love as the first one! If you have watched the film, I am sure that the immersive cinema experience kept you on the toes throughout the film, and you can’t resist checking out where was Avatar 2 filmed. Keep reading the article to know about all the stunning filming locations and we will also discuss the plot in brief.

After waiting for over a decade, fans can finally enjoy watching Avatar 2 in theaters and on streaming platforms. The second installment is big, epic, emotional, and visceral at the same time. The visuals of the movie are eye-catching and something we have never seen before. After considering the love of fans, the makers have now decided to release two more installments. 

Now that you have some information about Avatar 2, it’s time to update you more so, Let’s find out where was Avatar 2 filmed!

Where Was Avatar 2 Filmed? Check Out These Stunning Locations!

The makers spent around $250 million to shoot Avatar 2. Surprisingly, it took the same amount to produce the first installment. That’s why the movie comes under the category of top high-budget movies. The second installment of Avatar was announced in 2015 but some uncertain circumstances delayed the production of the movie. Finally, the shooting commenced in 2017 and was wrapped up in 2020. 

Avatar 2 was shot primarily in the USA and New Zealand. Note down these exact locations to learn where was Avatar 2 filmed!

Manhattan Beach And Manhattan Beach Studios Media Campus, California

The filming of Avatar 2 commenced at Manhattan Beach where a majority of sequences were shot followed by principal photography. Apart from this, some predominant sequences were shot at Manhattan Beach Studios Media Campus, which appeared in the trailer. Here, some underwater sequences were shot, which were impossible to shoot at the beach. 

A separate setup was made at the studio to shoot underwater scenes by a special team. For this, Winslet controlled her breath for around seven minutes and broke the record for the longest breath held while shooting. Although it was quite challenging for the entire cast to shoot perfect sequences underwater, they managed to do it with strategic planning.

At Manhattan Beach, the makers decided to shoot with a natural setup, which added authenticity to the movie. And they were supposed to create a similar setup at the studios to make the locations look similar. Luckily, the production team managed to conclude filming on time here. 

Stone Street Studios And Weta Digital, New Zealand

After filming in the USA, the production team moved to New Zealand to shoot all the action sequences. The shooting went well for only one month because it was halted due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the circumstances got back to normal, the producer traveled to New Zealand again with 55 crew members. They followed the COVID-19 protocols at the same time.

Finally, the shooting resumed in July 2020 and action sequences were shot. It took almost 2.5 years to conclude shooting here. According to the sources, 95% of the shooting of Avatar 2 was completed at Stone Street Studios. 

To give the finishing touch to the pivotal sequences, visual effects were added at Weta Digital. Here, VFX was added to all the underwater sequences to make them look larger than life. Apart from this, the makers made some technical improvements to make Avatar 2 look better than the previous installment.

The production team used HD headcams to shoot the facial expressions of the cast members. Also, digital puppets were used, which were a copy of actors. After days of hard work, they finally got perfect shots to amaze viewers. 

Other Facts About Avatar 2 Filming

• James Cameron was supposed to start the filming of Avatar in 2007 but then raised that the technology at that time would not be able to do justice to his vision, so the project was put on hold.
• Underwater exerts were hired to teach actors to hold their breath for a longer period of time, For example, Kate Winslet was able to hold her breath for 7 minutes while filming.

Plot Of Avatar 2 | What’s It About?

After learning all about the filming locations, it’s time to shed light on the plot of the movie. Directed by James Cameron Avatar 2 is an epic science fiction film and it continues the story of Jake who starts his family with Neytiri. Jake’s family now includes his sons Neteyam and Lo’ak, daughter Tuk, an adopted daughter Kiri, and a human boy named Spider (son of Miles Quaritch who was unable to get back to earth). 

Soon Quaritch gets against Jake and captures his children. Upon hearing this, Jake and Neytiri set out to free their children from Quaritch. After considering the danger, the family decides to escape and exile themselves. As a result, the family learns many new things and Kiri develops a special bond with the sea and its creatures. 

The plot thickens when Lo’ak gets into conflict with Aonung and Quaritch traces Jake’s family. Surprisingly, Spider befriends Quaritch and announces hatred for Jake’s family. As a result, he traps Jake, Neytiri, and their children in a sinking vessel. Now, the family needs to fight against their rivals and humans to start a new life.

Final Words 

I hope coming across where was Avatar 2 filmed has imparted relevant information to you. If you haven’t watched the movie, it’s time to book your tickets or turn on your streaming platform. And in case you are interested in unveiling some more filming locations, read where was The Banishes Of Inisherin filmed!