We asked for this, I guess?

In an announcement that has dumbfounded me, and most of the Internet, director James Cameron has officially announced that there will be FOUR sequels to Avatar.

We had previously heard that he had employed the services of a team of screenwriters to write three sequels to Avatar, the biggest box office success of all time, but the announcement of a fourth was absolutely jarring.

Per his announcement today, the schedule for the movies is as follows:

• Avatar 2: Christmas 2018
• Avatar 3: Christmas 2020
• Avatar 4: Christmas 2022
• Avatar 5: Christmas 2023

This is insane. The second movie will arrive NINE YEARS after the first, and somehow, we will get one every other year, and the final installment with a one year turnaround.

If anyone can pull it off, it’s the guy who made a $250 Million movie into a $3 Billion success, even with 3D that we all doubted and changed the way blockbusters are released.

But will anyone care? As has been discussed elsewhere, the movie hasn’t had a lasting cultural impact.

And even in this era of cinematic universes, doesn’t FIVE sequels somehow feel punishing?

What say you? Sound off in the comments.