New Zealand became one of the first countries to declare that it has become COVID 19 free after no new cases were reported for over a month. The lockdown has been eased and slowly borders are being opened. Top Hollywood director James Cameron and a crew of 55 members landed in the island country a few days back and are in the mandatory 14 day quarantine after which the shooting of 'Avatar 2' and 'Avatar 3 will resume.

The move by the NZ government to allow the 'Avatar' and another unnamed movie crew to enter the country has angered opposition politicians as well as some sections of the people. It said that many common people stranded in other countries have not been allowed to return while the film unit which has friends in the government have been given preferences.

The New Zealand government sources have stated that the two films including 'Avatar' will give employment to 600 people and that is the reason permissions were given. The sequels which are simultaneously shot have only the live action portions remaining while the motion capture sequences have all been already filmed.

'Avatar' sequels has the cast of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Cliff Curtis, Kate Winslet, Michelle Yeoh, Sigourney Weaver and Stephan Lang. 'Avatar 2' is set for release on December 17, 2021.