Avatar is James Cameron’s newest epic. It’s a science fiction film set to hit theaters on May 23, 2009. The film revolves around an ex-marine who turns himself into an avatar by allowing an alien life form to posses his body. An avatar is a genetically engineered biological body that can be remotely operated by a human consciousness. Sam Worthington, an Australian actor, will play the role of Jake Sully, the ex-marine.

Zoe Saldana, who played Anamaria in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, will star opposite Worthington as his alien love interest. Sigourney Weaver, Peter Mensah, C.C.H. Pounder, and Laz Alonso will also have roles in the movie. Michael Biehn, who played Kyle Reese in the The Terminator, is in talks to have a role as well.

Cameron originally wrote the treatment for Avatar in 1995 and announced it as his next project after Titanic. Obviously, that plan didn’t pan out.

In 2005, Cameron was said to be working on a project called “Project 880.” In February of 2006, Cameron revealed that Project 880 was a retooled version of Avatar. Cameron has stated that if Avatar is successful, he would like to make sequels to the film. Both Worthington and Saldana are signed on for possible sequels.

In January 2007, it was announced that M. Night Shyamalan would be filming a live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Paramount Pictures claimed to have registered the film’s title with the Motion Picture Association of America, but a 20th Century Fox representative for Cameron’s Avatar claimed that they owned the title.

Now, I’m all for first come first served, but what would a live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender be without its title?

While looking through various James Cameron videos on YouTube, I found this cool clip of a make-up artist discussing what it’s like to work with James Cameron.