The sequels to the highest-grossing blockbuster of all time will be shot and produced in Manhattan Beach.
James Cameron and 20th Century Fox have signed a deal for studio and office space at MBS Media campus at 1600 Rosecrans Avenue, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Cameron's production company, Lightstorm Entertainment, had previously been based in Santa Monica, although much of the original film was produced in Playa Vista.
More from the Hollywood Reporter:
Cameron confirmed to THR the deal for space at the 1600 Rosecrans Ave. property, formerly known as Manhattan Beach Studios, in a brief interview at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas on Monday. The length and dollar value of the lease are not known.
The 580,000-square-foot studio and office facility, which houses 15 sound stages, also is likely to become the new home of Cameron's company, Lightstorm Entertainment. Sources said Cameron has been in the market for as much as 90,000 square feet of production and office space.
The Manhattan Beach facility will be used by Cameron for motion capture photography and high-tech production of the next two films in the Avatar series, the news outlet reported.
The Oscar-winning director has been tapped to write and produce the two follow-ups to the original science fiction epic, which was shot in Playa Vista and New Zealand. Avatar 2 is expected to be released in December 2014 and Avatar 3 a year later.
The original Avatar film was released in 2009 and grossed more than $2.7 billion at the box office.
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