'Avatar' and 'Cirque du Soleil' : A Fantasy Team-Up

'Cirque' performances are fantastic

James Cameron, the force behind the two highest grossing movies of all time - 'Avatar' at $2.7 billion and 'Titanic' at $2.2 billion signed a deal last week with Daniel Lamarre, the force behind the most successful live performance shows of all time - Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun) which has grossed billions in admissions over the course of its 30 year history.

Started in a village near Quebec City in 1984, 'Cirque' currently has 23 productions running: 11 touring and 12 permanent venue (of which 8 are resident in Las Vegas resort/hotels). Over 100 million people have attended a 'Cirque' performance which couples out-of-this-world costumed characters performing elaborate acts of aerobics and acrobatics, some aquatic, but all emotional and mesmerizing. No animals are ever used in 'Cirque' performances.

The 'Avatar'/Cirque du Soleil show will be a 'road' performance and is scheduled to begin touring late next year - no title for the show has yet been determined.  The new show will be ahead of the release of the three 'Avatar' movie sequels now in the works - the first to be released in cinemas in December 2016 and the third by December 2018. The announcement of the joint venture was made at the C2MTL Commerce and Creativity Conference in Montreal last week.  Fox Entertainment, which distributed the first 'Avatar' will also work on the project.

"I know we share the common goal of bringing audiences to another level of entertainment experiences. I look forward to doing just that on this project ", Cameron stated at the press conference.  Lamarre, CEO of 'Cirque du Soleil, reiterated saying, "our relationship with Jim Cameron began with my visit to his 'Avatar' cutting room.  I am thrilled that 15 years later, Cirque du Soleil will be able to explore the very inspirational 'Avatar' realm for the live stage."

I, for one, can't wait. I have attended several of the 'Cirque' productions and they are truly amazing and fantastic and fit perfectly with the fantasy and imagery of 'Avatar'.