You haven't seen Avatar if you haven't seen it in a theatre: James Cameron

On September 23, James Cameron's epic science fiction eco-parable Avatar (2009) will have a new theatrical release. The spark is clear; Avatar: The Way of Water, the first sequel, debuts worldwide in December.

James Cameron, in an interview with a leading English daily, said, “It’s been 12 years since the release, and if you're under 22 or 23 years of age, it’s very unlikely that you’ve seen the film in a movie theatre. We authored the film for the big screen. Now, it can finally be watched the way we intended it to.”

The film will be available for a two-week limited engagement. A new trailer of the movie was also released by the 20th Century on their Twitter handle.

“The film is only as good as the people in it. Avatar transported us into the world of science fiction, away from the craziness of our daily lives. The characters in the movie are relatable because they are universal,” Cameron says.

“The whole film was an immersive experience, and I want to bring this experience to the audience again in a way it was planned,” he adds.

Written and directed by the Academy Award winner, Avatar stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver among others.

The film was produced by Cameron and Jon Landau. Nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, Avatar won three Oscars, for Best Cinematography, Production Design and Visual Effects.

According to Worthington, who plays Jake Sully, the feeling of belonging is what makes the movie a classic. “It’s like a five-year-old kid in a big play pit, with the boss saying, ’Get to it,’ and that was the job, and it was so much fun doing it.”

Saldana, who plays Neytiri, goes on a trip down memory lane and claims she was changing her niece's dirty diaper when she received the call for Avatar. "I won't soon forget the call I received before Avatar. Being a part of it has been a fantastic journey."

Sigourney, who plays Dr Augustine, the scientist, feels Neytiri exemplifies Cameron's goal of developing strong female characters. "I'm just happy to have contributed to the science behind it all. It's a real source of motivation for female scientists."

For Michelle, playing Trudy Chacon was a different experience altogether. “Being on the set, there was an example of leadership right there. Watching Jim inspire everyone in their field, whether it’s engineers, whether it’s people in the art department, to do their best, it was all so good.”

In early May, the makers revealed the first teaser trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water, shortly after CinemaCon, the annual gathering of theatre owners. Worthington and Saldana return as Jake Sully and Neytiri, respectively, as the film’s story focuses on the two primary protagonists, their families and the lengths they go to keep each other safe.

Avatar: The Way of Water will mark the return of Sigourney as Dr Grace Augustine and Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch. The new entrants include Vin Diesel and Kate Winslet, who had famously starred in Cameron’s 1997 hit Titanic.