Avatar director James Cameron

'Avatar 2' has been pushed back to 2015.

Director James Cameron looks set to release the follow up to the 2009 fantasy film one year later than Fox executives had originally planned, and the movie will follow in the footsteps of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy - directed by Peter Jackson - by being filmed in New Zealand.

According to a profile by the New York Times, James is said to have purchased 2,500 acres of farmland near Pounui, a 15-minute helicopter ride from Peter's Wellington production studio, where James plans to film 'Avatar 2' and 'Avatar 3', with motion-capture effects set to be done on a stage in California.

Peter said: ''Maybe I can go wander off on a beach somewhere now.''

James is expected to live in New Zealand for 18 months while he shoots the two follow up movies and he has even discussed the prospect of emulating Peter by constructing facilities in New Zealand, with the country's biggest city, Auckland, being talked about as a possible destination.

He said: ''I want to help in any way I can. I'm not there to compete with Peter.''

The sequel to 'Avatar' is expected to see Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles in the movie.

© Bang Showbiz