“Avatar 4” and“ 5” Are 'Full Speed Ahead' After Third Movie Crossed $1 Billion at Box Office

A producer on Avatar: Fire and Ash said that the planned fourth and fifth films are "headed forward" more than three months after the latest sequel hit theaters

NEED TO KNOW

• Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 are currently expected to hit theaters in 2029 and 2031

• Avatar: Fire and Ash is available on digital now, with a physical release set for May 19

The planned fourth and fifth movies inJames Cameron'sAvatarfranchise are moving forward with preproduction, according to an executive producer who worked onAvatar: Fire and Ash.

Rae Sanchini, who is credited as an executive producer on the third movie in the franchise, toldInversein an article published on Wednesday, April 1 that the fourth and fifth movies Cameron, 71, has previously discussed remain in development. "Right now we're figuring out the schedule," Sanchini told the outlet. "We're working hard on it right now, budgeting, scheduling, planning, building out our new pipeline for them. As far as we're concerned, we're full speed ahead."

The fourth and fifth movies in theAvatarseries, which do not yet have titles, have been scheduled to hit theaters in 2029 and 2031. However, Sanchini described those release dates as "tentative" and that the production intends to finalize release dates for the movies "in the not too distant future."

She also told the outlet that Cameron's production company, Lightstorm Entertainment, is utilizing "a more generally accessible platform" to build theAvatarfranchise's state-of-the-art visual spectacle for the forthcoming sequels.

"We have the scripts, they're brilliant," Sanchini added. "As far as I'm concerned, we're heading forward."

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Fire and Ash, a sequel to 2022'sThe Way of Water,crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box officein January, just weeks after it initially released. The movie finished its box office run aftergrossing $1.48 million globally. (2009's originalAvatarandThe Way of Waterstand out as the top grossing movie ever and third highest-grossing film ever, respectively.)

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Cameron previously suggested that he and the other producers behind the franchise "need to figure out how to makeAvatarmovies more inexpensively in order to continue" in a January interview. When Cameron appeared for a press conference at the Saturn Awards on March 8, the filmmaker said that it's "likely, but not 100%" that he makes the two planned instalments, according toScreen Rant.

Fire and Ashstands out as thelongest installment in theAvatarseriesso far. The film picks up soon after the events ofThe Way of Waterand finds the Sully family reeling after the death of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri's (Zoe Saldaña) eldest son, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), as series villain Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) renews his efforts to find and capture Jake.Oona Chaplinalso notably joined the franchise for the threequel as a Na'vi villain named Varang, who teams up with Quaritch.

Avatar: Fire and Ashis available on digital now, with a physical release set for May 19.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

April 03, 2026

“Avatar 4” and“ 5” Are 'Full Speed Ahead' After Third Movie Crossed $1 Billion at Box Office

A producer on Avatar: Fire and Ash said that the planned fourth and fifth films are "headed forward" more tha...

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Gennaro Gattuso is out as Italy's coach after team failed to qualify for World Cup

MILAN (AP) — Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left his role by mutual consent on Friday, three days after the national teamfailed to qualifyfor a third consecutiveWorld Cup.

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The Italian soccer federation announced the news ina statementthanking Gattuso "for the dedication and passion" during his nine months in charge.

Italy's chances of reaching this year's tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.

"With pain in my heart, not having achieved the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over," Gattuso said.

Gattuso's departure comes a day after Italy's soccer federation presidentGabriele Gravina resigned along with Gianluigi Buffon, who was the national team's delegation chief.

The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated bySwedenandNorth Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.

Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

Spalletti had also overseen a disappointing European Championship campaign in 2024, when titleholder Italy was knocked out in the round of 16 by Switzerland.

"I would like to thank Gattuso once again," Gravina said. "Because, in addition to being a special person, as a coach he has offered a valuable contribution, managing to bring enthusiasm back to the national team in just a few months.

"He has conveyed great pride in the national team jersey to the players and to the whole country."

Under Gattuso, Italy went on a six-match winning streak before another loss to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.

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Gattuso had been given a contract until the end of this summer's World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy returned to soccer's biggest stage.

"The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset that exists in soccer, which is why it is right to immediately facilitate future coaching staff decisions," Gattuso said.

"It was an honor to be able to lead the national team and do so also with a group of boys who have shown commitment and attachment to the shirt. The biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who have never failed to show their love and support for the national team in recent months."

Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.

Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year's World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia's national team. He left that role in October 2024 and is currently coach at Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Inzaghi steered Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.

Allegri is coach at AC Milan.

Italy will play two friendly matches in June but is unlikely to have a new coach by then, given that the election for a new FIGC president won't take place until June 22.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byAlpha World

in

April 03, 2026

Gennaro Gattuso is out as Italy's coach after team failed to qualify for World Cup

MILAN (AP) — Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left his role by mutual consent on Friday, three days after the national teamfa...

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Kevin Garnett to make Timberwolves return April 12, will have jersey number retired by team next season

Rejoice, Minnesota Timberwolves fans, because the greatest player in franchise history is officially coming back. Kevin Garnett will make his return to Target Center on April 12, theteam announced Friday.

It will mark Garnett's first appearance at the venue since 2018, per the team. The Timberwolves will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in the contest, which is the final game of the regular season.

Garnett said he couldn't wait to make that appearance.

"I can't wait to come home," said Garnett. "Coming back for me is about what's next. I've spent time with Marc and Alex, and you can feel the difference. The energy is real. The vision is real. They're building something that lasts, with a team on the court that's hungry to win. I'm excited to be back in the building with the fans. Minnesota, let's go!"

Garnett reuniting with the franchise shouldn't come as a major surprise, as the team announced he hadre-joined the franchise in a new rolein December. While the Timberwolves announced Garnett would eventually have his number retired back then, it did not provide specifics on when that would happen.

By win shares, Garnett is far and away the greatest player in Timberwolves history. The center averaged 19.8 points and 11 rebounds in 14 seasons with the franchise. He was a perennial contender for both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award during his time with the team. Garnett did eventually win an MVP award with the Timberwolves during the 2003-04 NBA season. His Defensive Player of the Year award came when Garnett was a member of the Boston Celtics.

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Despite leading the Timberwolves to the playoffs multiple times, Garnett was never able to secure a championship in Minnesota. He eventually did reach that milestone, but it came after a trade to the Celtics.

That trade was the result of mounting frustration from Garnett, who kept performing well despite the team's poor record.

At some point, Garnett's relationship with former Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor soured. Garnett has never gone into specifics on what transpired, though he told ESPN's Shams Charania in 2020, "I won't forgive Glen."

"Glen knows where I'm at, I'm not entertaining it. First of all, it's not genuine. Two, he's getting pressure from a lot of fans and, I guess, the community there. Glen and I had an understanding before Flip died, and when Flip died, that understanding went with Flip. For that, I won't forgive Glen. I won't forgive him for that. I thought he was a straight-up person, straight-up businessman, and when Flip died, everything went with him."

There were rumors Flip Saunders wanted to bring Garnett back to the Timberwolves following his playing career, but those never came to fruition following Saunders' death in 2015. That seems to have played a role in Garnett's frustration with Taylor.

But with Taylor out of the pictureafter selling the team, the door was open for Garnett's return. Garnett reportedly has a close relationship with new team owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, which paved the way for Garnett's new role with the franchise.

Given Garnett's excellence — and his longtime feud — Timberwolves fans will almost certainly give him an enthusiastic reception when he makes his return April 12.

byAlpha World

in

April 03, 2026

Kevin Garnett to make Timberwolves return April 12, will have jersey number retired by team next season

Rejoice, Minnesota Timberwolves fans, because the greatest player in franchise history is officially coming back. Kevin ...

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Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home

More details are emerging on an alleged altercation betweenBackstreet Boys member Brian Littrelland a Florida beachgoer.

The"I Want It That Way" singer, 51,reportedly called 911 following the incident on March 22, and later filed a complaint in Walton County, Florida, according toPeopleandABC 13.

Though Littrell sought battery charges against a local man whom he said set up a beach chair on his private property and refused to leave, the prosecutor ultimately declined to pursue the case. Now, a videoreleased by ABC 13is shedding new light on the incident.

In the video, submitted as evidence,Littrellapproached a man, identified by the outlet as Kyle Gallagher. Gallagher was sitting on the beach as Littrell videotaped Gallagher with his phone and came within a few inches of his face. The man pushed Littrell's phone away, and the two began filming each other and hurling expletives.

Kevin Richardson spills secretsbehind Backstreet Boys' stunning Sphere concerts

The boy band member then turned the camera to his own face, laughing and said, "This is what I deal with, people like this," to which the man responded, "You came and shoved your phone in my face, bro." The dispute continued, with both men getting heated, and Littrell at one point saying, "You wanna be gay?"

Gallagher argued that Littrell's property is next to public beach access, while the singer responded, "I can't wait till this gets out, bro."

In statements to authorities, both men offered a different version of events, with Littrell characterizing Gallagher as violent and a disturbance to the peace, while Gallagher said he only batted away the singer's phone out of reflex and being startled.

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Walton County Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell declined to pursue charges, citing both a lack of criminal intent and the video backing up Gallagher's version of events, per ABC 13. USA TODAY has reached out to Mitchell's office as well as the Walton County Sheriff.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Friday, April 3, Littrell's lawyer alleged he is one of several people in the beachfront neighborhood who are frustrated by trespassers.

"Mr. Littrell enjoys positive relationships with his neighbors. They share a common challenge: repeated trespassing by individuals who deliberately enter private property to provoke confrontation," the singer's attorney, Peter Ticktin, wrote in the statement. "These incidents have affected multiple homeowners in the area and predate Mr. Littrell's purchase of his home."

The statement continued: "A trespasser placed a personal beach chair on Mr. Littrell's private property and refused to leave. When Mr. Littrell approached him calmly, the trespasser became aggressive and struck Mr. Littrell in the face without provocation. This was an act of battery against a homeowner attempting to protect his property."

Ticktin pushed back on "the claim that Mr. Littrell used a homophobic slur," calling it "false."

"The full video of the encounter shows unequivocally that no such language was used. Sexual orientation played no role in this incident, and any suggestion otherwise is knowingly false," Ticktin said.

"Mr. Littrell and his family purchased what they saw as their dream home, only to discover an ongoing pattern of trespassing and harassment targeting private property owners along their and their neighbors' stretch of beach. These actions are not about public access, public beaches exist on both sides of the neighborhood and remain open and uncrowded," Ticktin continued. "Instead, certain individuals appear intent on challenging the very concept of private property rights."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Brian Littrell seen in heated dispute in front of Florida beach home

byAlpha World

in

April 03, 2026

Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home

More details are emerging on an alleged altercation betweenBackstreet Boys member Brian Littrelland a Florida beachg...

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