Merrick has an avatar. It frightens people.

This has an “old school” AICN vibe that I really kind of like.

By now, many of us have heard that the mighty James Cameron is finally inching towards realizing his fabled AVATAR.

In its original iteration, AVATAR told the story of a guy named Josh Sully. Sully undertakes an epic journey aboard a scientifically accurate interstellar mega-ship to Alpha Centauri B-4, where he becomes the “controller” of a human/alien hybrid/surrogate designed for use in extraterrestrial environments dangerous to humans.

In a recent interview with Harry, Cameron indicated that a mysterious, oft-referenced film called PROJECT 880 is…in fact…a “retooled” version of AVATAR. He also said that he still didn't know if BATTLE ANGEL ALITA, or AVATAR, would be his next project.

Well, the following is by no means a full answer to that question (the two films are being prepped at once, and Cameron may not make a decision until the last minute), but Alan One sent in a few photos snapped during his recent journey to Playa Vista. They reveal an unassuming doorway with a simple little sign implying that active work (developmental or otherwise) on AVATAR/“PROJECT 880” is finally underway! Perhaps this is the "virtual studio" mentioned in Harry's article?

As AVATAR and BATTLE ANGEL are being developed concurrently, there might be a counterpart studio for ALITA as well. Somewhere...hidden...waiting.

Talkbackers…DEPLOY!