Avatar 6 and 7 are in the planning stages, says director James Cameron, 69: 'We enjoy what we do, we love it'

James Cameron has already made plans for the sixth and seventh Avatar films.

The 69-year-old director has mapped out the future of the epic sci-fi franchise until the release of Avatar 5 in 2031 and revealed he still has ideas – even though he will likely have stepped away from his directorial duties by then.

“We're completely written into film five, and I have ideas for six and seven, although I'll probably pass the baton at that point,” James shared. People magazine at the Saturn Awards on Sunday.

“I mean, mortality is catching up with her. But I mean, we enjoy what we do. We love it. We get to work with great people.”

Cameron – whose film Avatar: The Way of Water took home four awards at the ceremony in Los Angeles – explained that he wants the 'Avatar' franchise to emulate the popularity of sci-fi giants 'Star Wars' and 'Star Trek'.

“We're completely written into movie five, and I have ideas for six and seven, although I'll probably pass the baton at that point,” James told People Magazine at the Saturn Awards on Sunday.

The Titanic filmmaker said, “Star Trek, Star Wars, the world-building franchises that have been around since I was a kid, those were my inspirations.

“And like I said, we're still a young universe. We're only two films in, we're now halfway through our third. To have such a cultural impact in the long term, you have to put all your heart and energy into it.'

Cameron added: “People always ask us, 'Then why did you just keep working in the same thing…' Why did (George) Lucas keep working in the same thing? Why did (Gene) Roddenberry keep doing the same thing?

'Because if you connect with people, why waste it? Why start over with something else that might not fit in?'

“Avatar” producer Jon Landau added that there are “more stories to tell” in the record-breaking franchise.

He said, “I mean, it's not like we're trying to make up stories. He (Cameron) has the stories and we took the time to spread them across all four sequels.”

Meanwhile, production on Avatar 3 continues in February.

Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa, Jon Landau, Cameron and Richard Baneham at the 51st Annual Saturn Awards

Sam Worthington – who plays Jake Sully opposite Zoe Saldana as Neytiri in the epic fantasy franchise – has provided a major update and work will resume in February, ahead of the film's planned 2025 release.

'We'll be working on it again in a month and it's big. It's bigger than you can imagine,” he said People magazine.

It's unclear what work remains to be done, but the 47-year-old star clearly expects big things from the film.

Cameron recently confirmed plans to spend two years on 'post-production' of Avatar 3, while still aiming for launch by the end of next year.

Production on Avatar 3 continues in February Sam Worthington – who plays Jake Sully opposite Zoe Saldana as Neytiri in the epic fantasy franchise – has provided a major update and work will resume in February, ahead of the film's planned 2025 release

Speaking at a breakfast for 'TV New Zealand' he said: 'We're in a very hectic two years of post-production at the moment, so it's going to be Christmas of '25.'

Earlier last year, he gave a hint at what fans can expect from the next sequel, as he continues with plans to have five films in the blockbuster series.

He told Deadline: “Fire has a symbolic purpose in the film and there is a culture that revolves specifically around that concept. That probably says too much at this point.”

Disney previously announced that the next three films in the sci-fi franchise have been delayed by a year, with 'Avatar 3' – the follow-up to last year's 'Avatar: The Way of Water' – releasing on December 19, 2025.

'Avatar 4' will be released four years later, while 'Avatar 5' is expected on the same date in 2031, 22 years after the first film was released in 2009.

Cameron recently confirmed his plans to spend two years on 'post-production' for 'Avatar 3', while still aiming for its launch by the end of next year

Worthington will be 55 years old in the final film, while Saldana previously expressed her dismay about how old she will be.

In her Instagram Story last summer, the 45-year-old actress wrote: 'Amazing! I'll be 53 when the last Avatar comes out [shocked face emoji].

'I was 27 when I photographed the very first Avatar.'