James Cameron to write "Avatar" novel

After mesmerizing audiences with "Avatar," James Cameron is set to wow fans as he puts pen to paper for an "Avatar" prequel novel, producer Jon Landau has revealed.

During an interview with MTV News, the "Avatar" producer confirmed that Cameron will pen a prequel to "Avatar," focusing on the back story that they likely wouldn't have time to include in future films.

Go to the "Avatar" Movie page

The "Avatar" novel is a pretty clear next move, and it will mark James Cameron's debut as a novelist.

However, he emphasized that this book will not be a novelization.

"There is a distinction. A novelization basically retells the story of the movie. Jim wants to write a novel that is a big epic that fills in a lot of things," the New York Daily News quoted him, as saying.e added: "It would be something that would lead up to telling the story of the movie, but it would go into much more depth about all the stories that we didn't have time to deal with - like the schoolhouse and Sigourney [Weaver's character] teaching at the schoolhouse; Jake on earth and his backstory and how he came here; [the death of] Tommy, Jake's brother; and Colonel Quaritch, how he ended up there and all that."

Go to the James Cameron Page

It doesn't look like they're going to make "Avatar" fans wait long for it either, Landau said "I'm hoping by the end of this year."