The opposite is true on Avatar.
“Jim [Cameron] still believes that the good things take time. And as a composer, having that ability to refine and to make something special is something that is rare these days.”
The director also went to great lengths to ensure his latest film is free from artificial intelligence.
“He very specifically asked me, ‘So, we’re not using any AI? We’re not putting any real musicians out of work’,” Franglen recalls.
“It’s fair to say that if you gave a lot of film producers the option to save money, they would take that option.
“Jim is in a situation where he will not compromise, and that’s as important when it comes to the music as it is to the live performances of the actors.”
As the film prepares to open, Franglen is celebrating a Golden Globe nomination for the theme song, Dream As One, sung by Miley Cyrus.
But he’s also thinking about what comes next. Cameron has already completed the scripts for Avatar Four and Five; scheduled to come out in 2029 and 2031.
“Four is… I think it’s astonishing,” says Franglen. “It goes into whole new territories, and I love it.”
Initial footage has already been shot, but Cameron says completing the film will depend on the box office performance of Fire and Ash.
“I really hope that we break even, so that we can make it,” says Franglen.
“I think they said after Avatar Two that the break even point was $1.4 billion (£1 billion).
“I have no way of knowing, but I presume that it’s a similar number for this one.
“So if the audience tells us that they want an Avatar Four, I’m very much looking forward to doing that.”