'Avatar' returning to theaters Friday

[August 23, 2010]  SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) -- James Cameron is inviting moviegoers to take an extended tour of Pandora.

The writer-director of "Avatar" is hoping fans will come back to the fictional planet to see 9 minutes of new footage when "Avatar: Special Edition" arrives in 3-D theaters on Friday.

Cameron says the new footage is sprinkled throughout the film and includes a dramatic action scene showing a hunt for one of Pandora's fantastical animals.

A special-edition DVD with the new footage will be released in November.

"Avatar" has earned $2.7 billion in box-office revenue worldwide.

[Associated Press; By SANDY COHEN]

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