Nearly seven years after Avatar: The Way of Water and the third film in the series began production, the title and accompanying graphics have finally been revealed for the first time.
James Cameron, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana came together at Disney’s D23 fan event in Anaheim, Calif. on Friday to show off Avatar: Fire and Ashes.
“The characters feel so alive, so real, and the emotional tension is higher than ever before,” Cameron told the audience. “We’re treading some really challenging territory with these characters that you know and love.”
He added: “The new release isn’t what you’d expect, but it’s definitely what you’d hope for.”
Remember when Cameron said he intended to end the Avatar franchise with the third film? Of course, that hinged on the question he asked before The Way of Water was released: “How many people care now?”
Many did, and the sequel has grossed over $1 billion at the box office, earning Cameron’s third film a place on the list of the 10 highest grossing films of all time. At the time of writing, he has said he will make as many as seven more films exploring the world of Pandora.
Beyond what was announced at D23 today, we know a lot more about Avatar: Fire and Ashes. We know that Cameron filmed Avatar: Fire and Ashes and The Way of Water at the same time to avoid what he calls “the Stranger Things effect,” which refers to the unnatural age increase for the show’s young cast between seasons.
We also learned last winter that Avatar: Fire and Ashes wouldn’t make its planned Christmas 2024 release date; two grueling years of post-production pushed the release date to Christmas 2025. Before his death this July, producer Jon Landau hinted that Avatar: Fire and Ashes would delve deeper into a fierce new tribe of Na’vi people known as the “Ash People.” Their mercurial leader, Valan, will be played by newly cast member Oona Chaplin.
When Cameron spoke at D23 about a new character “that audiences are going to hate,” this is likely who he was referring to.
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In addition to the little plot ideas Cameron has revealed for Avatar 4-7 (with the fifth film being “partly” set on Earth), we also know who’s returning to the Avatar cast and who’s new. Joining Chaplin on the list of new actors is veteran British actor David Thewlis, who will play Payrac.
The all-star cast that appeared in Avatar and its sequels returns: Worthington, Saldanha, Sigourney Weaver, C.C.H. Pounder, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, Jack Champion, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerard, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Jemaine Clement, Philippe Gergio, Britten Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss and Bailey Bass.
Champion told The Hollywood Reporter that the script for Avatar: Fire and Ashes marks a “big shift” from previous films, saying, “You think you know where it’s going, and then the wrecking ball comes along,” adding that it “expands into more regions of Pandora and touches on more cultures.”
If The Way of Water significantly expanded the scope of the original Avatar, then Avatar: Fire and Ashes will likely repeat that pattern, so if you start preparing now, you’ll be ready when Avatar: Fire and Ashes hits theaters on December 19, 2025.
