James Cameron is gearing up to potentially dominate the box office once again with Avatar: Fire & Ash, the third installment in the epic Avatar film series. The film is scheduled to be released on December 19, 2025, by 20th Century Studios.
Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the saga of Pandora, with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) confronting a new enemy. One year after settling in with the Metkayina Clan, Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death. They encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe called the Ash People, led by the fiery Varang (Oona Chaplin), who has allied with Jake's old enemy, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). As conflict escalates, a new moral focus emerges.
Cameron has stated that Fire and Ash will showcase a different side of the Na'vi, exploring the "Ash People". He noted that while the earlier films presented very negative human examples and very positive Na'vi examples, Avatar 3 will do the opposite. Cameron teased that there are new characters, one of whom he thinks audiences will "love, or love to hate". Zoe Saldaña said that Fire and Ash is a continuation, but a process for the Sullys, and "the biggest turning point in this journey for these two individuals and this world". She also called the film "heart-wrenching".
The first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash premiered at CinemaCon in April 2025 and was later released to the public. The trailer introduces the Ash Clan, who live in the shadow of a volcano, and their leader, Varang. Varang quarrels with Neytiri and threatens Kiri (Sigourney Weaver). The trailer also showcases the Wind Traders, another Na'vi tribe. According to reports, the trailer reveals a dark, soot-covered Na'vi clan dancing around a blazing fire pit. Varang appears to have control over fire and declares, "Your goddess has no dominion here". Jake Sully says, "We cannot live like this... We cannot live with this hate".
The return of Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch suggests a complex narrative, as he seemingly forms an alliance with Varang. The film is set to feature stunning visuals, new locations, creatures, and expanded world-building.
Avatar: Fire and Ash has the potential to achieve significant box office success. Both previous installments grossed over $2 billion worldwide, with Avatar (2009) remaining the highest-grossing movie of all time and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) securing the third position. If Fire and Ash continues this trend, the Avatar franchise will be the first to have three films surpass the $2 billion milestone. Some predict the film could even reach $3 billion.
The film has been subject to multiple delays, with the latest occurring on August 9, 2024. It is now scheduled for release on December 19, 2025. Two additional sequels, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, are expected to be released in 2029 and 2031, respectively.
