James Cameron has said he is prepared to publicly disclose the full story plans for Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 if the Avatar film series is forced to end after its third instalment, Avatar: Fire and Ash. The director made the comments in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, emphasizing that the long-term future of the franchise depends entirely on the financial performance of the latest release.
Cameron explained that while he hopes the saga continues, each new film must justify its existence at the box office. If that business case fails, he said he would hold a press conference to outline what the remaining chapters were meant to explore.
“I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does,” Cameron said. “But every time we go out, we have to prove that business case. If we don’t get to make 4 and 5, I’ll tell people exactly what we were going to do.”
As an alternative, Cameron said he has considered adapting the unused scripts into novels. According to him, the later chapters of the story contain extensive cultural detail, character history, and world-building that he would still like audiences to experience in some form.
In a separate interview with Variety, Cameron struck a cautious tone, noting the broader challenges facing the theatrical market. He pointed out that while the industry has struggled in recent years, signs of recovery are emerging thanks to strong performances from a handful of major releases. Still, he stressed that Fire and Ash must succeed before any future instalments can move forward.
Early box office results suggest the director may not need to follow through on his contingency plan. Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed the $500 million mark worldwide within its first week in theatres and is expected to maintain momentum into the new year. The previous two films in the series both went on to earn more than $2 billion globally.
Some insight into the franchise’s long-term direction has surfaced before. In 2022, late producer Jon Landau indicated that Avatar 5 would shift part of the story to Earth, placing the Na’vi in direct contact with humanity’s home world in an effort to reframe the audience’s perspective.
Cameron has also left open the question of whether he will personally direct the final two films. While he previously suggested the possibility of handing the reins to another filmmaker due to the intense demands of the series, he has more recently indicated that he remains open to directing both sequels himself, provided his health and energy allow it.
For now, the fate of Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 rests on the continued performance of Avatar: Fire and Ash. If the film maintains its early momentum, Cameron’s ambitious plans for the saga appear more likely to reach the screen rather than the press room.
