James Cameron Promises to Reveal Avatar 4 and 5 Storylines in a Press Conference If Sequels Are Canceled
James Cameron is moving forward with the Avatar series, but he is also being realistic about its future. During the press run for Avatar: Fire and Ash, the filmmaker made it clear that nothing is fully guaranteed, even though Disney has already set dates for the next films.
Avatar 4 is scheduled for release in 2029, and Avatar 5 is planned for 2031. Cameron has already filmed small parts of the fourth movie while working on Avatar: The Way of Water and Fire and Ash. Still, he says the studio will only continue if the numbers make sense.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cameron explained that the franchise always has to prove itself. “I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does. But, you know, we prove that business case every time we go out,” he said.
So far, Avatar: Fire and Ash is off to a strong start. The film has earned more than $483 million worldwide in its first week in theaters. But Cameron has a backup plan if the studio decides not to move ahead with the final chapters.
“If we don’t get to make 4 and 5, for whatever reason, I’ll hold a press conference and I’ll tell you what we were gonna do,” Cameron said. “How’s that?”
From Director James Cameron, watch the trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
— Avatar (@officialavatar) July 28, 2025
Experience the film only in theaters December 19. pic.twitter.com/Y0D4EUGU7x
He also shared another idea he has thought about. Cameron said he would love to turn the Avatar story into novels and write them himself. “There’s so much culture and backstory and detail in these characters,” he explained. “I’d love to do something like that.”
Still, he admitted the timing may not be right. “There’s no business model for it anymore. People aren’t reading,” Cameron said. He pointed to a recent study from the University of Florida and University College London that found reading for fun in the U.S. has dropped by about 40 percent. Even so, he added that it could still be useful to have a full record of the story as it was meant to be told.
Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the story of the Sully family. Jake and Neytiri are dealing with deep loss after the events of The Way of Water. This time, they face a dangerous new group known as the Ash People, led by Varang. The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, and others.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
