‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Runtime Revealed — James Cameron’s Longest Epic Yet
James Cameron’s next big movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is shaping up to be another massive cinematic journey, literally.
AMC Theatres has confirmed that the upcoming sequel will run for 3 hours and 15 minutes, making it the longest Avatar film so far.
The movie, set for release on December 19, continues the saga of Pandora and follows the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, which came out in 2022. Returning to their roles are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate Winslet. The film is directed by James Cameron, who co-wrote the script with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver.
Cameron first talked about making Avatar sequels back in 2006, long before the first movie became a global hit in 2009. After its success, he officially announced plans for two follow-ups in 2010. Over time, that grew into four sequels, turning Avatar into one of the most ambitious film series ever attempted.
This world is much deeper than you imagine. Watch the brand-new trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash and experience it in theatres December 19th.
— Avatar (@officialavatar) September 25, 2025
Also, don’t miss Avatar: The Way of Water back on the big screen in 3D for one week only, starting October 3rd. pic.twitter.com/nB5nOcrQMx
Production on Fire and Ash began in New Zealand in September 2017, shooting at the same time as The Way of Water. Filming took over three years and wrapped up in late 2020. Much of the delay was due to Cameron’s push to develop new underwater performance capture technology, a complex process that had never been done before.
The road to release hasn’t been smooth. The movie has been delayed nine times, most recently in June 2023. But with the final date now set for December, fans can finally look forward to returning to Pandora. Two more sequels, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, are already in development and are expected to release in 2029 and 2031.
With a confirmed runtime of over three hours, Cameron seems to be continuing his tradition of making long, immersive films that fully transport audiences into his worlds. Whether fans are ready to sit through another epic-length adventure remains to be seen, but the director’s history of delivering visually stunning blockbusters suggests it’ll be worth the wait.
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