James Cameron Shares Insights on Feedback and Bob Iger’s Thoughts Ahead of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
James Cameron opened up about the feedback he received from Disney CEO Bob Iger on his upcoming film Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Speaking about Iger’s input, Cameron said the executive waits until there’s a complete version to review before sharing his thoughts.
“He’s interesting. He doesn’t weigh in until it’s something for me to show. His comment when he watched [FIRE AND ASH] for the first time, even though it was at 3 hours, 23 minutes, not including credits at that point, so it’s gotten about 18 minutes shorter since then. He said, ‘Yeah, I know you’re going to keep chopping away at it. But it’s magnificent.’ He basically said, ‘I love this film.’”
“And it was interesting because there were other heads on the Zoom that were bringing up notes. And he said, ‘Yeah, you know, I didn’t have a problem with that.’ And he basically shot them down on their notes. And I was like, ‘Okay, we’re done here.’” Cameron said.
Cameron also spoke about how audience feedback shapes his work, explaining that while it can sometimes be tricky to interpret, it often provides clear insight into what’s working in a story. “You’ve got to use the Force to know what they’re talking about sometimes. But they can be incredibly articulate about what’s working for them, why it’s working, and what pushed them over the line. We seem to have hit exactly the right tone in terms of intensity now.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third installment in the Avatar franchise, directed by Cameron and co-written with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, from a story developed with Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno. The film continues the story from Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and brings back Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, and several other returning cast members.
Cameron had long planned sequels to the original Avatar (2009), first announcing two follow-ups in 2010. The production of Fire and Ash was complex, requiring new technology for underwater performance capture. Filming began in New Zealand on September 25, 2017, alongside The Way of Water, and finished in December 2020 after more than three years.
There's no going back for Neytiri.
— Avatar (@officialavatar) November 26, 2025
On December 19, Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives in theatres and IMAX. Get tickets now: https://t.co/gSGJpeDyXY pic.twitter.com/8gIzQ9z4sN
The movie has faced several delays, with the most recent announced on June 13, 2023. It is now set to premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on December 1, and will be released in U.S. theaters on December 19. Two additional sequels, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, are in development, with expected releases in 2029 and 2031.
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