James Cameron Says He’ll Reveal ‘Avatar’ 4 and 5 Plots in a Press Conference If Films Don’t Happen
James Cameron is already thinking ahead, even as the latest Avatar movie is still fresh in theaters. During the press tour for Avatar: Fire and Ash, the filmmaker shared some unexpected thoughts about the future of the franchise, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Even though Disney has release dates lined up for Avatar 4 in 2029 and Avatar 5 in 2031, Cameron made it clear nothing is fully guaranteed. Parts of Avatar 4 were already filmed during work on the second and third movies, but Cameron says the long-term future depends on how each film performs.
“I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does,” Cameron told Entertainment Weekly earlier this month. “But, you know, we prove that business case every time we go out.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash is off to a strong start, earning more than $483 million worldwide in its first week. Still, Cameron says he has a backup plan if the studio decides not to move forward with the final two films.
“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,” he 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
Cameron also shared another idea he has been thinking about. He would like to turn the Avatar story into novels and write them himself. He said the world of Avatar has a deep history and detailed culture that could work well on the page.
“There’s so much culture and backstory and lateral detail in these characters that’s been worked out,” he explained. “I’d love to do something that’s at that level of granular detail.”
Still, he admitted that books may not be as popular as they once were. Cameron pointed to a recent study from the University of Florida and University College London that found reading for pleasure in the U.S. has dropped by about 40 percent. “There’s no business model for it anymore. People aren’t reading,” he said, before adding that it could still be worth it to preserve the full story.
Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the story of Jake Sully and Neytiri as they protect their family after the tragic events of Avatar: The Way of Water. This time, they face a new threat from the Ash People, a dangerous volcanic Na’vi clan led by Varang. The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, and several returning cast members.
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