James Cameron Explains Why He Returned to Direct More Avatar Films

James Cameron has always been a vocal supporter of the cinema experience, especially when it comes to his work on Avatar. After almost calling it quits on the franchise, he’s now shared what pulled him back in. In a recent chat, Cameron made it clear that these films were never meant to be just background noise. He designed them as full-on, immersive events that only really hit home when you’re sitting in a darkened theatre.

Not Your Average Blockbuster

For Cameron, Avatar isn’t about convenience or something you chuck on while doing the dishes. He’s after something much bigger—an experience that sticks with you. That’s why, even when he was close to walking away, it wasn’t for lack of ideas. The real issue was the industry’s shift towards quick, disposable content made for streaming on your phone. Cameron’s return was all about standing up for the traditional cinema outing. He sees making Avatar as a way to remind punters what films can really do when they’re made for the big screen.

Here’s a quick look at the franchise so far:

Avatar (2009) – Lightstorm Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partner – IMDb: 7.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 81%, Box Office: $2.9 billion
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – Lightstorm Entertainment – IMDb: 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 76%, Box Office: $2.3 billion
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) – Lightstorm Entertainment – Rotten Tomatoes: 71% (so far)

Immersion Over Pop Culture

Cameron’s never been fussed about whether Avatar has the same pop culture pull as Star Wars or Marvel. He’s not chasing viral moments or a heap of merchandise. For him, it’s all about drawing people into another world. Early on, he even pushed back against studio suggestions to create a lead character with a signature weapon just to flog more merch. He wasn’t having a bar of it.

Look, Star Wars has got the ultimate cultural footprint because you can role-play. You can wear a Darth Vader mask. You can play with Star Wars Lego. There’s so many toys and games and lightsabers… We don’t have any of that.

Instead, Cameron wanted Avatar to be about escaping reality for a few hours, not about action figures or costumes. That’s what keeps him coming back for more sequels. With Avatar 4 set for December 2029 and Avatar 5 wrapping things up in 2031, the saga is far from over. The next instalment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, lands in December 2025.

A New Angle on the Na’vi

Beyond the spectacle, Cameron’s also shifting the story in Fire and Ash. This time, he’s keen to challenge what fans reckon they know about the Na’vi. The new film moves away from the old good-versus-evil setup. The Ash People, representing fire, won’t be painted as purely good. For the first time, there’s a bit of moral grey in the mix, and early hints suggest they might even side with humans against other Na’vi.

The fire will be represented by the ‘Ash People.’ I want to show the Na’vi from another angle because, so far, I have only shown their good sides. In the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Na’vi examples. In Avatar 3, we will do the opposite.

We will also explore new worlds, while continuing the story of the main characters. I can say that the last parts will be the best. The others were an introduction, a way to set the table before serving the meal. But, obviously, everything will depend on how Avatar 2 is received, if it finds its audience.

Rather than rehashing the same old conflict, Cameron’s exploring how desperation and survival can blur the lines between right and wrong. He’s also said the later films will dig deeper emotionally, so fans can expect things to get a bit darker and more complex as the story goes on.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is due out 19 December 2025.