Zoe Saldaña Shares the Toughest Part of Filming Avatar: Fire and Ash

Zoe Saldaña, known for her roles in some of the world’s biggest film franchises, is gearing up to return to the big screen in James Cameron’s much-hyped Avatar: Fire and Ash. After smashing box office records with the first two Avatar instalments, she’s set to bring Neytiri back to life, but this time, the experience hit closer to home than ever before.

While chatting about her role as a mother in the upcoming sci-fi epic, Saldaña got candid about the personal toll the project took. She explained that during filming, she was expanding her own family, which made stepping into Neytiri’s shoes—especially as a character grieving a child—particularly tough.

On a personal level, I was expanding my family. So, to get to leave my babies at home and come to work and play a woman who had just buried one of her children, it was hard.

The director, James Cameron, has described the new film as a family story, but for Saldaña, the emotional weight was very real.

Family Life and Support Behind the Scenes

Saldaña and her husband, artist Marco Perego, share three sons: Cy, Bowie, and Zen. Despite her high-profile career, the couple have managed to keep their kids mostly out of the spotlight. Still, her children are well aware of their mum’s on-screen adventures. When asked about her role as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, Saldaña reflected on how her kids see her both as their mum and as a superhero.

I see how he’s trying to place me in his mind like, ‘OK, you’re mama, but you’re also Gamora…They’re going to watch these films, and it’s going to be a part of what they like and what excites them. And the fact that that gives me street cred with my kids, it’s fun, it’s great.

She’s even shared snaps of her sons visiting her on set, all while she was in full Gamora makeup.

Saldaña has spoken openly about the challenges of balancing work and family, especially when filming keeps her away from home for long stretches. She’s given a nod to all the mums out there chasing their dreams, saying, “Those dreams are their’s too! Trust the process…” Her last outing as Gamora was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the final Marvel film directed by James Gunn before he moved on to DC projects.

Avatar Franchise: A Quick Look

Saldaña will be joined once again by Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Sigourney Weaver as Kiri in Avatar: Fire and Ash. The franchise has also featured big names like Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Oona Chaplin, and David Thewlis. Here’s a quick rundown of the series 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. Ratings and box office figures yet to come.

James Cameron’s Vision for the Big Screen

James Cameron, the bloke behind the Avatar universe, is known for pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. The first Avatar changed the game with 3D technology, and Cameron’s attention to detail hasn’t let up. For Fire and Ash, he’s sent out specific instructions to theatre technicians, making sure the film is shown exactly as intended.

Dear Theater Technician, My team and I are very excited to deliver AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH, over to you, to present to the public.

He’s even included a framing chart in the digital package, asking cinemas to stick to the recommended settings for the best experience.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is set to hit Aussie cinemas on 19 December 2025. Let us know if you’re keen to catch it on the big screen.