James Cameron Teases ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ Footage At CinemaCon

April 4, 2025: At CinemaCon on Thursday night, Disney unveiled the first official footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash, the much-anticipated third installment in James Cameron’s legendary Avatar franchise. The footage, presented to theater owners, offered a tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come in the next chapter of the saga, which promises to deepen the emotional journey while introducing new, formidable foes.

James Cameron, who introduced the footage through a video segment, assured fans that Fire and Ash would raise the stakes significantly. The footage hinted at a thrilling conclusion to the trilogy, one where the beloved characters will face not only the human invaders but also new adversaries—the Ash People, a powerful Na’vi tribe.

Zoe Saldana, who reprises her role as Neytiri, took the stage at CinemaCon to explain the new additions to the world of Pandora. “Fire and Ash expands the beautiful world of Pandora and introduces two new clans, the Wind Traders and the Ash People,” Saldana shared. This announcement set the stage for the high-stakes conflicts and emotional arcs that the third film will explore.

The three-minute clip opened with a tense moment where Neytiri told Jake, “The strength of the ancestors is here,” setting a dramatic tone for what followed. The sequence quickly shifted to a gripping battle, where Jake urged Neytiri to let go of her hatred, hinting at the internal and external struggles the characters will face in this chapter. The footage concluded on a haunting note, with a character lamenting, “We cannot defeat this enemy that comes from the stars,” underscoring the magnitude of the challenge ahead.

Cameron, known for his bold approach to filmmaking, expressed his excitement for the film, describing it as “really fucking cool” and confident that audiences will “love it.” Fans of the franchise are eagerly awaiting Fire and Ash, which is scheduled for release on December 19, 2025.

The Avatar franchise has already proven itself to be a massive global force. The original Avatar (2009) remains the highest-grossing film of all time, earning USD 2.9 billion globally, while its sequel, The Way of Water (2022), became the third highest-grossing film of all time, grossing USD 2.3 billion.

Cameron has confirmed that Fire and Ash will have a runtime slightly longer than The Way of Water‘s 3-hour and 12-minute duration, indicating the epic scale and complexity of the next chapter.

The storyline of Fire and Ash promises a poignant exploration of Jake and Neytiri’s family as they struggle with grief, all while encountering the new aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash People. The film will feature a star-studded cast including Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Matt Gerald, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Bailey Bass, Jemaine Clement, and David Thewlis.

Looking ahead, Cameron has planned five Avatar films in total, with Avatar 4 set to be released on December 21, 2029, and Avatar 5 following on December 19, 2031.

With the promise of new stories, breathtaking visuals, and a deepening emotional narrative, Avatar: Fire and Ash is shaping up to be another unforgettable chapter in the saga of Pandora.