AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH Runs Over 3 Hours and Will Be the Longest Film in the Franchise
The world of Avatar is about to get even bigger and longer. The upcoming third film in James Cameron’s blockbuster sci-fi saga, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is reportedly clocking in at a massive 3 hours and 15 minutes.
According to AMC Theatres, that makes it three minutes longer than The Way of Water, which already pushed audience endurance at 3 hours and 12 minutes.
If that sounds like a long sit, Cameron doesn’t seem too worried. The filmmaker has made it clear that the story of Pandora is sprawling and deserves the extra runtime.
As he previously explained, “In a nutshell, we had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie 2. The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we weren't drilling down enough on character. So I said, ‘Guys, we've got to split it.’” He continued, “Movie 3 will actually be a little bit longer than movie 2.”
Fire and Ash will introduce a whole new side of Pandora that fans haven’t seen before. The movie will feature the Mangkwan Clan, also known as the Ash People, a new Na’vi tribe tied to the element of fire.
Cameron teased what audiences can expect, saying, “Different cultures from those I have already shown. 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.”
The sequel will also see the return of familiar faces including Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri, and Sigourney Weaver as Kiri. Newcomer Oona Chaplin joins the cast as Varang, the leader of the Ash People, who’s expected to play a major role in expanding the mythology of Pandora.
While some fans might groan at another three-hour runtime, others will see it as another deep dive into one of the most immersive cinematic worlds ever created. After all, Cameron has proven time and again that when it comes to Avatar, he’s playing the long game.
Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters on December 19, and with its epic runtime and new cultural layers, it’s sure to be another visually stunning, emotionally charged journey back to Pandora.