James Cameron Says AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH Will Make “Brave Choices” That Could Throw Audiences Off

James Cameron doesn’t seem like he’s afraid to shake things up with the Avatar franchise. In a recent interview with Empire, the filmmaker teased that the third installment in the blockbuster franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, might not align with what fans expect.

Cameron explained that the creative team is taking big swings with the story this time around. He told Empire: "We’re just starting to riff on it and twist it and turn it.

He added: “It’s a tricky thing. We could be getting high on our own supply here, and everybody who looks at it goes, 'F***, that’s not what I signed up for.' But if you’re not making brave choices, you’re wasting everybody’s time and money."

Cameron didn’t set out to play it safe when he made this movie. He explained: "That alone is not sufficient to create success, but it’s necessary. You’ve got to break the mold every fricking time.”

Cameron also provided an update on production, which is moving faster than expected. Comparing it to Avatar: The Way of Water, he shared:

"We’ve doubled the number of shots finished at this stage of the game than we had on movie two [and] the films are about equal length. So that puts us well ahead of the curve, which is something I’ve never, frankly, experienced before."

Avatar: Fire and Ash will introduce audiences to the Ash People, also known as the Mangkwan Clan, led by Oona Chaplin’s Varang. Described as a darker and more antagonistic group, this new clan is going to bring a fresh dynamic to the franchise.

Cameron previously offered some more insight on Varang, saying: “Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship. She's hardened by that.

“He goes on to tease: “She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil. One thing we wanted to do in this film is not be black-and-white simplistic.”

When previously talking about the film, Cameron said that the Ash People are a reflection of the worst side of N'avi, suggesting he pulled inspiration from the reality when he noted, "We have a lot of anger and a lot of rage in the world we live in right now."

He also explains that the new N'avi tribe will be nomadic and travel through the air; however, the Ash People "were destroyed by volcanic eruptions, so they resent nature and everything the forest Na'vi preach."

Cameron previously said: “It’s so gratifying to feel that love for this world of Pandora and these characters that my team has been working on for over 18 years.

“I can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on for Avatar 3. Every day when I’m reviewing new shots, it’s like Christmas morning. The characters are so alive and it all feels so real.

“As you’d expect, it’s this insane adventure but it’s also got very high emotional stakes, more than ever before. We’re going into really challenging territory for all the characters you know and love.

“There are new characters, especially one we think you’re going to love — or love to hate. You’re going to see a lot more of Pandora the planet that you’ve never seen before.”

The director also talked about the film saying: "It's just a continuation of the epic. You'll see new environments, new characters. The characters that you know and love will be challenged even more, and go through some trials and tribulations. I think it's going to be a tougher ride than A2, in a good way."

Cameron also offered some insight into Avatar 3 and who the film will focus on, saying: “Lo’ak really emerged as a character that people went with. So I might find ways to…he’s already the narrator. I’m giving away something here, but this is OK.

“I think it could be intriguing for people to think about what’s coming. Jake was our voiceover narrator for movie one and for movie two, and we have a different narrator for each of the subsequent films. We see it through the eyes of a different character. Movie three is through Lo’ak’s eyes.”

Cameron also teased the fire element of the third film and revealed that two new cultures would be introduced, saying: “Fire has a symbolic purpose in the film and there’s a culture that is specifically around that concept. That’s probably saying too much as we speak.”

It was also recently teased that the movie will be “bigger than you can imagine.”

The movie stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, and Kate Winslet.

Avatar: Fire and Ash will hit theaters on December 25, 2025.