James Cameron’s Contingency Plan for the Avatar Franchise
James Cameron, the director of the Avatar franchise, has a plan B in case the upcoming third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, doesn’t perform as expected at the box office. Ahead of the film’s release, Cameron appeared on Matt Belloni’s The Town podcast to discuss his contingency plan should the movie fail to generate enough revenue for Disney to proceed with the fourth and fifth films.
Cameron admitted that he has been deeply involved with the Avatar universe for 30 years. He acknowledged the challenges of producing a film with a massive budget, though he did not reveal the exact cost of Fire and Ash. “I have no doubt in my mind that this movie will make money,” he said. “The question is, does it make enough money to justify doing it again?” He added, “If this is where it ends, cool.”
Despite this, there is one unresolved plot thread in the third film. Cameron admitted that he left an open storyline, saying, “There’s one open thread. I’ll write a book!”
A Firm Stance on the Future of the Franchise
Cameron also made it clear that he would not allow anyone else to take over the Avatar franchise if it were to continue. “I don’t think there’d ever be a version where there’s another Avatar movie that I didn’t produce closely,” he stated.
The first Avatar film, released in 2009, remains the highest-grossing movie of all time, earning nearly $3 billion. The second film, Avatar: The Way of Water, grossed $2.3 billion when it was released in 2022. In both films, viewers were introduced to two different Na’vi clans, the Omaticaya and the Metkayina. These tribes are peaceful and only retaliate when their land is threatened by humans.
However, Cameron previously revealed that the next film will showcase a different side of these tribes. “I want to show the Na’vi from another angle because, so far, I have only shown their good sides,” he told France’s 20 Minutes earlier this year. This new angle will be represented by the “Ash people.”
At a special screening in April, Cameron mentioned that the main characters are “put through the wringer” in the new film. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) tells Neytiri (Zoe Saldana): “We cannot live like this – we cannot live with this hate.”
A Message for Theater Owners
Cameron also expressed hope that the film could provide a boost for theater owners, who are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic and the rise of streaming services. “I hope this film can provide a shot in the arm for theatre owners,” he said.
The plan is for two more Avatar films after Fire and Ash, set for release in December 2029 and December 2031, respectively. Avatar: Fire and Ash will be released in theaters on December 19.
The Broader Impact of the Avatar Franchise
The Avatar franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences around the world with its immersive storytelling and groundbreaking visual effects. Its success has not only redefined what is possible in cinema but has also influenced the way studios approach large-scale productions.
As the franchise continues to expand, fans are eager to see how the story will evolve. With each new film, Cameron is pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved on screen, while also exploring deeper themes such as environmentalism, conflict, and the human condition.
The future of the Avatar series remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: James Cameron is committed to ensuring that the story is told his way. Whether or not the franchise continues beyond Fire and Ash, the legacy of Avatar is already firmly established in the annals of cinematic history.
