Entertainment

Fire & Ash’ Could Be the End of the Franchise If This 1 Thing Happens

Published

1 week ago

28 November 2025

James Cameron has never been shy about swinging for the fences — after all, the phrase “Never doubt James Cameron” exists for a reason — but even he knows that Avatar: Fire & Ash is facing a make-or-break moment. The latest entry in the epic big blue alien saga arrives next month, but Cameron doesn’t feel its future is in the bag. Speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, Cameron admitted that if Fire & Ash doesn’t perform well enough financially, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 could be shelved — and he’s prepared to accept that outcome. The director knows moviegoing habits have changed, and that people may detect a law of diminishing returns.

“We’re at about 75% of what [moviegoing] was in 2019,” he said, citing the “one-two punch” of Covid and streaming as key obstacles. He also pointed to the threat of “sequelitis,” saying audiences may not perceive Fire & Ash as the culmination of a trilogy in the same emotional way they once did with The Lord of the Rings. Cameron was just as blunt when asked about the film’s budget. Though he didn’t reveal a number, he didn’t have to — besides, we know it’s probably the GDP of a small country by this point.

“It is one metric f*ck ton of money, which means we have to make two metric f*ck tons of money to make a profit. I have no doubt this movie will make money. The question is, does it make enough money to justify doing it again? I’ve been in Avatar land for 20 years — actually 30 if you count when I wrote it. Yeah, absolutely. Sure. If this is where it ends, cool.”

What Happens If ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘5’ Are Canned?

One concern fans have raised is the franchise’s lingering story threads. Fire & Ash is designed to set up major moments for Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, and many wondered what would become of those arcs if Disney pulls the plug. The good news is, we’ll definitely find out how it ends.

“There’s one open thread. I’ll write a book!” he said, making it clear he has no intention of letting the story drift unresolved — but also no intention of handing the movies to someone else. “Absolutely not. I don’t think there’d ever be a version where there’s another Avatar movie that I didn’t produce closely.”

Avatar: Fire & Ash opens this December.