James Cameron has said that his decision to devote the past two decades of his career to the Avatar franchise has been motivated by more than financial success. Speaking to Rolling Stone, the director explained that he sees the films as an opportunity to promote themes of environmental awareness and human connection.
“I’ve justified making Avatar movies to myself for the last 20 years, not based on how much money we made, but on the basis that hopefully it can do some good,” Cameron said. “It can help connect us to our lost aspect of ourself that connects with nature and respects nature.”
The original Avatar (2009) remains the highest-grossing film of all time, earning $2.9 billion worldwide. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), holds the third-highest record with $2.3 billion. Cameron described the films as a “Trojan horse strategy” — offering entertainment while encouraging reflection on environmental and social themes.
While preparing new projects such as The Devils and Ghosts of Hiroshima, Cameron is currently in post-production on Avatar: Fire and Ash, set for release on December 19 2025. He has confirmed he feels healthy enough to direct Avatar 4 and Avatar 5.
The filmmaker noted that his long-term commitment to the series mirrors that of other creators who stayed within a single universe. “Why did [George] Lucas keep working in the same thing? Why did [Gene] Roddenberry keep working in the same thing? Because when you connect with people, why would you squander that?” he said.
Cameron has not made a non-Avatar film since Titanic in 1997, but said the expansive world of Pandora allows him to tell a wide range of stories and experiment with different styles while maintaining the franchise’s core themes.
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