James Cameron hints at ending Avatar franchise if Fire and Ash underperforms

James Cameron says Avatar could conclude with its third film if Fire and Ash fails to earn enough to justify sequels

Director James Cameron has shared new details about the future of the Avatar franchise, explaining that he may conclude the series with its third installment depending on how well the upcoming film performs. Speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, Cameron noted that while the first two Avatar films delivered massive box-office results, the continuation of the saga will depend on whether the next film earns enough to justify further sequels.

Cameron highlighted the financial scale of the franchise, pointing out that the original Avatar generated approximately $2.9 billion while the sequel earned about $2.3 billion. He said the third movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, would need to achieve similarly substantial returns to warrant a fourth film, emphasizing that profitability remains a key factor in determining the franchise’s trajectory.

The director also reflected on the long development history of Avatar, stating that he first wrote the concept in 1995 and has spent much of the past two decades immersed in the project. Cameron suggested he is prepared for the possibility that the story could conclude with the upcoming film if audience interest or financial performance does not meet expectations.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is scheduled to premiere on December 19, 2025, and is expected to draw strong box-office numbers. However, Cameron acknowledged that even a successful release may not meet the threshold required to move forward with additional sequels.