James Cameron says he’s ready to move beyond Avatar as he eyes new stories and projects

ames Cameron has been candid about his evolving career path as the highly anticipated Avatar: Fire and Ash nears release. The director — who has spent more than two decades building the Avatar universe — said he’s reached a point in his life where he’s excited to tell new stories outside of Pandora after completing the current chapter of the franchise.

Cameron described the Avatar series as a monumental creative undertaking but acknowledged that his artistic interests extend beyond it. He confirmed he has passion projects in development, including a long‑teased new Terminator film and other original work, signaling a desire to move on once his commitments to the current Avatar saga are fulfilled.

While his focus remains on finishing Fire and Ash — with the film poised to debut later this year — Cameron made it clear that he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his career solely revisiting Pandora.

He expressed excitement about taking risks on fresh ideas and exploring different creative terrain after devoting a significant portion of his life to the Avatar films.

Cameron’s remarks come amid ongoing conversation about the future of theatrical filmmaking and the role of studio franchises in Hollywood.

As one of the industry’s most influential directors, his shift in focus has prompted speculation about what he might pursue next once the Avatar series reaches its planned narrative conclusion.

The new Avatar installment is expected to make waves at the box office and with fans worldwide, even as Cameron looks ahead to diversifying his creative output beyond the world of Pandora.