James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash made its first official appearance at CinemaCon, where Disney unveiled exclusive 3D footage from the third film in the epic sci-fi saga. Presented trailer teased a darker, more divided Pandora — and the emergence of dangerous new Na’vi enemies.
Unlike previous installments, Fire and Ash is arriving on schedule, with a theatrical release confirmed for December 19, 2025. As Cameron noted in a pre-recorded video message from New Zealand, "So sorry I can’t be there, but I’m in New Zealand, finishing up 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' which I think we can all agree is a good use of my time."
The new footage picks up immediately after the events of The Way of Water. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) are still reeling from the loss of their son, Neteyam, and have taken refuge with the water-based Metkayina clan. But their troubles only deepen as they face new threats — not just from the human RDA forces, but from fellow Na’vi.
Two previously unseen clans are introduced in the trailer: the Wind Traders, peaceful nomads who travel by air in ornate balloon-like crafts, and the Ash People, a militant faction of former Na’vi who have rejected Eywa, the spiritual force that binds Pandora. As their leader tells Neytiri in a chilling exchange: "Your goddess has no place here."
In his message, James Cameron acknowledged the continued pressure on theaters, referencing the pandemic and the streaming boom. "I hope this film can provide a shot in the arm for theater owners," he said, reinforcing his commitment to cinematic spectacle.
Both Avatar (2009) and The Way of Water (2022) earned over $2 billion at the global box office. If Fire and Ash performs similarly, it would make Avatar the only franchise in history with three $2B+ films. Cameron himself already holds that record individually — the third being Titanic.
As the series expands toward Avatar 4 (2029) and Avatar 5 (2031), Fire and Ash looks to deepen the mythology and push the conflict further — not only between the Na’vi and humans, but within Pandora itself.
