James Cameron confirms Avatar: Fire and Ash will have a longer runtime than The Way of Water, offering deeper storytelling and immersive world-building.
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| James Cameron reveals Avatar: Fire and Ash will surpass The Way of Water in runtime, as the franchise deepens its narrative and prepares for future sequels. Image Courtesy: 20th Century Studios/ HR |
Los Angeles, USA – March 9, 2025:
James Cameron has confirmed that Avatar: Fire and Ash will be the longest film in the Avatar franchise, surpassing the three-hour, 12-minute runtime of The Way of Water. Speaking to Empire magazine, the filmmaker explained that the decision came after realizing that The Way of Water was moving too quickly through its early acts, reads an HR post.
“The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we weren’t drilling down enough on character,” Cameron said. “So I said, ‘Guys, we’ve got to split it.’” As a result, Fire and Ash will take a more expansive approach, delving deeper into its characters and world-building.
The Avatar franchise has already proven that audiences are willing to embrace long runtimes. The 2009 original remains the highest-grossing film of all time, while The Way of Water holds the third spot. Co-writer Amanda Silver, who developed Fire and Ash with Cameron and Rick Jaffa, emphasized that the extended runtime was necessary for the story’s emotional depth.
“These movies are a lot more than just propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle,” Silver said. “I mean, these are real characters.”
Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña will return as Jake Sully and Neytiri, reprising their lead roles in the highly anticipated third installment. While Cameron remains tight-lipped about specific plot details, he teased an exciting journey ahead, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s really very cool. You’re going to love it.”
The director also confirmed that he remains fully committed to helming Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, which are scheduled for release on December 21, 2029, and December 19, 2031, respectively. “They’re cracking stories. They’ve got to get made,” he said. “If I get hit by a bus and I’m in an iron lung, somebody else is going to do it.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash is set to premiere in theaters worldwide on December 19, 2025.