James Cameron’s Avatar series might end up stretching to 2031 by the time the (supposedly) final installment comes out. Seeing as Cameron would himself be old until then, there were doubts as to whether he’d want to direct the last two Avatar movies or hand over directorial duties to someone else. Recently though, Cameron seems to have made up his mind, confirming that he fully intends to direct Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, before humorously remarking that the only possibility of someone else directing is if he dies or becomes physically incapable of doing so.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on his latest documentary OceanXplorer among other things, Cameron confirmed that he’s got enough energy and enthusiasm to keep going and continue directing the Avatar films.
Sure. Absolutely. I mean, they’re going to have to stop me. I got plenty of energy, love doing what I’m doing. Why would I not? And they’re written, by the way. I just re-read both of them about a month ago. They’re cracking stories. They’ve got to get made. Look, if I get hit by a bus and I’m in an iron lung, somebody else is going to do it.
Back in 2022 when he was immersed in the post-production on Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron himself had strongly hinted at the possibility of wanting to hand over the reins to the franchise. Presumably, this was when he was in the thick of things and most likely came around after being possibly invigorated with the stupendous success of The Way of Water.
The Avatar films themselves are kind of all-consuming. I think eventually over time — I don’t know if that’s after three or after four — I’ll want to pass the baton to a director that I trust to take over, so I can go do some other stuff that I’m also interested in. Or maybe not. I don’t know.
The final words suggest he was more likely toying with the idea of passing the baton as opposed to having made up his mind. The next film in the series, recently titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, arrives in theaters on Dec 16, 2025.
