Fresh news all the way from Pandora: the film formerly known as Avatar 3 is now known by another name. Disney’s D23 Expo event, currently taking place in Anaheim, California, featured a panel packed with major updates from the studio’s various brands – and during the three-hour presentation, none other than James Cameron turned up to bring some updates from his Na’vi pals. Most notably, revealing that the follow-up to 2022’s Avatar: The Way Of Water will officially be titled Avatar: Fire And Ash.
Previously, the film was thought to be titled ‘Avatar: The Seed-Bearer’ – but Cameron’s official title feels more in keeping with the elemental nature of The Way Of Water. “It’s got very high emotional stakes,” Cameron teased of the threequel from the D23 stage. “Even more than ever before.” As well as teasing a new character that fans will “love to hate”, the director promised some twists and turns ahead for the Sully family. “The new film is not what you expect,” he intoned. “But it’s definitely what you want.” Here’s some early concept art revealed on stage at the event.
If all goes to plan, Avatar: Fire And Ash will be heading to cinemas around Christmas 2025. Can it prove another billion-dollar-plus behemoth at the box office? What kind of fire and ash is in store? And how exactly does Payakan the mighty Tulkun factor into all of this? We’ll find out in just over a year’s time.