James Cameron, the director behind blockbuster hits like The Terminator, Titanic, and Avatar, has hinted that the upcoming sequels in the Avatar franchise could be even longer than the previous films. For those already feeling the strain of long movie runtimes, the next installment might test your bladder a bit more, but Cameron assures it will be worth it.
The first Avatar film (2009) had a runtime of 162 minutes, while its 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, ran for 192 minutes. According to Cameron, the third film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, will have a similar length to the second, though he teased that it could be even longer.
“We had too many great ideas packed into the first act of the second movie,” Cameron explained. “It was moving like a bullet train, and we weren’t drilling down enough on character. So I said, ‘Guys, we’ve got to split it.’ Movie 3 will actually be a little bit longer than movie 2.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently in post-production and is set to be released on December 19, 2025. Some lucky viewers have already seen rough cuts of the film, and early reactions suggest Cameron is on the right track.
When asked about the writing process, Cameron, along with writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, discussed how they approached the characters, emphasizing that the films are not just about spectacle and action. “These movies are a lot more than just a propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle,” Silver said. “I mean, these are real characters.”
Cameron has always maintained his vision of telling expansive stories within the Avatar universe, which requires multiple films. Both previous Avatar movies have broken box office records, proving that Cameron’s storytelling ability resonates with audiences.
He also spoke about how the Na’vi characters reflect aspects of human life: “These characters are amalgams of us, our childhoods, our role as parents, the mistakes we made, and probably to some extent continue to make as parents.”
Fans can look forward to more from the Avatar world, but it seems they’ll need to prepare for even longer cinematic journeys ahead.