A creeping feeling of a bittersweet ending prevails with Avatar: Fire and Ash as people get ready to explore the bright, strange planet of Pandora again. In addition to excitement, the film is touted to bring about a conclusion to the Avatar saga. 

Fire and Ash promises to deliver stunning visuals, heart-tugging stories, and the finest world-building meditated over for years in the making. One might say it is the end of a chapter, but not the end of the story.

As the December 2025 opening approaches, the general query is quite straightforward: Is this the ending or a new beginning for the Avatar films yet to come? 

James Cameron, the visionary creator of the Avatar franchise, mentioned that the first three Avatar films — Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and Fire and Ash (2025) — represent one single saga. Fire and Ash, which is the third movie of the trilogy, arrives on December 19, 2025 concludes the storyline but has its own space and weight. Thus, it is not just a sequel.

Speaking with io9, Cameron stressed that Fire and Ash should not be treated as a typical Hollywood money-making “sequel” but rather a "saga" that stands firm in his "long game" of storytelling.

For Cameron, as he shared with the outlet, Fire and Ash had always been a key component in the original architecture of the lore. Calling it "a culmination of a saga," he recommended, "If you think of this as the third act, I think that’s healthier."

The saga started with Avatar in 2009, which was an instant hit and eventually became the highest-grossing film of all time. Its successor, The Way of Water, not only traversed the underwater realms of Pandora but also enriched the discussions around family and nature. The upcoming film promises to deliver continuity with new clans and their inner workings, creating room for future expansion.  

Are the 'Avatar' Movies Available on Netflix? Where Can You Watch the James Cameron Classics?

This third chapter, once it comes to an end, will conclude the first saga, paving the way for a whole new world. Now the question is, how many Avatar movies are planned?

Avatar: Fire and Ash will reveal a new tribe named Ash People, headed by a powerful leader, Varang, while also venturing through the less trodden areas of Pandora. This decision, to limit the first saga to three films, is in stark contrast to the original franchise plan, which had five feature films. 

However, James Cameron has other plans with the scheduled Avatar 4 and 5. “It’s its own saga,” he told io9, adding, “It’s got a beginning and a middle and an end that plays out across these two films. They’re vaporware right now.” 

As of now, Avatar 4 is planned to be released in theaters on December 21, 2029. Avatar 5, meanwhile, is slated for a December 19, 2031, release. These films will start a new narrative arc in another world, different from the original trilogy. 

Regardless of the fate of Avatar 4 and 5, which depends on the success of Fire and Ash, Cameron said, he would write a book to tell the rest of his story, speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast. If the stars and the fandom align, Avatar 4 and 5 will ascend the cosmic adventure once again and will open a new saga in its ever-evolving universe. 

‘Avatar: Fire & Ash’: Zoe Saldana’s Most Powerful Role Yet? James Cameron Says It’s "way beyond what you’ve seen before"

Are you excited to watch Avatar: Fire and Ash? Comment your thoughts below.