Film news: James Cameron prepared to end ‘Avatar’ franchise after ‘Fire and Ash’
Director James Cameron is prepared to cull the Avatar franchise ahead of time if Fire and Ash flops.
The news comes even with two sequels already in development.
Film News Blitz writes about why Cameron is prepared to walk away.
Why might ‘Fire and Ash’ be the last ‘Avatar’ film?
Despite Avatar being the highest grossing film of all time, and Avatar: The Way of Water being the third-highest, Cameron is wary that the third instalment, Fire and Ash, could suffer at the box office.
If that is the case, he is prepared to call time on the Avatar franchise.
It’s well known that the Avatar films are among the most costly to make across the industry, and nothing short of blockbuster territory will satisfy Disney when Fire and Ash comes to cinemas on December 19.
It’s the second of four sequels written in the long hiatus between Avatar (2009) and The Way of Water (2022) but Cameron has stated that Fire and Ash ends in a rounded enough way to leave things should he stop the franchise in its tracks.
“If it all ends with this film that’s OK," Cameron told RadioTimes.
"Because it’s not a cliffhanger ending. It all resolves in a very satisfying way."
READ MORE: Film news: ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ trailer set to complete highest-selling trilogy of all time
What is ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ about?
Set a year after The Way of Water, Fire and Ash finds Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) recovering from the death of their son Neteyam.
Meanwhile, the leading duo must protect their remaining family from the threat of the antagonist Na'vi clan known as the Ash People, as well as the resurgent Quaritch (Stephen Lang).
Cameron fearing poor box office return
Given the first two Avatar films were bangers, why is Cameron wary of the third not being a success?
It comes down to the inconsistent box office results across the industry in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
“I’m a bit more pessimistic than I normally would have been,” he said.
“Cinema has become a few selected films that people believe will be an experience that’s worth leaving their homes for.
"Post-Covid and post-streaming, it’s a depressed industry right now. And it doesn’t seem to be bouncing back."
What are ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘Avatar 5’ about?
The fourth Avatar film has begun filming, and it’s reported that this film and the fifth instalment would follow Neytiri travelling from Pandora to a dystopian Earth.
This would represent a fresh shift for the Avatar franchise, and if Fire and Ash is the hit we all hope it is, then audiences will get to see how the wider story unfolds.
READ NEXT: Box office news: ‘Zootopia 2’ debuts with largest international animated launch
