We’re simply a few months away from James Cameron releasing a brand new “Avatar” film, which implies we’re even nearer to countless clowns on-line claiming that no person cares about “Avatar” and these movies don’t have any cultural affect. It additionally means we’re getting near Cameron proving but once more that it is best to by no means doubt him with the ability to make a lot cash he can construct a brand new Titanic, sink it, after which dive right down to the wreckage, like he is performed with nearly each film he is directed thus far.
The primary trailer for “Avatar: Hearth and Ash” has arrived, and whether or not you continue to doubt Jimmy C otherwise you acknowledge the discharge of “Hearth and Ash” as the largest cinematic occasion of 2025, there’s a lot to marvel at right here — from the sheer spectacle on show and the unimaginable visuals to the sci-fi designs and everybody’s favourite area whale, Payakan.
At this level, we should not be stunned when the subsequent “Avatar” movie goes forward and makes a metric ton of money on the field workplace just like the earlier two motion pictures did. Cameron has undeniably captured the world’s consideration and our need for a franchise that takes us to a totally new and distinctive world (one which’s even led to individuals being depressed as a result of Pandora is not an actual place, apparently). Certainly, no matter whether or not the “Avatar” motion pictures are continuously being memed or just talked about, this property has everybody’s consideration the second a brand new movie drops.
When the primary “Avatar” film was launched, many comparisons had been made to the “Star Wars” franchise, primarily as a result of it is a extremely popular sci-fi property boasting ground-breaking visible results. Cameron made a particularly profitable movie, certain, and “Avatar: The Method of Water” has affirmed that individuals wished extra, however this franchise did not have what it takes to develop into a long-lasting, expansive model like “Star Wars” — till now, that’s, with Cameron having knowledgeable Empire Journal that he additionally has plans to develop a purely animated “Avatar” anthology sequence.
Animation may enable the Avatar franchise to thrive even additional
Chatting with Empire, Cameron confirmed he is already had talks with Disney about increasing the world of “Avatar” via animation. “I mentioned, ‘Look, I wish to do an animated anthology sequence that is primarily on this planet, however tales that you just would not have anticipated from that world,'” Cameron defined. “There may even be an animated function in there — it may be a function for streaming or a theatrical function.”
Cameron particularly pointed to the shorts in “The Animatrix” as “nice examples for the way we will add texture and baroque element to the world of ‘Avatar,'” in addition to how one can use an animated spin-off to increase a franchise whereas additionally profiting from the ability of animation to do issues live-action — or, within the case of “Avatar,” live-action and CGI — cannot.
That is the important thing to taking “Avatar” to the subsequent stage. It is one factor for every of the movies to interrupt field workplace data whereas they’re in theaters, however what about once they’re not? What occurs when there are both or no extra “Avatar” motion pictures or Cameron stops being the important thing artistic voice behind them? Simply as “Star Wars” was capable of survive between the discharge of the unique and prequel trilogies because of the Expanded Universe (aka Star Wars Legends) of Eighties and ’90s comedian books, novels, and video video games, “Avatar” can equally thrive for years to come back by increasing into different mediums.
Certain, we have already got a few of that within the type of official “Avatar” comics, video video games (just like the latest, and fairly respectable, “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora”), and an entire canon theme park land at Disney World. Nonetheless, an animated anthology — one with the potential of continuous sooner or later even as soon as the central motion pictures finish — has the potential to seize the creativeness the identical manner the movies have and guarantee “Avatar” will be expansive sufficient to maintain individuals engaged, even once they haven’t got a trailer or film to anticipate within the close to future.
James Cameron can do one thing actually nice right here
An animated anthology can simply simply be forgotten or ignored within the period of streaming and an excessive amount of TV. Therefore, it is essential that an animated “Avatar” anthology supply some actually beautiful animation (Cameron could’ve cited “The Animatrix,” however there’s additionally the newer “Love, Loss of life + Robots” to think about), on prime of tales that really feel like actually essential items of the bigger franchise.
Fortunately, Cameron is already throughout that. As he informed Empire, “[An animated ‘Avatar’ anthology could delve into] backstory on characters and tangential stuff that occurred off-camera inside the motion pictures. Who first landed on Pandora? The primary expedition. You can go wherever you need.”
Now, that every one sounds fairly pleasant and thrilling. Regardless of what the haters would have you ever consider, the narrative simplicity of the “Avatar” franchise is a function and never a bug, permitting its world-building, lore, and mythology to be the true stars. Furthermore, we have barely scratched the floor of Pandora’s historical past, cultures, and populations after two movies. An animated anthology that showcases important items of Pandoran historical past — like the primary encounters between completely different species — or reveals extra in regards to the completely different Na’vi clans would make for an important piece of storytelling, to say the least.
With all that in thoughts, it is admittedly nonetheless very early days. “We’ve not performed a lot with that but,” Cameron confessed to Empire, which is smart seeing as he is been engaged on a number of “Avatar” movies for years now, along with different initiatives (together with, as we just lately realized, a horror film). “We’re nonetheless gathering our tales and that form of factor and I’ve bought to seek out the boutique filmmakers, the animators, that wish to do it,” he added.
“Avatar: Hearth and Ash” will open in theaters on December 19, 2025.
