It won’t be long now before we return to James Cameron’s richly detailed world of Pandora in next month’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, and the latest update about the highly anticipated sci-fi sequel seemingly confirms it will be the most epic adventure in the already hugely epic franchise so far. The lengthy (even by Avatar standards) runtime for the third movie has reportedly been revealed and promises a worthy follow-up to its multi-billion-dollar predecessors.
It is now being reported by various outlets, including AMC Theatres, that Avatar: Fire and Ash will have a runtime of 3 hours 15 minutes. For context, this would make the threequel the longest installment in the Avatar franchise thus far, beating both the first Avatar’s 2 hours and 42 minutes and just edging out Avatar: The Way of Water’s 3 hours and 12 minutes.
While a butt-aching, bladder-straining runtime for Avatar: Fire and Ash will come as little surprise to fans, it’s exciting nonetheless, and will allow Cameron to once again pack in even more action, story, characters, and sci-fi lore than ever before. Which is great news, as Fire and Ash plans to not only continue the stories of the already vast ensemble cast, but introduce a new villain and several new Na’vi tribes as well.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Has Been Declared a “Masterpiece” by Guillermo del Toro
Avatar: Fire and Ash sees James Cameron take audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully ( Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri ( Zoe Saldana), and the Sully family. The sci-fi action sequel, which has a screenplay by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver, also stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., and Kate Winslet.
Picking up following the events of 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, which itself grossed $2.32 billion worldwide following the first Avatar’s $2.92 billion worldwide box office takings, Avatar: Fire and Ash will expand the franchise even further, introducing new tribes of Na’vi and Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones, Taboo) as Varang, the antagonistic leader of one of these new tribes of Na’vi — the volcano-dwelling “Ash People.” While very few have seen what Cameron has in store with Avatar: Fire and Ash, one lucky viewer is Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, who has declared the latest sequel a masterpiece.
“I’ve seen the three Avatars. They are absolute masterpieces. I know where it’s going, and I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people. I can’t say anything about [the third] but I can say there are very few Americans that have created a full mythology. You have [George] Lucas. You have the whole Wizard of Oz mythology with Frank Baum. Jim is creating that with Avata, and he’s going to take you places.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash is due to land in theaters on December 19, 2025. The next sequel, Avatar 4, is due to be released on December 21, 2029, with the final installment, Avatar 5, due for release on December 19, 2031.
