James Cameron reveals backup plan if 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' underperforms

James Cameron says he’s prepared if Avatar: Fire and Ash doesn’t bring in the box office numbers Disney needs to greenlight the final two films in the franchise.

Speaking on Matt Belloni’s The Town podcast ahead of the third film’s release, Cameron discussed the financial reality of making a movie with an enormous budget.

“I have no doubt in my mind that this movie will make money,” he said. “The question is, does it make enough money to justify doing it again? If this is where it ends, cool.”

Cameron said Fire and Ash wraps up almost everything, but one plot thread is still open. If the franchise ends now, he’ll finish the story in a book.

He also made clear that if the series continues, he won’t be stepping aside. “I don’t think there’d ever be a version where there’s another Avatar movie that I didn’t produce closely,” he said.

The first Avatar (2009) remains the highest-grossing film of all time, with nearly $3 billion in global box office. Its sequel, The Way of Water (2022), earned $2.3 billion. Disney currently has planned two more sequels for release in December 2029 and December 2031.