Filmmaker James Cameron took 13 years to release the sequel to “Avatar,” the highest-grossing film worldwide. The new film, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” has sparked excitement about the upcoming “Avatar 3,” scheduled for release on December 20, 2024. Unlike the long wait for “Avatar: The Way of Water,” fans will only have to wait two years for the release of “Avatar 3.” While there are some details available about the third installment, there may be spoilers relating to “Avatar: The Way of Water,” so proceed with caution if you haven’t seen the latest film.
Avatar fans can look forward to the release of Avatar 3 in theaters sooner than expected for two main reasons. Firstly, the technical advancements that caused a significant delay between the first and second films have been overcome for the next installment. Director James Cameron is known for pushing boundaries in filmmaking, so further advancements may still be necessary. Secondly, much of Avatar 3 has already been filmed, as it was shot alongside Avatar: The Way of Water for the sake of continuity. In fact, portions of Avatar 4 were also filmed concurrently for the same reason. This approach allowed the filmmakers to maintain continuity and prevent the “Stranger Things effect,” as mentioned by Cameron, where characters appear to have aged significantly between installments. Producer Jon Landau confirmed that 95% of Avatar 3 has been shot, along with the entirety of Avatar 2 and the first act of Avatar 4, with only a few additional scenes left to capture.
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the return of familiar faces for Avatar 3. The confirmed returning cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis, CCH Pounder, Britain Dalton, Jo-Li Bliss, Matt Gerald, and Bailey Bass, all reprising their roles as Na’vi characters.
There’s no official confirmation of Kate Winslet’s return as Ronal. However, given the blurred lines between filming for Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar 3, it seems highly likely that she will reprise her role.
The fate of Jamie Flatters’ character, Neteyam, remains uncertain due to his character’s demise in Avatar: The Way of Water. However, given the franchise’s history, there’s potential for surprise returns despite character deaths.
On the human side of the cast, Giovanni Ribisi’s Parker Selfridge is expected to have a more significant role in Avatar 3 after his brief appearance in the second film.
Amidst speculation about the fate of Dr. Ian Garvin, portrayed by Jemaine Clement, his return seems likely to continue or conclude important storylines. Additionally, Dileep Rao as Dr. Max Patel and Joel David Moore as Dr. Norm Spellman are also expected to make a comeback.
Fans can anticipate the return of Jack Champion as Spider and Edie Falco as General Frances Ardmore, two pivotal human characters for Avatar 3. With all these returning characters, it will be intriguing to see if any new characters will be introduced as the film progresses.
Some new talented individuals will be joining the cast of James Cameron’s Avatar universe. Michelle Yeoh, who recently delivered a remarkable performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once and also voiced a character in Minions: The Rise of Gru, will be taking on the role of the human scientist, Dr. Karina Mogue. Oona Chaplin, best known for her portrayal of Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones, will be joining as a member of the Na’vi. Additionally, the esteemed British actor David Thewlis, renowned for his role as Professor Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series, is set to portray the Na’vi character Peylak in Avatar 3 and is reported to be involved in Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 as well.
There are rumors suggesting that another superstar might join the Avatar franchise, none other than the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, it seems that his appearance is not slated for the next movie in the series, but rather for Avatar 4. Allegedly, Schwarzenegger is set to portray a Na’vi in the film, which is scheduled to be released in 2026.
It is anticipated that “Avatar 3” will take fans on a new journey with the introduction of different Na’vi clans and Pandora biomes. According to producer Jon Landau, the film will continue to push the boundaries of storytelling and will explore new territories and technological challenges. There is also speculation about the potential inclusion of a new Na’vi clan related to volcanoes, known as the Ash people, although this has not been officially confirmed.
In 2018, the BBC reported that the sequel to the movie Avatar would be named “Avatar: The Way of Water” and that the third movie would be titled “Avatar: The Seed Bearer.” Director James Cameron had previously hinted that the future of the franchise would depend on the box office success of the second and third movies. However, with “Avatar: The Way of Water” grossing over $2.3 billion, it became the third highest-grossing film of all time, behind only the first Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. Following this success, it was announced that filming had already begun for Avatar 4, with tentative release years set for 2026 and 2028 for Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, respectively, after the 2024 release date for Avatar 3.
