James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash made a fiery entrance at CinemaCon 2025. In a special presentation to theater exhibitors in Las Vegas, Disney unveiled the first footage of the third film in the Avatar franchise, and it didn’t disappoint. With Cameron appearing via video from New Zealand, and Zoe Saldaña taking the stage, the presentation gave a clear signal: this December, Pandora returns—bigger, deeper, and more emotionally charged.
Cameron teased that the new film dives further into the emotional core of the saga. “You’re going to love it,” he said. “It’s really fucking cool.” He noted that Fire and Ash will be “a bit longer” than The Way of Water and described it as “pretty heart-wrenching in a good way.” According to him, Avatar 3 is the most emotional of the trilogy so far.
Saldaña, who returns as Neytiri, introduced two new Na’vi clans: the Wind Traders and the Ash People. The footage opened with Neytiri telling Jake, “The strength of the ancestors is here.” Later, Jake pleads with her: “You cannot live like this.” By the end, the tone turns grim, as a character says, “We cannot defeat this enemy that comes from the stars.”
For context, Avatar (2009) introduced audiences to the alien world of Pandora and became the highest-grossing film of all time. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), built on that legacy, becoming the third highest-grossing film globally, diving into the oceanic cultures of Pandora and closing with the death of Jake and Neytiri’s eldest son, Neteyam.
Now, Avatar: Fire and Ash picks up the pieces. As the Sully family grapples with grief, they encounter a new tribe—the Ash People—led by the fiery Varang. As Cameron put it, “The film has a new moral focus,” adding that Movie 3 allowed the team to slow down and focus more on character after a fast-paced Way of Water.
The Avatar: Fire and Ash release date is December 19, 2025. The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, and many others. It’s the third of five planned entries in Cameron’s ambitious saga.
With its first footage already creating buzz at CinemaCon 2025, all eyes are on Pandora again.
