If you’re sitting there wondering when is the avatar movie coming out, you might actually be a little behind the curve—or looking way into the future. It depends on which one you mean. See, James Cameron isn't just making a movie; he's basically building a second life on Pandora.
Right now, as we sit in early 2026, the biggest piece of the puzzle just landed. Avatar: Fire and Ash hit theaters on December 19, 2025. If you haven't seen it yet, the "Ash People" are definitely not your average friendly neighborhood Na'vi. They’re aggressive. They’re fiery. Honestly, they make the RDA look like a minor inconvenience at times.
But if you’re asking about the next one, you’re going to need some serious patience. This franchise doesn't do "quick turnarounds."
When is the next Avatar movie coming out?
The short answer? A long time from now.
Disney has a very specific, very spaced-out roadmap for the rest of the Sully family saga. Because of the sheer technical insanity required to render these films, we aren't getting them every summer.
- Avatar 4: Scheduled for December 21, 2029.
- Avatar 5: Scheduled for December 19, 2031.
Yeah, you read that right. 2031.
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By the time the fifth movie drops, it will have been over two decades since the original 2009 film changed everything. It's wild to think about. James Cameron will be 77 years old. Some of the "kids" we saw in The Way of Water will be well into their 30s in real life.
Why the massive gap between Fire and Ash and Avatar 4?
You might be thinking, "Wait, why do we have to wait four years for the next one if they're already working on it?"
It's a valid question. Cameron actually filmed a good chunk of Avatar 4 already. He did this to avoid the "Stranger Things" effect where the child actors look like they've aged a decade between scenes. Since the first act of the fourth movie happens right after the third, he needed them to look the same.
However, there is a massive six-year time jump planned for the middle of Avatar 4.
This is where things get interesting. Cameron is basically waiting for the real world to catch up a bit, while also giving his VFX teams at Wētā FX the breathing room to invent new tech. Every time one of these comes out, the water looks wetter or the fire looks hotter. That doesn't happen overnight.
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What we know about the remaining sequels
While Fire and Ash gave us the Mangkwan (the Ash People) and introduced Varang, played by Oona Chaplin, the future movies are going even further.
There are rumors—and some hints from producer Jon Landau before his passing—that Avatar 5 might actually bring the Na'vi to Earth. Imagine Neytiri seeing a skyscraper for the first time. It's a "fish out of water" story but on a planetary scale.
The Michelle Yeoh Factor
We also know that Michelle Yeoh is joining the cast. She’s set to play Dr. Karina Mogue, a human scientist. Even though she didn't pop up in Fire and Ash, Cameron has confirmed she’s a major part of the upcoming installments.
Box Office Stakes
Let's be real: these movies only happen if they make a billion dollars. Luckily for fans, Fire and Ash just crossed that $1 billion mark in early January 2026. It's not quite the monster that The Way of Water was yet, but it’s doing plenty well enough to keep the lights on at Lightstorm Entertainment.
Real talk on the release dates
If you’ve followed this franchise for a while, you know that "release dates" are more like "suggestions" to James Cameron.
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- The first sequel was originally supposed to come out in 2014. It arrived in 2022.
- Avatar 3 was supposed to be 2024. It arrived in late 2025.
- Disney reshuffled the whole deck in mid-2023, which is how we got these 2029 and 2031 dates.
Could they move again? Maybe. But since so much of the heavy lifting (the scripts and the performance capture) is already done or well underway, these dates feel a lot more "locked in" than the previous ones did.
Actionable steps for fans
If you're trying to keep up with when is the avatar movie coming out or just want to dive deeper into the lore while you wait for 2029, here is what you should do:
- Watch the extended cuts: If you haven't seen the collector's editions of the first two, do it. The world-building in the deleted scenes actually sets up some of the politics we're seeing in the newer films.
- Track the VFX news: Keep an eye on Wētā FX's technical breakdowns. They often reveal what kind of environments we’ll see next (like the volcanic regions we just saw).
- Don't hold your breath for a trailer: Don't expect to see even a teaser for Avatar 4 until at least late 2028. Cameron keeps things close to the chest until the rendering is perfect.
The wait is long, but if the last three movies have proven anything, it’s that betting against James Cameron is usually a bad idea. Pandora isn't going anywhere; it's just taking its time to get here.
Next Steps:
Mark your calendars for December 2029 for the untitled fourth chapter. In the meantime, Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently playing in most IMAX and Dolby Cinema locations. Given how much detail is in those frames, it's worth a second watch just to spot the Easter eggs hidden in the background of the Ash People's territory.