‘Avatar 3’ Proves Franchise Only Needs 1 More Sequel

by

WARNING: Spoilers for Avatar: Fire and Ash are below!

As a huge movie fan, I’ve been following the Avatar saga closely, and it’s been amazing to see James Cameron’s vision grow. Originally, the sequel to the first film was going to be one movie, but it eventually split into two, with Avatar: The Way of Water being just the first part. Now, the second half of that story, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is finally here! And it doesn’t stop there – Cameron’s still planning two more Avatar films, Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, which are currently in the works. It’s a massive undertaking, and I’m excited to see where he takes the story!

There’s growing uncertainty about the future of the Avatar franchise, and even director James Cameron isn’t sure if his planned sequels will make it to the big screen. The latest film, Fire and Ash, hasn’t been a huge hit with audiences, and its opening weekend box office numbers are significantly lower than The Way of Water. This suggests people might be losing interest in the series, despite its past success. Given the uncertain future of Avatar, it might be best for Cameron to end the story with one grand finale instead of continuing with two more sequels.

‘Fire and Ash’ Proves ‘The Way of Water’ Didn’t Need To Be Split in Two


Walt Disney Pictures

Avatar: Fire and Ash is stunning to watch, featuring visual effects that are a step above anything seen in other films. The movie takes a more serious turn, focusing on the characters’ sadness after the death of their son, Neteyam, in the previous film, The Way of Water. A new, menacing Na’vi tribe called the Ash People, led by the intimidating Varang, adds to the drama, presenting both a physical and moral challenge to the Sully family.

Despite its potential, Fire and Ash didn’t quite live up to expectations. The Ash People, initially presented as significant threats, ended up playing a minor role, and Varang’s character felt limited by her connection to Quaritch. Even the film’s more intense moments, such as Jake and Neytiri considering harming Spider, didn’t feel fully justified. To make matters worse, the film’s climactic battle, while visually impressive, closely mirrored the ending of The Way of Water.

Despite tackling serious and emotional issues, Avatar: Fire and Ash doesn’t fully develop these themes, ultimately wasting its villains and potential. This suggests the story didn’t need to be its own film and could have been effectively integrated into The Way of Water. For example, Neteyam’s death could have powerfully impacted the second part of The Way of Water, and the darker emotional beats of Fire and Ash could have formed a compelling third act, rather than existing as a separate movie.

The two sequels would have been stronger as one, longer movie with a single, climactic battle that didn’t repeat earlier scenes. While the film tries to justify its three-hour runtime, Fire and Ash doesn’t quite succeed. Furthermore, the third Avatar movie doesn’t feel like a satisfying ending; many characters still have unresolved storylines that need to be concluded in a future film.

The ‘Avatar’ Franchise Could Wrap up With One More Sequel


Walt Disney Pictures

The plans for Avatar 4 and 5 are now uncertain. Director James Cameron is determined to finish the story, even if those sequels aren’t produced, and suggests continuing the narrative through novels. The success of the current film, Fire and Ash, will determine if audiences get to see the next two movies. If the box office numbers aren’t high enough to justify further sequels, Cameron could create one final film to conclude the Sully family’s story, incorporating ideas he’s already hinted at.

The next Avatar movie could introduce the head of the RDA corporation. While Giovanni Ribisi’s character, Parker Selfridge, has been the public face of the RDA, he’s mentioned his father, who leads the company. This father figure could become a major villain, potentially as powerful and menacing as Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. Similar to how Return of the Jedi revealed darker forces behind its enemies, the final Avatar film might explore the more frightening powers controlling the threats the Na’vi have battled, creating villains even more terrifying than Quaritch and Varang. This could lead to a truly thrilling and epic conclusion for fans.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Avatar finale analysis

Dig deeper into Avatar’s sequel options; subscribe to the newsletter for focused analysis on Fire and Ash, unified-ending scenarios, and how one final film could wrap the franchise with emotional and narrative clarity.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Avatar finale analysis

Dig deeper into Avatar’s sequel options; subscribe to the newsletter for focused analysis on Fire and Ash, unified-ending scenarios, and how one final film could wrap the franchise with emotional and narrative clarity.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s
Terms of Use
and
Privacy Policy
. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Avatar series might finally reveal what Earth is like. Although Earth is talked about in the movies, we’ve never actually seen the planet’s current condition – which is described as overpopulated and struggling. There was a quick look in the extended version of the first Avatar film, but it wasn’t a major part of the story. Introducing a human leader will connect the Na’vi to the real source of their problems: humans from Earth seeking resources. While the story doesn’t necessarily need to take place on Earth, the planet and the threat humanity poses could be presented through a central, planetary villain.

Now that a chairman is confirmed, the final two Avatar sequels can be combined into one large science fiction film. The story will likely show the Na’vi fighting back against the Resources Development Administration (RDA). Earth may respond with even greater forces, making this the most challenging and intense chapter in Pandora’s history, similar to what was initially planned for Fire and Ash. The ending should see the Na’vi successfully drive the humans off Pandora and reclaim their world. This sequel has the potential to deliver exciting action, compelling emotional stories as the war unfolds, and a clear, satisfying conclusion, avoiding the open-ended feeling of Fire and Ash.

If James Cameron continues on his current path, the next Avatar movie risks feeling repetitive. To truly surprise audiences, he needs to challenge his own storytelling conventions. A single sequel instead of two would be a smart move for the series. While The Seed Bearer (formerly Fire and Ash) didn’t fully satisfy everyone, Avatar 4 has the potential to be a truly groundbreaking film, fulfilling the promise of the franchise if Cameron concentrates his efforts into one definitive conclusion.

Read More

2025-12-23 01:19