With Avatar: Fire and Ash minting over $500 crore globally, James Cameron has already set release dates for Avatar 4 and 5, but the noted director has a back-up plan if the third part of the blockbuster franchise doesn't end up as a commercially successful venture.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the three-time Oscar-winning director said he would hold a press conference to reveal the stories of Avatar 4 and 5 if the decides to end the franchise after the current film. Throughout the press tours for Fire and Ash, Cameron has been vocal about the franchise's continuation hinging the success of the third part.
"I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does. But, you know, we prove that business case every time we go out...If we don’t get to make 4 and 5, for whatever reason, I’ll hold a press conference and I’ll tell you what we were gonna do. How’s that?" he said.
Another option that Cameron pitched was to novelise Avatar 4 and 5. "There’s so much culture and backstory and lateral detail in these characters that’s been worked out. I’d love to do something that’s at that level of granular detail," he shared.
Although he mentioned about holding a press conference, it looks like he might not need conduct one as the latest movie has already breaking multiple box office records. It is now eyeing the coveted $1 billion mark. Disney's Zootopia 2 breached the milestone recently.
Returning for Avatar: Fire and Ash, are Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Britain Dalton, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass, and Kate Winslet. Oona Chaplin, known for playing Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones, is portraying the antagonist Varang, the leader of the Ash People. David Thewlis, who is known for playing Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise, playing Peylak in the film.
Avatar 4 is slated for release on 21 December 2029 while the fifth installment has been locked for 19 December 2031 release.