Avatar 3 gets an official title and release date

Avatar 3, the third instalment in the James Cameron-directed hit film franchise has been titled Avatar: Fire and Ash. The noted filmmaker made the official announcement at the D23 Expo in California on Saturday. Along with him, lead actors Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington were present at the event. The film will be released in theatres on December 19, 2025.

While Cameron didn't share any footage from the upcoming film, he did unveil some concept art from Avatar: Fire and Ash, showcasing Neytiri (Saldana) performing a dance over flames and riding banshees.

“You’ll see a lot more pandora that you never saw before,” Cameron said. “It’s an insane adventure and a feast for the eyes, but it’s also got very high emotional stakes, more than ever before,” Cameron said during the presentation. “We’re going into really challenging territory for all the characters you know and love.”

The first film Avatar was released in 2009 to huge critical acclaim and broke several box office records. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, out of which it won three. Its success led to the sequel Avatar: The Way of Water which was released in 2022. The Third part Fire and Ash was filmed back-to-back with the sequel. It is set to follow Jake Sully and Neytiri as they encounter "Ash People", a clan of Na'vi who Cameron has hinted are drawn more to violence and power than other clans.

The upcoming film will star Oona Chaplin, known for her role in Game of Thrones, as the leader of the Ash People, Varang. The new cast also includes David Thewlis and Michelle Yeoh in prominent roles.

Worthington and Saldana are set to reprise their roles. The returning cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco and Dileep Rao.

The second part as well as the third are written by Cameron, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Cameron also produced the films along with his longtime creative partner Jon Landau, who died in July this year.