Avatar: Fire and Ashmay be the last movie set on Pandora, but that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Withevery upcomingAvatarmoviehaving an official release date, the future ofJames Cameron’s universe looks to be fleshed out a great dealin a relatively short space of time. After a huge wait between the first twoAvatarmovies, the writer/director seems determined not to keep fans in the dark.Avatar: Fire and Ash’s release dateis currently set as July 21, 2025, so there’s a little over a year until the saga continues.
The ongoing war between the Na’vi and humanity is at the heart ofAvatar’s story. Unfortunately, there can only really be two possible outcomes - either the Na’vi win or the humans do. There will certainly be more deaths before the conflict is over if the fights remain as high-octane as theend ofAvatar: The Way of Water. However, the fate of the characters isn’t the only thing that can change before the saga is over, as the Na’vi’s home moon slowly becomes an unsalvageable battleground.
Avatar 3’s “Fire & Ash” Title Points Toward Pandora’s Destruction
Pandora can only take so much punishment
The subtitle forAvatar 3is likely a reference to the new Na’vi tribe which will be introduced in the second sequel. Being referred to as the Ash People, the franchise’s newsubspecies of Na’viwill be the fiery counterparts to the forest and water variants that have already been shown. The movie’s subtitle is unlikely to simply be a nod to the Ash People’s debut, though. Instead, what’s perhaps more likely is thatFire and Ashis a quiet foreshadowing of Pandora being reduced to rubbleas a result of the fighting.
Avatar 2has already proven that, no matter how far Jake Sully travels across the surface of Pandora, the war will catch up with him.
Avatar 2has already proven that, no matter how far Jake Sully travels across the surface of Pandora, the war will catch up with him. Even if he dies, that won’t be an end to the bloodshed. So, Jake and his family have no choice but to stay on the move and defend themselves and their home whenever they come up against another faction of Earth’s military. This dynamic can’t continue indefinitely, andPandora can only withstand so many fights before it is rendered uninhabitable- which could be inFire and Ash.
Finally, The Avatar Franchise Could Explore Other Moons & Planets
Pandora is only a very small corner of the Avatar universe
While Pandora has proven to be a vibrant and cinematic setting for the first twoAvatarmovies, limiting the story to the surface of one Earth-like moon feels like a huge waste of the universe’s potential. Although the franchise has sat comfortably within the sci-fi franchise to this point,interplanetary exploration would pushAvatarinto the realm of space operas. The very premise of the series already makesAvatara space opera, so the post-Fire and Ashmovies need to capitalize on this.
Although Polyphemus isn’t habitable - or even capable of being landed on - there are other planets that can be explored.
Pandora is just one of fourteen moons in orbit of the gas giant, Polyphemus.After three movies on the same moon,Avatar 3needs to end with Pandora in ruins or at least with the main characters choosing to leave it behind. It’s exciting to think about what other planets and moons in theAvataruniverse can offer to the narrative. Although Polyphemus isn’t habitable - or even capable of being landed on - there are other planets that can be explored.
Avatar 4 & Beyond Must Leave Pandora In Order To Survive
James Cameron’s franchise needs to reinvent itself eventually
There are already many similarities between the first twoAvatarmovies, so future sequels need to be very careful to avoid becoming formulaic. While the franchise has already made more than enough money to withstand a few (unlikely) box office bombs,James Cameron presumably still wants to make the most engaging movies possible. If the future of the series is just endless battles on the surface of the same moon in a potentially limitless fictitious world, then the legacy it has worked so hard to establish could be tarnished.
Avatar 3’s New Villains Are Already Setting Up An Epic Final Battle (& It Would Be A Franchise First)
The final battles have already become a major hallmark of the Avatar movies, but the signature altercation in the third movie could break new ground.
With theNa’vi traveling to Earth inAvatar 5, the franchise is clearly aware of its requirement to grow and evolve as it progresses. Speaking withPeople,James Cameron has confirmed he has “got ideas for six and seven.“So, although theAvatarmovies have only been greenlit through to the fifth installment, the director doesn’t seem content with letting the saga conclude after that. This planned longevity for the universe makes it even more important thatAvatar: Fire and Ash’s title does in fact mean the story will continue away from Pandora after the second sequel.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Cast
Avatar: Fire and Ash is a 2025 science fiction film continuing the saga of Pandora. Jake Sully and Neytiri confront a formidable new enemy, the Ash People, led by Varang. Struggling with personal loss and external threats, they strive to protect their family and Pandora’s future.
