James Cameron says that Avatar 3 is currently in a “very hectic” post-production schedule expected to last two years.
Speaking with New Zealand Public Broadcast’s TVNZ, via a tweet posted by Pandora Vault, Cameron provided a brief update regarding the third movie in the Avatar franchise.
“We’re into a very hectic two-year post-production right now, so it will be Christmas of [2025],” Cameron said.
What do we know about Avatar 3?
When Avatar was initially released in 2009, Cameron said he hoped to make at least two sequels to the movie, though he’s since said he also hopes to make Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 if Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 make enough money.
The first sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, hit United States theaters in December 2022. The movie made $2.32 billion at the global box office off an estimated budget of $350-460 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made.
Avatar 3 was shot simultaneously with Avatar: The Way of Water in 2017. It completed filming in 2020 and will see Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, and Jack Champion all reprise their respective roles in the franchise.
Champion told The Hollywood Reporter about Avatar 3 in December 2022, “I was very shocked by it. It just takes a hard left turn, and that’s not a bad thing. You think you know where it’s going, but then a wrecking ball comes. So you’re completely like, “Oh wow, I never thought that would’ve happened.” You also see more regions of Pandora, and you get introduced to more cultures. So I think it’s even better than Avatar 2. Collectively, they’ll each get better.”
Avatar 3 currently has a December 19, 2025, release date from 20th Century Studios.
