We’re simply a few months away from James Cameron releasing a brand new “Avatar” film, which suggests we’re even nearer to limitless clowns on-line claiming that no one cares about “Avatar” and these movies don’t have any cultural impression. It additionally means we’re getting near Cameron proving but once more that you need to by no means doubt him with the ability to make a lot cash he can construct a brand new Titanic, sink it, after which dive right down to the wreckage, like he is completed with nearly each film he is directed to date.
The primary trailer for “Avatar: Hearth and Ash” has arrived, and whether or not you continue to doubt Jimmy C otherwise you acknowledge the discharge of “Hearth and Ash” as the most important cinematic occasion of 2025, there’s a lot to marvel at right here — from the sheer spectacle on show and the unbelievable visuals to the sci-fi designs and everybody’s favourite house whale, Payakan.
At this level, we should not be shocked when the following “Avatar” movie goes forward and makes a metric ton of money on the field workplace just like the earlier two motion pictures did. Cameron has undeniably captured the world’s consideration and our need for a franchise that takes us to a totally new and distinctive world (one which’s even led to individuals being depressed as a result of Pandora is not an actual place, apparently). Certainly, no matter whether or not the “Avatar” motion pictures are consistently being memed or just talked about, this property has everybody’s consideration the second a brand new movie drops.
When the primary “Avatar” film was launched, many comparisons have been made to the “Star Wars” franchise, primarily as a result of it is a very talked-about sci-fi property boasting ground-breaking visible results. Cameron made a particularly profitable movie, certain, and “Avatar: The Means of Water” has affirmed that individuals wished extra, however this franchise did not have what it takes to grow to be a long-lasting, expansive model like “Star Wars” — till now, that’s, with Cameron having knowledgeable Empire Journal that he additionally has plans to develop a purely animated “Avatar” anthology sequence.
Animation might permit the Avatar franchise to thrive even additional
Chatting with Empire, Cameron confirmed he is already had talks with Disney about increasing the world of “Avatar” via animation. “I mentioned, ‘Look, I need to do an animated anthology sequence that is basically on this planet, however tales that you just would not have anticipated from that world,'” Cameron defined. “There would possibly even be an animated characteristic in there — it is perhaps a characteristic for streaming or a theatrical characteristic.”
Cameron particularly pointed to the shorts in “The Animatrix” as “nice examples for the way we are able to add texture and baroque element to the world of ‘Avatar,'” in addition to learn how to use an animated spin-off to develop a franchise whereas additionally making the most of the ability of animation to do issues live-action — or, within the case of “Avatar,” live-action and CGI — cannot.
That is the important thing to taking “Avatar” to the following stage. It is one factor for every of the movies to interrupt field workplace data whereas they’re in theaters, however what about after they’re not? What occurs when there are both or no extra “Avatar” motion pictures or Cameron stops being the important thing inventive voice behind them? Simply as “Star Wars” was capable of survive between the discharge of the unique and prequel trilogies because of the Expanded Universe (aka Star Wars Legends) of Eighties and ’90s comedian books, novels, and video video games, “Avatar” can equally thrive for years to come back by increasing into different mediums.
Certain, we have already got a few of that within the type of official “Avatar” comics, video video games (just like the latest, and fairly first rate, “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora”), and a complete canon theme park land at Disney World. Nonetheless, an animated anthology — one with the potential of continuous sooner or later even as soon as the central motion pictures finish — has the potential to seize the creativeness the identical means the movies have and guarantee “Avatar” may be expansive sufficient to maintain individuals engaged, even after they haven’t got a trailer or film to anticipate within the close to future.
James Cameron can do one thing actually nice right here
An animated anthology can simply simply be forgotten or ignored within the period of streaming and an excessive amount of TV. Therefore, it is necessary that an animated “Avatar” anthology provide some actually beautiful animation (Cameron might’ve cited “The Animatrix,” however there’s additionally the more moderen “Love, Demise + Robots” to think about), on high of tales that really feel like actually necessary items of the bigger franchise.
Fortunately, Cameron is already throughout that. As he advised Empire, “[An animated ‘Avatar’ anthology could delve into] backstory on characters and tangential stuff that occurred off-camera throughout the motion pictures. Who first landed on Pandora? The primary expedition. You could possibly go wherever you need.”
Now, that every one sounds fairly pleasant and thrilling. Regardless of what the haters would have you ever consider, the narrative simplicity of the “Avatar” franchise is a characteristic and never a bug, permitting its world-building, lore, and mythology to be the actual stars. Furthermore, we have barely scratched the floor of Pandora’s historical past, cultures, and populations after two movies. An animated anthology that showcases important items of Pandoran historical past — like the primary encounters between totally different species — or reveals extra in regards to the totally different Na’vi clans would make for a vital piece of storytelling, to say the least.
With all that in thoughts, it is admittedly nonetheless very early days. “We’ve not completed a lot with that but,” Cameron confessed to Empire, which is smart seeing as he is been engaged on a number of “Avatar” movies for years now, along with different tasks (together with, as we just lately realized, a horror film). “We’re nonetheless gathering our tales and that kind of factor and I’ve obtained to seek out the boutique filmmakers, the animators, that need to do it,” he added.
“Avatar: Hearth and Ash” will open in theaters on December 19, 2025.
