James Cameron teases 'Avatar' sequels: "They're going to have to stop me"

James Cameron concocted the idea for Avatar in 1994. The director whipped up an 80 page treatment that sat on the shelf for over a decade due to the fact that CGI hadn't caught up to Cameron's vision.

What we're saying is, the man is committed to Avatar. He has a passion for the franchise that few filmmakers have ever displayed, and he's going to make them for as long as he possibly can. The multi-faceted artist recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for an interview, and he made it very clear that he's moving full speed ahead with Avatar 4 and 5.

James Cameron claims Avatar 4 & 5 are already written

James Cameron told the outlet that the scripts for the fourth and fifth installments in the franchise have already been written, and it's merely a matter of getting them made. It's an admittedly massive matter, given how much time and money goes into a single Avatar film, but Cameron is unbothered:

"They’re written, by the way. I just reread both of them about a month ago. They’re cracking stories. They’ve got to get made."

The Hollywood Reporter asked whether Cameron would hand the reins off to someone else, or if he will remain on as director. He stated, categorically, that the only way he would not direct future Avatar films would be if he was physically incapable. "I mean, they’re going to have to stop me," he explained. "I got plenty of energy, love doing what I’m doing. Why would I not?"

Cameron vowed to direct the rest of the series

The director did admit that his passion for Avatar supersedes his own well-being. He noted that if something were to happen to him, he would prefer it if someone else came along and directed his stories. "Look, if I get hit by a bus and I’m in an iron lung, somebody else is going to do it," he added.

Cameron's passion for the franchise is seemingly infectious. The first Avatar held the title of highest grossing film of all time for nearly a decade. Then, 12 years later, Avatar: The Way of Water proved to be nearly as successful. Both grossed over $2 billion, and place within the five most successful films ever made.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is slated for release on December 19, 2025.