Last week, Disney announced substantial production delays for the three impending Avatar films, devastating James Cameron fans. Avatar 3 was delayed from 2024 to 2025, while the next two films were delayed three years apiece.
The film business felt the Avatar 3 delay. Universal moved Wicked Part 2 from Christmas 2025 to Thanksgiving 2025 after the popularity of Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).
The first of two Broadway musical-inspired films starring Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) will debut in December 2024.
More on Avatar 3
Despite fan excitement, Avatar 3 is already controversial. Cameron was accused of duplicating Avatar: The Last Airbender in January. Avatar 3 would feature a hostile tribe called “Fire Na’vi” to illustrate a darker side to the previously positive-portrayed race, according to the iconic filmmaker.
Pandora: The World of Avatar, a theme park based on Avatar (2009), is linked to Avatar 3. It commemorates Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort’s popular movies and their lessons on environmental conservation.
Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri) and Sam Worthington (Jake Sully) will return to raise Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), their adopted daughter. Stephen Lang returns as Colonel Quaritch, while Oona Chaplin as Varang.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Avatar 2 defied predictions and broke box office records. Disney+ exclusively released the film on June 7.
“Avatar: The Way of Water reaches new heights and explores undiscovered depths as James Cameron returns to the world of Pandora in this emotionally packed action adventure,” the three-hour film’s official synopsis states.
“Set more than a decade after the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water introduces the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
All of happens against the stunning background of Pandora, where spectators are introduced to new Na’vi tribes and unusual aquatic species that fill the gorgeous oceans.”