James Cameron isn’t one to shy away from pushing boundaries in cinema, whether through stunning visual effects, ambitious world-building, or marathon runtimes that test audience endurance. With Avatar: Fire and Ash, it appears the next chapter in the franchise will be no exception. Following Avatar: The Way of Water‘s already lengthy 187-minute (3 hours 12 minutes) runtime, Cameron has confirmed that the upcoming sequel will be even longer. Fans who thought they could make it through Avatar: The Way of Water without a bathroom break may want to start training now.
Empire Magazine has unveiled new details, including concept art showcasing Lo’ak, who will take on a more central role in the story. The image features him riding an ilu through the waters of Pandora, reinforcing that aquatic environments introduced in Avatar: The Way of Water will remain a key part of the franchise. “It was spectacular,” screenwriter Amanda Silver described. “You’re talking about a character deeply for days and days, and all of a sudden there they are.”
Originally, Avatar: Fire and Ash wasn’t meant to exist as its own film. During the development of Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron and his team found themselves with too much material packed into a single movie. The decision to split the project into two films was made after realisng that the first act alone was filled with too many ideas. “We had too many great ideas packed into act one of movie two,” Cameron explained. “The [film] was moving like a bullet train, and we weren’t drilling down enough on character. So I said, ‘Guys, we’ve got to split it.’” Silver echoed that sentiment, stating, “These movies are a lot more than just propulsive plot and gorgeous spectacle. I mean, these are real characters.”
Dividing the story allowed for a deeper exploration of the Sully family dynamics.“These characters are amalgams of us, our childhoods, our role as parents, the mistakes we made, and probably to some extent continue to make as parents. I mean, Jake is a hard-ass motherf**ker. He’s very hard on his kids. Well, that’s me,” Cameron explained.
Rick Jaffa, another screenwriter on the project, also revealed that the sibling relationship between Lo’ak and Neteyam reminded him of his own personal experiences: “A good friend of mine who saw Way Of Water — a woman I grew up with — wrote to me after she’d seen it, and said that the relationship between Lo’ak and Neteyam reminded her of the relationship I had with my older brother.”
Lo’ak will take centre stage in Avatar: Fire and Ash, his journey likely shaped by the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, particularly the loss of his older brother Neteyam. That tragedy created a rift between Lo’ak and Jake, though by the end of the film, the father-son relationship had begun to heal. As the franchise moves forward, Lo’ak’s evolution from reckless teenager to seasoned warrior could set him up as a major player in the fourth and fifth instalments.
Concerns about the movie’s runtime are already circulating, but history suggests that Cameron knows how to make a long movie work. Despite exceeding three hours, Avatar: The Way of Water became the third highest-grossing film of all time, proving that audiences are willing to endure lengthy runtimes for the right cinematic experience. Still, there’s always a limit, and Avatar: Fire and Ash will need to strike a balance between storytelling ambition and audience patience. Hopefully audiences will have enough stamina to make it to the credits without needing a break.
Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in cinemas on 19 December 2025.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
Kevin Low
