James Cameron says the only way he won’t direct Avatar 4 and 5 is if he’s hit by a bus

“They’re going to have to stop me”

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After reports that Avatar helmerJames Cameronmight not direct movies 4 and 5, the director has set the record straight and says he would have to be near death in order to no longer be involved with the franchise.

“Sure. Absolutely. I mean, they’re going to have to stop me. I’ve got plenty of energy, I love doing what I’m doing,” Cameron said in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporterin response to whether he still plans to direct Avatar 4 and 5. “Look, if I get hit by a bus and I’m in an iron lung, somebody else is going to do it.”

Well, we sure hope that doesn’t happen. “Yeah, I try to avoid that kind of scenario,” he added. Yes, Cameron. Please do.

Avatar 4 officially entered production in 2022 before Avatar 2, titledAvatar: The Way of the Water, had even been released. But as we know, these movies take a very long time to make. After some pushback due to strikes, the fourth installment is set to hit the screen in December 2029 and is said to be a direct sequel toAvatar 3.

Little is known about Avatar 5 on the other hand, apart from the fact it will be set on Earth rather than Pandora. Avatar 5 is slated for a 2031 release. “They’re written, by the way,” said Cameron of the fourth and fifth movies. “I just reread both of them about a month ago. They’re cracking stories. They’ve got to get made.”

As for Avatar 3, Cameron offered a little update, “Yeah. It’s really fucking cool. You’re going to love it. And I can’t talk about it.” Although an official synopsis is yet to be released for the third movie, which is called Avatar: Fire and Ash, we know it willintroduce and focus on two new Na’vicultures including a fire tribe, just as the first movie focuses on the forest-dwelling Na’vi and the second on the costal-living Metkayina tribe.

Avatar 3 hits theatres on December 19, 2025. Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are both available to stream onDisney Plusright now. For more, check out our list of the most excitingupcoming moviesheading your way in 2023 and beyond.

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I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.

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