Are Avatar 4 and 5 in Trouble? The Clues Fans Can’t Ignore
Avatar 3 just landed, but the real cliffhanger is what’s next: are Avatar 4 and 5 still on track or heading for the chopping block? The sequels remain on the calendar for December 21, 2029, yet swelling fan chatter suggests delays—or worse—could be looming.
Avatar 3 just landed, and naturally everyone wants to know if Avatar 4 and 5 are actually happening when Disney says they are, or if we should brace for the inevitable shuffle. Short answer: nothing is canceled, the dates are still on the books, but there are a few real reasons people are side-eyeing the timeline.
What the calendar says
On paper, Avatar 4 is set for December 21, 2029, and Avatar 5 is slotted for December 19, 2031. Studios love planting flags this far out. Reality, as usual, is messier.
Why people think delays could be coming
- James Cameron is openly flirting with another franchise. He told Gizmodo he already has a stack of notes for a new Terminator and plans to pour himself into writing it once the Avatar: Fire and Ash press push is done. Translation: after this marketing cycle, his attention may shift, which usually means schedules move.
- He also does not want to be locked into Pandora forever. Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter he has other stories to tell and plans to pull back from being as hands-on with every tiny aspect of the process. If he steps back, the creative plan and timeline for future sequels will likely adjust.
- The studio is watching how Fire and Ash performs before fully charging ahead. Big franchises live or die by box office and audience response, and Cameron himself has kept it blunt about the uncertainty.
'This can be the last one.'
That is not a nothingburger of a quote. If Fire and Ash underperforms, Disney could delay the next films or rethink budgets and rollout. If it hits, that helps, but dates this far out are never carved in stone.
What the cast is saying
Sigourney Weaver told Dexerto that Avatar 4 and 5 have so much more story, and she hopes the studio makes them. She also said the decision is up in the air now. So even from the inside, it sounds like everyone is waiting to see how the third film settles before the machine fully commits.
So, canceled or delayed?
As of right now, there is no official word from the studio about canceling or delaying Avatar 4 or 5. Box office so far suggests the finances are healthy, which makes outright cancellation feel unlikely. A delay, though? Completely possible, especially if Cameron diverts to Terminator for a bit or steps back from day-to-day control like he says he will.
The bottom line
Avatar 4 and 5 are still on the calendar. Cameron is publicly keeping his options open. The studio is watching Fire and Ash like a hawk. If you want a prediction: expect tweaks and slippage before you expect a kill switch.