Following the release of the third film, fans are curious about whether the studio has delayed or canceled the scheduled Avatar 4. James Cameron’s films have been a huge part of modern cinema for more than a decade now. Two more sequels, Avatar 4 and 5, are on studio calendars, slated for December 21, 2029, and December 19, 2031.
Will Avatar 4 and 5 be delayed or canceled?
James Cameron is currently exploring other films. He told Gizmodo he already has “a stack of notes this thick” for a new Terminator film and plans to “pour” himself into writing it after the Avatar: Fire and Ash marketing finishes. This situation has created an air of uncertainty regarding Avatar 4’s future and whether the filmmakers have delayed or canceled the project.
Another reason is that Cameron has said he does not want to make Avatar films exclusively for years on end. He told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’ve got other stories to tell,” and added he will “pull back from being as hands-on with every tiny aspect of the process.” If he steps back, the timeline and creative plan for future sequels are likely to change.
One must also consider audience reception when evaluating the future of the franchise. The studio will track how Fire and Ash performs before committing fully. Cameron himself admitted the future is uncertain and that “This can be the last one.” Big franchises live or die by box-office returns and audience reaction. A weaker result could lead Disney to delay sequels or rethink budgets and release plans.
We should note that the Avatar films still possess plenty of unexplored content. Sigourney Weaver told Dexerto that Avatar 4 and 5 hold “so much more story,” and she hopes the studio produces them. She also noted the decision is “up in the air now.”
As of right now, the studio has not confirmed whether they will delay or cancel Avatar 4 and 5. However, if the box office numbers are any indication, the finances are going great for the studio. Thus, Disney might not cancel the next 2 movies, but a delay is still possible.
