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Avatar Making-Of Documentary Hits Disney+, Showcasing Underwater Breakthroughs and Teasing Fire and Ash

Cameron spotlights actor-led underwater capture, rejecting generative AI.

Overview

  • The two-part Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films debuted November 7 on Disney+, centering on how The Way of Water was made.
  • The production developed a bespoke 'keyhole' free-diving stroke and equipped actors with small jet-propulsion units to deliver realistic underwater glides.
  • The team abandoned early dry-for-wet trials in favor of large tank shoots, using surface covers to manage reflections and preserve clean capture data.
  • Actors trained extensively in breath holding, with field research in places like the Bahamas and Hawaii guiding the look and movement of Pandora’s seas.
  • A post-credits scene offers a brief tease raising questions about Spider’s apparent ability to breathe Pandora’s air, ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash opening December 19, 2025.