Overview
- Disney will release Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters on December 19, with reporters citing a 195-minute runtime and a production budget near $400 million.
- James Cameron told Reuters he may pivot to other projects unless he can make future Avatar films cheaper, leaving parts four and five contingent on costs and performance.
- Wētā FX’s neural network–based facial capture, rolled out primarily for Oona Chaplin’s Varang, is designed to more faithfully transfer human micro-expressions without using generative AI.
- Cameron said he rewrote and added scenes after studying audience reactions to The Way of Water, adjusting focus to elements viewers embraced.
- The film’s rollout includes a THR five-episode crafts podcast series and early awards recognition, including AFI and National Board of Review Top 10 lists plus Critics Choice and Golden Globe nominations.