Will ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Actually Release In 2025?

Avatar: Fire and Ash (the third installment in the Avatar franchise) likely won’t take as long to arrive as the thirteen-year gap between Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, but that doesn’t make the wait any less frustrating for fans. The studio has announced significant delays in its release. Avatar: The Way of Water finally premiered in 2022, and the third Avatar film was originally set for December 2024.

Unfortunately, that never happened. Instead, Avatar: Fire and Ash was postponed again—this time to December 2025.

Though two more installments are planned for later this decade (hopefully), the release of the third film keeps getting pushed back. The 2024 release date was the most solidified one yet—especially since filming had already wrapped by last December—but the studio opted for another delay to continue expanding the world of Pandora in post-production.

It’s not entirely surprising that Avatar films face delays. Most of the movie magic happens in post, given the extensive CGI used in every installment. James Cameron is also known for prioritizing perfection in post-production to ensure that audiences return to the same breathtaking, otherworldly visuals they’ve come to expect from the franchise.

So, will Avatar: Fire and Ash actually arrive in December 2025? It’s likely. Despite past delays, Disney has to manage its release schedule carefully to avoid conflicts with upcoming Star Wars films. The next Star Wars movie is set for May 2026, making another Avatar delay within that timeframe unlikely.

Future films like Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 may still face delays in post-production, but their release dates have already been pushed back following the shift of Avatar: Fire and Ash to 2025. This gives Cameron and his team more time to refine each installment. While future scheduling remains subject to change, we’re fairly confident that Avatar: Fire and Ash will finally hit theaters in December 2025.