Avatar 3: Fire and Ash was filmed back to back with Avatar 2: The Way of Water, but not with Avatar 4. Principal photography for both Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash kicked off at the same time on September 25, 2017, in Manhattan Beach, California.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash The cast wrapped up their main performance capture work by November 14, 2018, but shooting stretched on due to the project’s massive scale.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
By September 2020, James Cameron shared that 95 percent of Fire and Ash was done, even as production paused for the pandemic before picking back up.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash Filming fully wrapped in late December 2020 after more than three years, with just a few pick-up shots left to fill in the final two or three percent.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash Cameron noted at the time that they had about a quarter of Avatar 4 already shot, but most work on the later sequels would wait until post-production on the first two films was complete.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
In January 2024, Cameron confirmed he would not begin filming the rest of Avatar 4 until after Fire and Ash hit theaters, thanks to delays from new tech like underwater performance capture and extra time for writing and effects.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash This approach let the team focus deeply on each movie without overlapping the big shoots for 3 and 4. The huge $400 million budget for Fire and Ash shows the effort involved in these Pandora adventures.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
Fans are buzzing now as Avatar 3: Fire and Ash gears up for its Wellington premiere on Saturday at the Embassy Theatre, with stars like James Cameron, Cliff Curtis, and Sam Worthington expected on the red carpet.https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/12/12/stars-in-wellington-movie-buffs-amped-for-avatar-3-premiere/ The event could draw thousands, complete with fresh murals of the film’s characters painted around town.https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/12/12/stars-in-wellington-movie-buffs-amped-for-avatar-3-premiere/
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/12/12/stars-in-wellington-movie-buffs-amped-for-avatar-3-premiere/
