Avatar 3, officially titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” is the upcoming third installment in James Cameron’s Avatar film series, scheduled for release on December 19, 2025[2][3]. The film continues the story of Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their family on Pandora, exploring new clans and conflicts, including the fire-based Ash People or Mangkwan Clan[3].
Regarding the question of whether Avatar 3 is the first film to use 100 percent digital lighting, the available information from the search results does not explicitly confirm this claim. However, some context about the technological advancements in the Avatar series can be provided.
The Avatar films are known for pushing the boundaries of visual effects and digital technology. For example, Avatar 2: The Way of Water employed cutting-edge technology to simulate underwater scenes with realistic light refraction and fluid dynamics[1]. This indicates a high level of digital lighting and rendering sophistication, but it does not specify that the entire film used 100 percent digital lighting.
Digital lighting in film refers to the process of creating and manipulating light sources entirely within a computer-generated environment, as opposed to traditional on-set lighting or hybrid approaches. Achieving 100 percent digital lighting means that every light effect seen on screen is generated and controlled digitally, which can allow for unprecedented control over the visual atmosphere, shadows, reflections, and mood.
While Avatar 2 showcased advanced digital lighting techniques, there is no direct evidence from the search results that Avatar 3 will be the first film to use 100 percent digital lighting throughout. Given James Cameron’s history of pioneering new film technologies and the extensive production timeline of Avatar 3, which included over three years of shooting and significant delays to develop new technology for underwater performance capture[2], it is plausible that Avatar 3 will feature highly advanced digital lighting, potentially pushing the envelope further than previous films.
In the broader film industry, fully digital lighting has been increasingly used in animated films and some visual effects-heavy live-action films, but a claim that Avatar 3 is the first to use it entirely would require confirmation from official technical sources or statements from the filmmakers, which are not present in the current search results.
In summary, while Avatar 3 is expected to continue the Avatar franchise’s tradition of technological innovation, including sophisticated digital lighting and visual effects, there is no definitive information confirming it as the first film to use 100 percent digital lighting. The film’s production involved extensive use of new technologies, especially for underwater scenes and performance capture, which likely includes advanced digital lighting techniques, but the claim remains unverified based on the available data.
