Avatar: Fire and Ash and the Question of Cliffhangers
Avatar: Fire and Ash is arriving in theaters on December 19, 2025, and fans are wondering whether this third installment will leave them hanging or provide closure. Director James Cameron has made some interesting statements about how the film will end, and understanding what he has said reveals why some people still think a cliffhanger might happen.
What James Cameron Has Said About the Ending
James Cameron has been very clear in recent interviews that Avatar: Fire and Ash will not end on a cliffhanger. He explained to Gizmodo that he thinks of Fire and Ash as the culmination of a saga rather than just another sequel. Cameron described it as the third act of a story that began with the original Avatar film in 2009. He stated that the film will resolve most, if not all, of the main storylines and will end in a very satisfying way.
In an interview for Radio Times Magazine, Cameron went even further, saying “If this film serves as the finale, that’s perfectly fine. It’s not left on a cliffhanger. Everything resolves in a very fulfilling manner.” This suggests that Cameron designed the film to work as a complete ending if needed, without leaving audiences frustrated by unresolved plot threads.
Why Some Fans Still Expect a Cliffhanger
Despite Cameron’s statements, there are reasons why some people think a cliffhanger might still occur. First, the Avatar franchise is planned to continue with Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, which are scheduled for release in 2029 and 2031. Even though Cameron has said these films will form their own separate saga with their own beginning, middle, and end, the existence of future films creates natural speculation about whether Fire and Ash might set them up.
Second, there have been long-standing theories that Jake Sully, the main character played by Sam Worthington, might die in Fire and Ash. A character death of this magnitude could feel like a cliffhanger moment even if the immediate story resolves. It would leave audiences wondering how the franchise continues without its central hero.
Third, the film introduces new elements to the story. Fire and Ash takes place just one year after The Way of Water and introduces a new Na’vi tribe called the People, who live in a volcanic region of Pandora and are allied with the human RDA. This new conflict could potentially be set up in a way that feels unresolved, even if the main storyline concludes.
The Structure of Cameron’s Vision
Cameron has explained that he views the first three Avatar films as a complete trilogy with a first, second, and third act. Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 would then begin a new saga entirely, with their own three-act structure. This architectural approach to storytelling suggests that Fire and Ash should feel complete on its own terms.
However, Cameron also mentioned that if Fire and Ash does not perform well at the box office, he would be willing to end the franchise with a book rather than continuing with more films. This flexibility in his plans indicates that while he designed Fire and Ash to work as a finale, he also built it to potentially launch future stories if the audience demands them.
The Reality of Modern Blockbuster Filmmaking
In today’s film industry, major franchises often leave subtle openings for continuation even when they claim to provide closure. A film can resolve its main plot while still leaving room for new adventures in a different time period or with different characters. Cameron has already indicated that Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 would feature a six-year time jump and would focus on Neytiri’s journey to Earth, suggesting a significant shift in setting and scope.
This means that Fire and Ash could technically end all current conflicts while still leaving the door open for the next saga. It would not be a traditional cliffhanger, but it would not be a complete dead end either.
What Audiences Should Expect
Based on Cameron’s repeated statements, audiences should expect Fire and Ash to provide genuine closure to the story that began in 2009. The main characters’ arcs should reach meaningful conclusions. The central conflict with the RDA and the threat to Pandora should be resolved in a satisfying manner.
That said, the film may leave some threads that could theoretically be explored in future installments. This is different from a cliffhanger, which typically ends with an unresolved crisis or shocking revelation. Cameron seems committed to avoiding that approach with Fire and Ash.
The film represents the end of one chapter in the Avatar universe, not necessarily the end of the entire franchise. Fans who want complete closure will likely get it. Fans who want to see where the story goes next will probably get hints about the future as well.
Sources
https://screenrant.com/avatar-fire-and-ash-saga-end-james-cameron-explain/
https://novyny.live/en/kino-ta-seriali/james-cameron-says-fire-and-ash-ends-avatar-saga-297818.html
https://www.slashfilm.com/2037498/james-cameron-avatar-franchise-future-fire-and-ash-not-profitable/
