Avatar (franchise)


Avatar is an American epic science fiction media franchise created by James Cameron, which began with the eponymous 2009 film. Produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Studios, it consists of associated merchandise, video games, and theme park attractions.

Premise

The films of the Avatar franchise are set in the mid-22nd century on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. Their central conflict is between the indigenous Na'vi led by Jake Sully and Neytiri, and humans led by Colonel Miles Quaritch from the Resources Development Administration, a megacorp that has arrived on Pandora to colonize and pillage it for its natural resources. The title of the series refers to a genetically engineered Na'vi body remotely operated by humans via brain–computer interface to interact with the Na'vi on Pandora.
The first installment, Avatar, was released on December 18, 2009, and is the highest grossing motion picture of all time when ticket price inflation is not considered. The planned sequel series was announced by 20th Century Fox on December 11, 2009, one week before Avatar was released to theaters. 20th Century Fox confirmed the series on January 15, 2010.
The second installment, The Way of Water, was released on December 16, 2022.
The third installment, Fire and Ash, was released on December 19, 2025.
Like the original film, the four planned sequels have "fully encapsulated" stand-alone plots that "come to their own conclusions". The four films have an overarching meta-narrative story arc that connects them to create a large interconnected saga. Cameron described the sequels as "a natural extension of all the themes, and the characters, and the spiritual undercurrents" of the first film.
The Avatar franchise is one of the most expensive franchises undertaken, with the combined budget of the first film and its four sequels estimated at $1 billion. The franchise has grossed $6.7 billion worldwide; it is the 12th-highest-grossing film series of all time. The first two films received largely positive critical reviews, while the third film received mixed-to-positive reviews.

Films

''Avatar'' (2009)

Avatar was written and directed by James Cameron. The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Laz Alonso, and Wes Studi, and is set in the year 2154.
The story focuses on an epic conflict on Pandora, an inhabited Earth-sized moon of Polyphemus, one of three gas giants orbiting Alpha Centauri A. On Pandora, human colonists and the sentient humanoid indigenous inhabitants of Pandora, the Na'vi, engage in a war over the planet's resources and the latter's continued existence. The film's title refers to the remotely controlled, genetically engineered human-Na'vi bodies used by the film's human characters to interact with the natives. The protagonist, Jake Sully, is a paraplegic young man who travels to Pandora from Earth. Assisting the corporate monolith known as the Resources Development Administration, he is given an avatar which he uses to interact with the story's heroine, Neytiri, as well as her clan known as the Omatikaya.

''Avatar: The Way of Water'' (2022)

Avatar: The Way of Water was written and directed by James Cameron, The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Joel David Moore, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Trinity Bliss, Jamie Flatters, Britain Dalton, and Jack Champion, and is set 16 years after the first film in the year 2170.
The Way of Water focuses on the return of the RDA, which prompts Jake's family to seek refuge in the water regions of Pandora to keep one another safe. Cameron said in an interview that while the first film was about the "awe and wonder", the sequel focuses more on the characters. The film was originally planned for a December 2014 release, but was delayed several times and released on December 16, 2022. Production began in August 2017. It wrapped in September 2020.

''Avatar: Fire and Ash'' (2025)

Avatar: Fire and Ash was written and directed by James Cameron, The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Joel David Moore, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Trinity Bliss, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, David Thewlis, and Oona Chaplin, and is set shortly after the second film.
Fire and Ash focuses on the continuing conflict between the Na'vi and the RDA with Jake's family struggling to prevent more casualties in the conflict with the RDA being aided by Mangkwan clan who live in the volcanic regions of Pandora.
Interviews in mid-2010 suggested that the third film would explore more of the Alpha Centauri system, but the script was not completed until late 2015. Fire and Ash started shooting simultaneously with The Way of Water in New Zealand on September 25, 2017; filming was completed in late December 2020. The film introduced a new aggressive Na'vi clan known as 'Ash People' who reside near volcanoes. Cameron announced the film's title in 2024. Like its predecessor, the film was delayed several times, initially being scheduled for a December 2015 release. It was released on December 19, 2025.

''Avatar 4'' (2029)

A fourth film is planned for release on December 21, 2029. Jon Landau said that, due to a six-year time skip in the first act, a third of Avatar 4 has already been filmed to account for the aging of the child actors, and Cameron revealed that principal photography had officially begun for Avatar 4. However, he said that he would not continue filming the remainder of Avatar 4 until after the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
In November 2025, Cameron stated that the last two sequels would not go ahead if Fire and Ash is unsuccessful at the box office, but that he "will write a book" instead to resolve the "one open thread" the third installment leaves open.

''Avatar 5'' (2031)

A fifth film has been announced and is scheduled for December 19, 2031. Jon Landau stated that part of Avatar 5 will take place on Earth, with Neytiri visiting the planet. Cameron stated that Avatar: The Quest for Eywa is being considered as a possible title for the fifth film.

Future

Cameron has said that he would consider sixth and seventh films in the franchise based on any continuing demand for further sequels. Cameron has acknowledged that he might not be able to see those through to production, however, since he would already be 77 years old by the time the fifth film was released, but that he hopes to train a successor to take over the franchise if necessary.

Cast and characters

Production details

Reception

Box office performance

The first film grossed $2.92 billion worldwide and is the highest-grossing film in history. The second film, The Way of Water, has grossed $2.34 billion worldwide and currently ranks as the third highest-grossing film in history. In 2017, the fourth and fifth films in the series were expected to have a budget of $250 million each.

Critical and public response

Accolades

Music

Video games

Novels

Following the release of Avatar, Cameron initially planned to write a novel based on the film: "...telling the story of the movie, but into much more depth about all the stories that we didn't have time to deal with."
In 2013, this plan was superseded by the announcement of four new novels set within the "Avatar expanded universe", to be written by Steven Gould. The books were due to be published by Penguin Random House, but there has been no update on the planned book series since 2017.
In July 2022, the first graphic novel based on the Avatar franchise was announced.

Books

The Art of Avatar is a film production art book released on November 30, 2009, by Abrams Books.
The World of Avatar: A Visual Exploration is a book that celebrates, explores, and explains the spectacular world of Pandora. The book was released on May 31, 2022, by DK Books
The Art of Avatar The Way of Water takes an exclusive look behind-the-scenes on the production and creative process of James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water. It was released on December 16, 2022, by DK Books
Avatar The Way of Water The Visual Dictionary is a visual guide that showcases characters, vehicles, weapons, locations, and more from the movie, as well as many stunning exclusive details. This book was released on December 16, 2022, by DK Books
The Making of Avatar: Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash is a book that explores the production of all three films. The book was released on December 19, 2025, by DK Books
Avatar: Fire and Ash: The Visual Dictionary is a visual guide that showcases characters, vehicles, weapons, locations, and more from the movie, as well as many stunning exclusive details. This book was released on December 19, 2025, by DK Books

Comic books

In October 2015, Dark Horse Comics signed a 10-year partnership to publish Avatar comics.
On May 6, 2017, Dark Horse Comics published a Free Comic Book Day one-shot entitled FCBD 2017: James Cameron's Avatar / Briggs Land, which included a short story set in the world of Avatar entitled "Brothers".
From January to August 2019, Dark Horse published a six-issue miniseries called Avatar: Tsu'tey's Path.
Tsu'tey's Path was collected in trade paperback format on November 27, 2019, with "Brothers" included as supplementary material.
Title of
Issues		Issue Release dateStoryArtColorsCovers
"Brothers"1FCBD 2017May 6, 2017Sherri L. SmithDoug WheatleyWes DziobaDave Wilkins
Tsu'tey's Path61January 16, 2019Sherri L. SmithJan Duursema
Dan Parson 		Wes DziobaDoug Wheatley
Shea Standefer
Tsu'tey's Path62February 13, 2019Sherri L. SmithJan Duursema
Dan Parson 		Wes DziobaDoug Wheatley
Shea Standefer
Tsu'tey's Path63March 20, 2019Sherri L. SmithJan Duursema
Dan Parson 		Wes DziobaDoug Wheatley
Shea Standefer
Tsu'tey's Path64May 1, 2019Sherri L. SmithJan Duursema
Dan Parson 		Wes DziobaDoug Wheatley
Shea Standefer
Tsu'tey's Path65June 26, 2019Sherri L. SmithJan Duursema
Dan Parson 		Wes DziobaDoug Wheatley
Shea Standefer
Tsu'tey's Path66August 21, 2019Sherri L. SmithJan Duursema
Dan Parson 		Wes DziobaDoug Wheatley
Shea Standefer
The Next Shadow41January 6, 2021Jeremy BarlowJosh HoodWes DziobaGuilherme Balbi
with Wes Dzioba
The Next Shadow42February 3, 2021Jeremy BarlowJosh HoodWes DziobaGuilherme Balbi
with Wes Dzioba
The Next Shadow43March 3, 2021Jeremy BarlowJosh HoodWes DziobaGuilherme Balbi
with Wes Dzioba
The Next Shadow44April 7, 2021Jeremy BarlowJosh HoodWes DziobaGuilherme Balbi
with Wes Dzioba
Adapt or Die61May 4, 2022Corinna BechkoBeni LobelMark MolchanWes Dzioba
Adapt or Die62June 1, 2022Corinna BechkoBeni LobelMark MolchanWes Dzioba
Adapt or Die63July 6, 2022Corinna BechkoBeni LobelMark MolchanWes Dzioba
Adapt or Die64August 1, 2022Corinna BechkoBeni LobelMark MolchanWes Dzioba
Adapt or Die65September 9, 2022Corinna BechkoBeni LobelMark MolchanWes Dzioba
Adapt or Die66October 5, 2022Corinna BechkoBeni LobelMark MolchanWes Dzioba
Frontiers of Pandora - So'lek's Journey61February 28, 2024Ray FawkesGabriel GuzmanMichael AtiyehGabriel Guzmán
Frontiers of Pandora - So'lek's Journey62March 27, 2024Ray FawkesGabriel GuzmanMichael AtiyehGabriel Guzmán
Frontiers of Pandora - So'lek's Journey63April 24, 2024Ray FawkesGabriel GuzmanMichael AtiyehGabriel Guzmán
Frontiers of Pandora - So'lek's Journey64May 29, 2024Ray FawkesGabriel GuzmanMichael AtiyehGabriel Guzmán
Frontiers of Pandora - So'lek's Journey65July 17, 2024Ray FawkesGabriel GuzmanMichael AtiyehGabriel Guzmán
Frontiers of Pandora - So'lek's Journey66August 21, 2024Ray FawkesGabriel GuzmanMichael AtiyehGabriel Guzmán
Avatar: The Gap Year–Tipping Point61October 10, 2025Ethan SacksSalvatore PorcaroMichael AtiyehSalvatore Porcaro
Avatar: The Gap Year–Tipping Point62December 3, 2025Ethan SacksSalvatore PorcaroMichael AtiyehSalvatore Porcaro
Avatar: The Gap Year–Tipping Point63January 7, 2026Ethan SacksSalvatore PorcaroMichael AtiyehSalvatore Porcaro
Avatar: The Gap Year–Tipping Point64February 4, 2026Ethan SacksSalvatore PorcaroMichael AtiyehSalvatore Porcaro
Avatar: The Gap Year–Tipping Point65March 4, 2026Ethan SacksSalvatore PorcaroMichael AtiyehSalvatore Porcaro
Avatar: The Gap Year–Tipping Point66TBDEthan SacksSalvatore PorcaroMichael AtiyehSalvatore Porcaro