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Avatar 3: Release Date, Cast & Everything We Know

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Summary

  • Avatar 3
    begins reshoots, indicating it’s in post-production and progressing smoothly.
  • Avatar 3
    ‘s release was delayed to Christmas 2025 due to previous delays caused by the pandemic and Hollywood strikes.
  • The cast of
    Avatar 3
    includes returning stars and new characters, expanding the franchise’s lore further.



Avatar 3 will continue the epic saga of Na’vi and Pandora, and news surrounding the third entry is coming fast. Directed by James Cameron, Avatar: The Way of Water introduces a number of plot threads that could carry over into Avatar 3. Not the least of which is the conflict between Colonel Quaritch and Jake and Neytiri’s family. Not only that, but it has been confirmed that Avatar 3 will introduce a new Na’vi fire tribe too. With even more advanced digital effects and expanded franchise lore, Avatar 3 could be the most important movie in the series.

Avatar 3 also already boasts an even bigger cast, which features more Academy Award winners, though they likely won’t be recognizable if they’re playing Na’vi. There is so much to look forward to with the next movie in the Avatar series, and it’ll be just as much of a spectacle as its predecessors. Here are the latest Avatar 3 updates and everything to know about the third film in the flourishing Avatar franchise, including what to expect regarding the film’s story.


Avatar 3 Latest News

Sam Worthington Confirms That Reshoots Are Continuing

The update comes as something of a surprise considering nearly half a year has passed since the James Cameron threequel supposedly wrapped the main phase of filming.

Months after it was announced that principal photography had wrapped and reshoots had begun, the latest news sees Sam Worthington confirming that Avatar 3 is still shooting. The update comes as something of a surprise considering nearly half a year has passed since the James Cameron threequel supposedly wrapped the main phase of filming. Though the Jake actor couldn’t offer specifics, he did mention that he was still being called in to shoot scenes, suggesting that the reshoots are important movie moments and not the usual second unit insert shots.


Worthington revealed the news in an interview with ExtraTV that can be seen below:

Avatar 3 Release Date

Avatar 3 Is Arriving In Late 2025

It was previously announced that Avatar 3 would be arriving in December 2024, but that quickly changed and the movie is actually slated for Christmas 2025. The film has seen numerous delays over the years, from COVID-19 pandemic concerns to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, but the movie’s continued production is a good sign that Avatar 3 won’t have any problems hitting its new release date.

The WGA strike was resolved on September 27th, 2023, and the SAG/AFTRA strike was resolved on November 9th, 2023.


Avatar 3 Cast

Who Will Return?

Ronal and Tonowari look Jake and his family up and down in Avatar: The Way of Water

The newest Avatar 3 updates confirm the film will see Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña return as Jake and Neytiri, respectively. The bulk of the cast of The Way of Water is also returning, including many big names that are quintessential to the franchise.

The Avatar 3 cast will also introduce a plethora of new characters. Oona Chaplin was cast to play the character Varang, the leader of the Ash People, who will appear in the remaining three sequels. David Thewlis will also join the film, playing a Peylak. Rounding out the new members of the cast is Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, who will play scientist Dr. Karina Mogue in the third and subsequent Avatar films.

So far, Avatar 3‘s confirmed cast includes:


Actor

Avatar 3 Role

Sam Worthington

Jake Sully

Sam Worthington holding a rifle as Jake Sully in Avatar The Way of Water

Zoe Saldaña

Neytiri

Zoe Saldana as Neytiri looking upset in Avatar The Way of Water

Sigourney Weaver

Kiri

Kiri looking off thoughtfully into the distance in Avatar

Britain Dalton

Lo’ak

Lo’ak and Kiri in Avatar 2

Trinity Jo-Li Bliss

Tuk

tuk swimming in avatar 2

Jack Champion

Spider

Jack Champion looking sad as Spider in Avatar: The Way of Water

Stephen Lang

Quaritch

Recombinant Quaritch hissing in Avatar: The Way of Water

Kate Winslet

Ronal

Ronal screaming in Avatar The Way of Water

Cliff Curtis

Tonowari

avatar 2 tonowari cliff curtis

Bailey Bass

Reya

Bailey Bass as Tsireya in Avatar Way of Water

Brendan Cowell

Mick Scoresby

Scoresby angrily drives a water craft in Avatar: The Way of Water

Jemaine Clement

Dr. Ian Garvin

Dr. Garvin looks over his shoulder in Avatar: The Way of Water

Edie Falco

General Frances Ardmore

Avatar The Way of Water Edie Falco as General Frances Ardmore 2

Giovanni Ribisi

Parker Selfridge

Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge looking at unobtanium in Avatar.

Joel David Moore

Dr. Norm Spellman

Joel David Moore's Norm stares forward in Avatar 2009

CCH Pounder

Mo’at

Mo'at_looking_angry_in_Avatar

Filip Geljo

Aonung

Aonung speaks while reaching out to someone in front of the water in Avatar: The Way of Water

Duane Evans Jr.

Rotxo

Rotxo talks to Kiri in Avatar 2

Dileep Rao

Dr. Max Patel

Dr. Patel looks surprised at the top of the stairs in Avatar: The Way of Water

Matt Gerald

Corporal Lyle Wainfleet

Wainfleet walks with a rifle through the jungles of Pandora in Avatar

David Thewlis

Peylak

David Thewlis in An Inspector Calls

Michelle Yeoh

Dr. Karina Mogue

Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) looking furious in Wicked

Oona Chaplin

Varang

Oona Chaplin as Talisa in Game of Thrones


Related

Avatar 3 Cast & Character Guide

The Avatar 3 cast contains returning characters played by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña and newcomers played by Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis.

Avatar 3 Story

What Happens Next In The Avatar Saga?

Jake holds on to Neytiri in front of a fire in Avatar: The Way of Water

Avatar: The Way of Water’s ending leaves a few storylines open for continuation. With Spider having rescued Colonel Quaritch from drowning, the film’s antagonist will likely continue his quest for revenge. Things could get worse before they get better, especially as Quaritch’s rage will be at an all-time high following The Way of Water’s final battle. The conflict between the Na’vi and the RDA will surely escalate, and it’s possible the RDA will come better prepared in Avatar 3.


In the Q&A with Jon Landau, the producer revealed that Avatar 3 will introduce two new Na’vi cultures. Landau explained, “We’re going to meet at least two new clans in the next movie,” Landau said. Likely one of these new cultures will be the fire Na’vi, of which Oona Chaplin’s Varang will be a part. Avatar 3 will also switch up the narration, as the first two films were narrated by Jake, but Avatar 3 will be narrated by Lo’ak.

A script excerpt from Avatar 3 was revealed in the Avatar 2 bonus features (via The Direct). While it gives little away, it confirms that Kiri will learn more about her mother and Pandora. Kiri and Mo’at have a discussion about Kiri’s place, and it hints at another one of Jake’s sons suffering an injury. The bonus features hint at a new character called Va’ru, and that Spider can breathe Pandora’s air in Avatar 3. Given humans can’t breathe Pandora’s air, Kiri might have something to do with Spider’s new power, given that she has special abilities no one else does.


  • Avatar 3

    Summary:
    Avatar 3 is the third entry in James Cameron’s five-movie franchise set in the fictional world of Pandora. Following Jake Sully and Neytiri’s first encounter in 2009’s Avatar and Colonel Miles Quaritch’s retaliation in 2022’s The Way of Water, Avatar 3 sees the Na’vi heroes come across a fire Na’vi tribe known as the Ash People.

    Release Date:
    2025-12-19

    Cast:
    Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, Stephen Lang

    Director:
    James Cameron

    Genres:
    Sci-Fi

    Writers:
    Josh Friedman, James Cameron

    Studio(s):
    20th Century

    Distributor(s):
    20th Century

    prequel(s):
    Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water

    Franchise(s):
    Avatar

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