It looks like someone finally turned in his homework on time.
James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Water,” the third and only installment in the saga that hasn’t been plagued by endless release date delays, unveiled the very first trailer on Thursday afternoon at CinemaCon, the annual gathering of movie theater owners in Las Vegas. (To be fair, Cameron shot the follow up films back-to-back, so the rest of the otherworldly sci-fi saga should arrive on time).
CinemaCon attendees were given 3D glasses to watch the trailer, which hasn’t been revealed to the public.
Of course, “Avatar” has become the holy grail for exhibitors and just about the only property that could inspire theater operators to equip their venues with the best possible technology to play Cameron’s epics. After all, 2009’s “Avatar” and 2022’s long-long-long-delayed sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” each grossed over $2 billion globally and stand as two of the biggest movies in history. Should “Fire and Ash” chart a similar box office path, “Avatar” will be the only film franchise in history with three installments to gross above $2 billion. (Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe only has a measly two, 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” and 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War.”) Meanwhile Cameron is already the sole filmmaker with three movies to generate more than $2 billion, the other being “Titanic.”
The sci-fi saga follows the clan of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) on the alien moon of Pandora. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” picks up moments after the events of “The Way of Water,” which charts the conflict between the blue-skinned humanoids known as the Na’vi against the villainous Resources Development Administration. After the death of Jake Sully’s son Neteyam, he and his family seek refuge with the aquatic clan called Metkayina and continue the fight against the RDA. In the new footage, the third chapter introduces the Ash People of the Na’vi.
Cameron, who is putting the final touches on “Avatar 3,” appeared in a pre-recorded video to tell exhibitors about the threequel.
“So sorry I can’t be there, but I’m in New Zealand, finishing up ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ which I think we can all agree is a good use of my time, considering this sucker is coming at us like a freight train on Dec. 19,” Cameron cracked. “But I’m sending you guys a reel to give you a taste of the spectacle and new creatures and new cultures that our amazing artists have created, and a glimpse of the increased emotional heart of soul that our incredible cast has delivered.”
He teased, “The Sully family are really put through the ringer on this one as they face not only the human invaders, but new adversaries: the Ash People.”
Oona Chaplin (“Game of Thrones”) plays the leader of the Ash People, Varang. David Thewlis and Michelle Yeoh are also joining the cast. Along with Worthington and Saldaña, returning cast members include Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will hit theaters ahead of Christmas on Dec. 19. Meanwhile, “Avatar 4” is scheduled for Dec. 21, 2029 and “Avatar 5” is slated for Dec. 19, 2031.
Also during Disney’s CinemaCon showcase, the studio offered exclusive looks at Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” and “Fantastic Four: The First Steps,” as well as “Zootopia 2,” “Freakier Friday,” “Tron: Ares” and the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” remake, all of which will land on the big screen before the year’s end.
“Disney films are exclusively in theaters for longer than any of our competitors,” the studio’s global distribution chief Andrew Cripps proudly told the room of cinema owners. “Trust me, that is not by accident. We believe in the theatrical experience.”
