'Avatar: Fire and Ash' James Cameron: “The Third Film Is a Fantastic Adventure and the Most Emotional Yet”

[Financial News] “The scene I put the most effort into? Every single one. This film will look real, but it will invite you into a dream world that is not reality.”
Set to premiere first in Korea on the 17th, James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' surpassed 380,000 advance ticket sales just two days before its release, emerging as a savior for year-end theaters.
■A Fantastic Adventure About Family and the HeartDuring a virtual press conference on the 12th, director James Cameron stated, “I devoted care to every scene. More than 3,000 crew members worked on this film for over four years. With about 3,500 Visual Effects (VFX) shots, nearly every scene is realized through visual effects. Audiences will feel it is very realistic, yet know it cannot be reality—a world like a dream.”
Unlike any previous live-action film or animation, 'Fire and Ash' is the third installment in the 'Avatar' series, which began in 2009. With its groundbreaking visuals powered by cutting-edge technology, 'Avatar' set a new milestone in film history and became the highest-grossing film worldwide. The first film grossed $2.9 billion, while the second, 'The Way of Water,' earned $2.3 billion, continuing its box office legacy.
With a budget of $400 million, 'Fire and Ash' delivers a unique cinematic experience over its 195-minute runtime, traversing the forests and seas of Pandora and new lands covered in fire and ash.
Reflecting on the journey, Cameron said, “Every moment spent with the actors and staff was enjoyable, and the process itself left many memories. Thanks to technological advancements, we’ve now reached a point where any image I imagine or any scene I write in the script can be realized at the highest quality.” He added, “Pandora is vast, expansive, and intricately detailed—a world that can serve as a canvas for any story.”
He identified 'family' as the central theme of this installment. “It’s a theme that resonates with people all over the world,” he emphasized. “The journey audiences will experience is not only a fantastic adventure into another world, but also a deeply human and heartfelt story.”
He especially mentioned his own life, having grown up in a large family and now being a father of five, saying, “I now see the stories of rebellious teenagers from a father’s perspective.”
'Fire and Ash' centers on Jake Sully and Neytiri, who are grieving the loss of their eldest son Neteyam, and their second son Lo'ak, who must deal with loss and personal growth. Cameron explained, “I wanted to depict how a family faces both external enemies and internal conflicts and pain.”■ The Aggressive 'Ash People' Emerge... “Pure Acting Without AI”As suggested by the subtitle 'Fire and Ash,' the biggest change in this film is the introduction of a new force, the Ash People. Unlike the Na'vi and other tribes from the first two films, the Ash People are aggressive and make a powerful impression, led by Varang, who wears red face paint. Varang is played by Oona Chaplin, the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin.
Cameron noted, “The new excitement in the third film comes from creatures and tribes audiences have never seen before.”
The concept for the Ash People originated from the director’s observations in 2012 of volcanic disaster areas in Papua New Guinea.
He explained, “I imagined what it would look like if people who lost their homes to a volcanic eruption chose to remain and live there. That question became the starting point for the Ash People’s environment and identity.”
The nomadic aerial group known as the 'Wind Traders' was inspired by merchants who once traveled the Silk Road. Cameron said that sketches of flying creatures he drew in the 1970s were a great help.
As Generative AI is impacting the entire industry, Cameron addressed concerns in the field, making it clear that “actors are irreplaceable.”
He emphasized, “What audiences see on screen is ultimately human, and actors are central to storytelling.” Before the film begins, a video is shown stating, “Not a single second of this work used Generative AI,” along with footage of the actors’ real performances.
However, he expressed a positive view on using AI as a supplementary tool to reduce costs. He said, “While VFX costs have soared, theater revenues have dropped by 30%, making it difficult for fantasy and sci-fi films to remain sustainable. I hope more creators will have the environment to visually realize their imagination and dreams.”
Although the series is planned through six installments, Cameron structured the third film to conclude the story, considering potential box office uncertainties.
He said, “I wanted to create a story that reveals all the challenges, pain, and suffering the characters go through, bringing emotional closure. 'Fire and Ash' will be the installment that reaches the deepest and most intense emotions in the series.”



jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-a Reporter