“Following the success of his 2009 groundbreaking Avatar action fantasy film, and the 2023 follow-up Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron insists his third 20th Century Studios blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ash, called for the most complex visual effects and motion capture technology ever for the franchise. “It’s a culmination in a way of the”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
“It’s a culmination in a way of the whole adventure across the previous two films,” Cameron explained about his latest sequel via a short behind-the-scenes featurette.
The director, cast and crew discussed bringing the latest Avatar world to life – complete with volcano fights, family tragedy and intense action – using the latest in motion capture filmmaking technology.
The short has scenes where Cameron is on a giant soundstage as he gestures and speaks to unitard-clad and dot-faced Zoe Saldaña, Kate Winslet and Sigourney Weaver on what’s needed to channel their motion capture performances. Cameron argues filmmaking technology has evolved since his original 2009 sci-fi Avatar film, and audiences should expect something entirely different with Avatar: Fire and Ashwhich also stars Sam Worthington as Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully.
“We’ve got to evolve it to be able to bring people on a new journey, a new adventure,” Cameron says. The earlier Fire and Ash trailer returns moviegoers to Pandora and introduces two new tribes, the Wind Traders and the fire-hurling Ash People clan.
Saldaña, who will reprise her role as Neytiri in the third film, adds in the featurette to build up to the Dec. 19, 2025 release of the third film: “If you thought that Way of Water was big and impactful, Fire and Ash is going to be an experience unlike anything.”
Winslet adds in the short that movie making and the latest in motion-capture technology has allowed Cameron to achieve his latest vision on the big screen: “That’s what is enabling him to create his world.”
Weaver recalled how she and fellow actors had to wear unitards, or suits with tracking markers, to get their best performances. “This technical world makes it possible to go out on an empty stage and ground us,” she added.
That focus on the latest in VFX technology is crucial as Cameron recently revealed the franchise’s third installment, Fire and Ashwill be longer than 2022’s The Way of Water.