Avatar’s James Cameron Reveals Way of Water Scene He Dreaded Filming

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James Cameron recently shared that there was one scene in Avatar: The Way of Water he particularly disliked having to film, ahead of the release of the new movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash.

What Avatar scene did James Cameron dread filming?

While discussing the upcoming Avatar 3, director James Cameron revisited a powerful scene from The Way of Water. He described how Neteyam, the son of Jake and Neytiri, tragically died protecting his siblings during the battle between the Na’Vi and the RDA. Cameron revealed that filming this heartbreaking moment remains particularly impactful for him.

James Cameron explained to GamesRadar+ that filming Neteyam’s death was particularly difficult. Knowing how upsetting it would be, and as a parent himself, he found writing those scenes incredibly challenging. Both Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña had become parents between the first and second Avatar films, which deeply impacted Cameron. He noted that this loss is central to the events of Fire and Ash, fueling the story as Lo’ak takes on the role of narrator, continuing Jake’s legacy.

Neteyam’s death will continue to have a significant impact on Jake and Neytiri in Fire and Ash.

Cameron explained that the next installment, Fire and Ash, will explore the consequences of the previous event. It will focus on how those consequences affect the characters, especially the children who experienced it firsthand or are now living with the fallout.

According to Cameron, Avatar: Fire and Ash is an emotional story about grief, loss, and trauma.

Cameron explained the film is about overcoming grief, moving forward, and ending the cycle of violence that stems from hatred and loss. He believes this theme is particularly relevant to what’s happening in the world right now.

Avatar: Fire and Ash introduces a new threat to Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their family: the Mangkwan clan, also called the Ash People. Led by the fierce Na’vi warrior Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), the Mangkwan join forces with the returning Quaritch (Stephen Lang) to challenge the Sully family’s place on Pandora.

Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in theaters on December 19, 2025.

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2025-12-05 20:27