Zoe Saldaña shares an Avatar: Fire and Ash update from James Cameron, who reached out to her after winning her Golden Globe Award. Saldaña was awarded a Golden Globe for her performance as Rita Mora Castro in Netflix’s critically acclaimed movie Emilia Pérez. She has played Neytiri in Cameron’s Avatar franchise since the first movie was released in 2009, along with reprising the role for Avatar: The Way of Water and in the cast of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third movie releasing in December 2025.
While speaking during a Golden Globes press conference, where ScreenRant was in attendance, Saldaña revealed that Cameron is currently in New Zealand and in the process of cutting Avatar: Fire and Ash. She discussed how he sent her a congratulatory message during the awards ceremony and emphasized how much his support and encouragement over the years has meant to her. Check out Saldaña’s comments below:
I was sitting in the audience and I received a message from James Cameron, who is in New Zealand right now cutting Avatar: Fire and Ash. After all these years, he believes in me. It nourishes my desire to continue growing as an artist.
What This Means For Zoe Saldaña And For Avatar: Fire And Ash
She And James Cameron Have A Good Relationship And The Movie Is On Track For Its Release
Saldaña’s comments are indicative of the meaningful bond that she has with Cameron and bode well for Avatar: Fire and Ash. Given the extensive behind-the-scenes timeline of every Avatar movie, Saldaña and Cameron have now been working on the science-fiction franchise together for nearly two decades. While Saldaña has now largely stepped outside of franchises, and focused more on standalone movies like Emilia Pérez, she continues to be at the forefront of the Avatar movies for the foreseeable future.
Related
Avatar: All 20 Na’vi Clans Explained (Cultures, Locations & Inspirations)
While the first Avatar movie focused primarily on the Omaticaya, the Avatar franchise has explored many more Na’vi Clans in the sequels and tie-ins.
Cameron supporting her, not only in Avatar, but in other aspects of her career, has contributed to the largely positive experience that she has had making the technologically complex movies. As for the release of the third Avatar movie, Cameron being in New Zealand and focused on post-production is a good sign that the project is progressing well. The sequels have been delayed numerous times, but Avatar: Fire and Ash should meet its December 2025 release date.
Her Career Continues To Bec Exciting In New Ways
With Zoe Saldaña’s best movies generally considered to be from the Avatar, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek, or Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, it is exciting to see her receive recognition for Emilia Pérez, a movie unlike any she has done before. It is satisfying to know that Cameron, one of the many creative talents she has collaborated with, is supportive of her other acting ventures. Knowing about the positive dynamic between Saldaña and Cameron will make it even more rewarding to see where Neytiri’s story goes next as the franchise continues with Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Avatar: Fire and Ash 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: Fire and Ash sees the Na’vi heroes come across a fire Na’vi tribe known as the Ash People.
- Release Date
-
December 19, 2025