James Cameron is once again proving that when it comes to the Avatar franchise, bigger really is better. The director has officially confirmed that ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash‘, the third film in the ongoing saga, will run at least three hours.
Additionally, he’s bringing back one of Jake Sully’s most iconic allies from the original 2009 film: the mighty Toruk.
“He Should Get The Bird”: James Cameron On Adding Toruk Scenes
The revelation came during Cameron’s interview with Variety, where he discussed both the runtime and the creative decision behind Toruk’s return. The winged beast, known as the Great Leonopteryx, famously helped Jake rally the Na’vi in the climax of the first film. However, the creature was nowhere to be seen in ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’. Moreover, until now, its place in ‘Fire and Ash’ wasn’t guaranteed.
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Cameron admitted that Toruk wasn’t originally part of the script for the third movie. In his own words, he had one of those jarring writer moments where something incredibly obvious hits you late in the game. “I’ve always been waiting for the question. ‘Why doesn’t he just go get the big red bird and kill everybody like he used to do?’ Because that doesn’t exist in The Way of Water at all.”
He confessed that the Toruk storyline wasn’t in ‘Fire and Ash’ at first because he had actually been saving it for another sequel. However, mid-production, he had a change of heart. “I got a big scoop here. It didn’t exist in Fire and Ash. And I went, ‘Oh, he’s got to go get the bird. Come on! I was saving it for a later film.’ I was like, ‘F that! He should get the bird. Get the Toruk.’” That spontaneous decision led to rewrites, reshoots, and newly added sequences built around Toruk’s comeback.
Cameron said they filmed two or three new scenes focused on that concept and removed some existing material to make room for it. The end result was a runtime that hit the three-hour mark. However, to him, it was worth it. Not only did the actors reportedly get excited about Toruk’s inclusion, but Cameron said the change “felt right” from a narrative standpoint. It also plays directly into Jake Sully’s destiny and cements his connection to past events in a way fans will immediately recognize.
James Cameron Was Saving Toruk’s Return Storyline For ‘Fire And Ash’
In classic James Cameron fashion, the return of Toruk wasn’t a quiet, calculated move; it was a passionate, creative pivot that changed the course of the film. He explained that he initially planned to save the Toruk for a later installment, possibly Avatar 4 or Avatar 5, the latter of which isn’t expected until 2031. However, during the writing process, he realized that holding it back made less sense than leaning into what fans would naturally expect.
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“There’s something in Jake’s destiny that requires it,” he said, emphasizing that the moment didn’t feel forced but earned. He recognized a gap in the story and trusted his instincts enough to correct it. “So I just re-wrote it, and we went back and we shot two or three scenes around that concept, and I threw some stuff out and stuck that in.” That flexibility, he argues, is part of what keeps the franchise creatively alive.
“It’s not set in stone. It’s a constantly evolving creative process. And that’s what keeps you vigorous and engaged.” The enthusiasm wasn’t his alone; he says the cast was immediately fired up by the change, and the energy around Toruk’s return suggests it could become a major emotional and visual highlight in the film. With two more sequels on the way after ‘Fire and Ash’, Cameron’s decision may end up strengthening the overarching narrative rather than complicating it.
