Cameron: If The Way of Water doesn't perform well, Avatar 3 may be the final chapter

The highly anticipated sci-fi blockbuster sequel "Avatar 2: The Way of Water" will finally be released in December, and director James Cameron is very concerned about the box office results of the new film. According to DEADLINE, Cameron said that the performance of this film will determine the longevity of the series.

"The market could tell us in three months that it's over, or halfway over, saying, 'OK, let's finish the story in the third movie and not go on forever,' if it's completely unprofitable," he told Total Film.

Fans of the original Avatar waited 13 years for the sequel, and Cameron said a lot may have changed since then. While there is a story to tell in the other three sequels, everything could be axed if the series doesn't generate interest.

He added in the interview: "We're in a different world now than when I wrote this movie. The pandemic and streaming - it's a one-two punch. Or, on the contrary, maybe we'll remind people what it means to go to the theater. This movie definitely does that. But the question is: How many people care now?"

Earlier this year, Cameron expressed doubts about being able to direct the fourth and fifth sequels in the series, as he also had other projects he was interested in participating in. He told Empire magazine: "The Avatar movies are very demanding. I have some other exciting things in the works. I think eventually at some point in time - I don't know if it will be the third or fourth - I will want to hand the baton off to a director I trust so that I can do other things that I'm interested in. Maybe I won't do that, I don't know."

But at the same time he also said that the fourth part would be great and he hopes to make it, but "everything depends on the market."

"Avatar 2: The Path of Water" will be released in theaters on December 16.