Fans of the Avatar franchise may soon see Michelle Yeoh step onto Pandora, according to director James Cameron. In a recent interview tied to the third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, the 71-year-old filmmaker confirmed that the Oscar-winning actress, 63, is slated to appear in the fourth and fifth films—if they receive the green light.
“Michelle is definitely going to be in 4, if we make 4,” Cameron told Taiwanese outlet TVBS News. He noted the uncertainty, citing challenges in the current film industry: “The movie industry is depressed right now. Avatar 3 cost a lot of money. We have to do well in order to continue. We need to figure out how to make Avatar movies more inexpensively to continue.”
Cameron explained that the fourth and fifth films, like Avatar: The Way of Water and Fire and Ash, would be filmed simultaneously as “one big story.” He also revealed a few details about Yeoh’s role, saying she will portray a Na’vi performance-capture character named Paktuelat.
Yeoh has been linked to the franchise for years but did not appear in Avatar 3. Cameron clarified in 2024 that she would be joining the saga in future installments, describing her character as “interesting” and “fun.”
The actress has previously expressed excitement about the project. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Yeoh said: “So, yes, I am in the Avatar sequels and as you know we can’t really talk very much about it. But it’s James Cameron! Come on! I would be the tea lady for James Cameron!” She also praised the director: “He’s a genius, a walking genius. I really enjoyed the experience and can’t wait to go back soon.”
Cameron, speaking alongside Avatar stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, echoed the praise, saying: “We love Michelle. She was always a movie star, but she’s blown up into a huge, huge phenomenon. I look forward to working with her.”
