Thescreescore – James Cameron has officially confirmed the runtime for Avatar: Fire & Ash, the highly anticipated third installment in the Avatar saga, while also shedding light on the return of a key ally from Jake Sully’s past. As the RDA further entrenches itself on Pandora, audiences can expect a cinematic experience clocking in at approximately three hours.
While plot details remain tightly guarded, recent trailers have teased the reunion of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) with the Toruk, the magnificent winged predator he famously bonded with in the original 2009 film. In a recent interview with Variety, Cameron revealed the surprising story behind the Toruk’s inclusion in Fire & Ash, admitting it was a relatively late addition to the script.
"The good news is I don’t really second guess my creative impulses. Unless, and this happened a little bit on ‘Fire and Ash,’ I’m looking at it going, you know, I’m not that much of a genius screenwriter. There’s something a little off here in the storytelling," Cameron stated.
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He continued, "And so, our Toruk is back [in ‘Fire and Ash’], right? You know, the big bird that Jake rides [in the climax of the first ‘Avatar’]. 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."
Cameron then shared a surprising revelation: "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**k that! He should get the bird. Get the Toruk.’ There’s something in Jake’s destiny that requires it, right?"
The director explained that he rewrote parts of the film and shot additional scenes to incorporate the Toruk, resulting in a runtime of "three hours, big surprise!" He added that the actors were enthusiastic about the change, feeling it was the right direction for the story.
Given the lengths of previous Avatar films, Fire and Ash‘s runtime isn’t entirely unexpected. The original Avatar was a substantial two hours and 42 minutes, while The Way of Water extended that to a staggering three hours and 12 minutes. Cameron’s comments suggest that the third film might be slightly shorter than its predecessor.
The return of the Toruk raises questions about its role in the narrative. Cameron’s statement about adding only a few scenes implies that the creature might not be a constant presence throughout the film. However, with both the RDA and the formidable Ash Clan posing threats, the Toruk could prove to be a crucial asset in the battles to come.
In the original Avatar, Jake’s bonding with the Toruk symbolized his acceptance into the Na’vi culture and allowed him to turn the tide against the RDA. Trailers for Fire and Ash hint at more aerial action, with the Toruk seen destroying a Scorpion attack vehicle.
While lengthy runtimes are a subject of debate among moviegoers, the quality of the film is ultimately what matters most. A well-paced three-hour movie can be far more engaging than a poorly executed two-hour one.
Whether Avatar: Fire and Ash justifies its runtime remains to be seen, but the return of the Toruk is an exciting development, especially after its absence in The Way of Water. Perhaps the Toruk will become an important ally to the Sully family, similar to Payakan, as the story progresses in the upcoming fourth and fifth films.
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