"Avatar: Fire and Ashes," the third installment in James Cameron's sci-fi saga, is finally available in theaters. It features the return of the Sully family, who face new Na'vi races and even more spectacular action scenes. The film also explores, with even greater depth, themes already present in previous installments, such as the environment and anti-colonialism, which are still widely debated today.

While awaiting the box office results after its opening week, the press's first impressions were available on the Rotten Tomatoes website. According to current ratings, the film holds a 70% approval rating: a result that inevitably compares favorably with the more favorable reviews given for the previous installments, which indicated an 81% for the first "Avatar" and a 76% for "Avatar: The Way of Water." However, it should be remembered that this is still a provisional rating, expressed primarily by reviewers who have previewed the film, and therefore may change in the coming days, pending further expert commentary.

Among the diverse opinions that have emerged, some praise the film's extraordinary technical prowess and dramatic impact, while others, conversely, point to a formula that's become overused and in need of significant rejuvenation. Inevitably—given that it's one of the highest-budgeted films ever—the franchise's future will depend on audience response, especially in light of the upcoming "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5," already scheduled by Cameron for 2029 and 2031, respectively.

In a constantly shifting film landscape—particularly in light of the recent acquisition moves between Netflix and Warner Bros., which have contributed to further instability in the industry—Cameron touched on his upcoming directorial ventures in a detailed interview with "The Hollywood Reporter," focusing specifically on the franchises he might pursue after "Avatar." Starting with the sci-fi saga, the director stated that, should the project be confirmed in development, he would be "less involved" in "Avatar 4." He clarified: "I have other stories to tell, and I have other stories to tell within Avatar. What's not going to happen is that I'm not going to go down the rabbit hole and dedicate myself exclusively to Avatar for several years. I'm going to find another way to pursue it that involves more collaboration. I'm not saying I'm retiring from directing, but I'm saying I'm not going to be so directly involved in every aspect of the process."

To the delight of longtime fans, Cameron may even return to "Terminator," the saga starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, of which he directed the first two installments and which deserves credit for much of the prestige he's built over the years. Viewing the new installment as a true reboot, the director stated: "Once my Avatar commitments wind down in a couple of months, I'll dive right in. There are a lot of narrative problems to solve. The biggest one is how to anticipate what's actually happening to make it science fiction."

Confirming that Schwarzenegger won't be returning to the film—not only for reasons related to his age, which would make it more difficult to perform the more physically demanding scenes, but above all because of the desire to make room for the franchise's new faces—Cameron added: "I can say with certainty that he won't be there. It's time for a new generation of characters. I insisted that Arnold be involved in Terminator: Dark Fate, and it was a great ending for him playing the T-800. There needs to be a broader interpretation of Terminator and the idea of a time war and a superintelligence. I want to do new things that people don't imagine."

Closing with a reflection on Noah Hawley's "Alien: Planet Earth" series and recalling his past with 1986's "Aliens," the director clarified that the new Terminator won't follow a similar path, but will instead focus on bolder and more unexpected choices: "I'm not criticizing it, but I made Aliens 41 years ago. Something like that wouldn't interest me. The things that scare you the most are exactly the things you should be doing. No one should operate artistically from a comfort zone."

© Riproduzione riservata