7 Fantastic Directors Who Could Replace James Cameron On Avatar 4 If He Steps Aside

Published Sep 24, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT Karlis has been obsessing over television and movie news since he first learned how to read. He has worked in tech, as a musician, and in journalism with a well-rounded knowledge base of pop-culture throughout the eras. He claims that he has memorized the entire Internet Movie Database, and to date no one has been able to refute this. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University, Karlis loves to examine the intersections of popular science-fiction and culture. His latest novel MASS. is available now on Amazon and examines a world where obesity has become a federal crime. James Cameron has already written Avatar 4, but the more time that passes, the more it looks like he may move onto other projects rather than direct the next installment in the incredibly lucrative franchise. Recently, Cameron has spoken about the future of his career, and looks to be considering making another movie rather than his next Avatar. The director has several options on the docket. He has discussed making The Last Train for Hiroshima for years, and while his original intent was to make the World War II drama after he completes Avatar 5, things in his schedule may move around. Cameron has also discussed making a new Terminator. Movement on Avatar 4 has been slow and confusing. Despite the incredible financial success of the first three films, the large drop in earnings with the latest chapter shows a trend that worries Disney, considering the cost of these movies. While another Avatar will certainly follow eventually, the studio wants to have it made quicker and cheaper than prior entries. James Cameron is a perfectionist and works on his own schedule. He required incredible funds and time for his films, including Titanic and the original Avatar, but those investments paid off tremendously. If Cameron does not get what he needs for the next chapter, it stands to reason he might leave the franchise and place the film in the hands of another capable filmmaker. These eight would be perfect for the job. Robert Rodriguez Alita: Battle Angel is a science fiction movie that still needs a sequel, and its director could be the perfect person to take over Avatar instead. James Cameron intended to direct Alita for many years, but eventually had to hand the reins to Robert Rodriguez, who made a masterful film with the material. Alita feels like a James Cameron film, but it also has its own unique science fiction identity, thanks to Rodriguez's excellent handling of the film. The visuals are incredible, and the action is some of the best seen in the genre. While there is still some hope for an Alita sequel, getting Rodriguez to take over on Avatar could be a perfect path forward. He clearly already has a strong working relationship with Cameron, and could do a great job telling the rest of this fantastic epic story in the final two sequels. The Wachowskis Among the riskier options on this list, Lilly and Lana Wachowski would still be an incredible choice to take over the Avatar franchise. Their career is filled with excellent science fiction epics that are packed to the brim with gorgeous visuals, from The Matrix to Cloud Atlas to Speed Racer. Granted, not everything in their oeuvre has been effective. The filmmakers are great creatives, with some genuinely original ideas, but some of their projects have failed to satisfyingly execute on their concepts. The sequels to The Matrix are good examples of this, as is Jupiter Ascending. Still, there are few filmmakers in Hollywood who are as effective with science fiction storytelling and the visual effects that it is tied to. As part of a larger creative ensemble executing on James Cameron's vision for the Avatar sequels, the Wachowskis could make something genuinely thrilling. Robert Zemeckis Robert Zemeckis is clearly one of the best filmmakers in Hollywood history. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Zemeckis made several of his best movies, including Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Back to the Future. Since then, however, the director's reputation has faltered. While recent Zemeckis movies have been much weaker, like Here and Pinocchio, the filmmaker would make sense for Avatar because of his investment in motion capture technology. Throughout the 2000s, Zemeckis became a huge proponent of the technology, which has since become crucial to the Avatar series. Working with motion capture on The Polar Express, Beowulf, and A Christmas Carol, Zemeckis has the technical know-how to take on a project like Avatar 4. With the right team around him, he could be the perfect choice for the upcoming sequel. Jon Favreau Jon Favreau might be the most important filmmaker of the past thirty years. He made the most recent Christmas classic with Elf, then set the template for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man. Since then, he has broken box office records with The Lion King remake, and redefined Star Wars with The Mandalorian. Favreau clearly has experience working with existing IP and making it into something contemporary and exciting. His films are as accessible as they are entertaining, and he clearly already has a strong relationship with Disney. Bringing him in to handle Avatar 4 would be incredible. Like The Lion King, most of the Avatar movies are built from realistic animated visuals. Favreau's work with Star Wars has shown how adept he is at working on visual projects, and his style could translate especially effectively to Avatar. James Wan Matt Kennedy/©Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection If James Cameron does not make the next film in his science fiction franchise, director James Wan has already expressed interest in making Avatar 4. The filmmaker was originally known for his work in horror, where he broke through with Saw, and contributed to the genre with hits like The Conjuring. Still, Wan is a much broader filmmaker than this. He made arguably the best Fast & Furious movie in Furious 7, and, most relevant to this discussion, helmed the DC Extended Universe's Aquaman film and its sequel. The first of those movies was an enormous hit, and had a significant focus on visual effects, especially underwater. The Avatar sequels have both had a heavy aquatic focus, and with the Metkayina embedded in the story, future chapters might as well. Considering Wan's legacy, he might be the perfect person to continue the series. Andy Serkis Another great filmmaker who is well-versed in the art of visual effects and motion capture, Andy Serkis could be the perfect candidate to take over on Avatar 4. The filmmaker is currently working on the continuation of The Lord of the Rings, and that film looks to be an excellent continuation of the series. After The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Serkis would be perfect to take on Avatar 4. He has made great films that are built around motion capture, including Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, and worked on those visuals for all kinds of projects, including King Kong and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Serkis is the right kind of creative for a job like this. He has experience working on enormous projects, and does a great job at collaborating with other creatives to find a balanced tone that works. Slotting into a pre-existing franchise like Avatar, he'd do a fantastic job. Joe & Anthony Russo Credit: Ralf Muller/DDP/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images Joe and Anthony Russo have directed some of the biggest and best movies ever made, and the pair would be a fantastic choice to take over the next Avatar movie. Known for their work with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they clearly already have a strong relationship with Disney, which would make their move to Avatar a seamless one. The Marvel movies are a visual feast and require the work of so many creatives both in front of and behind the camera. The Russos are fantastic at contributing within a working infrastructure and adding to an existing universe, which has made all of their work with Marvel so impressive. While the directors have also made a few unsatisfactory films, the production of Avatar 4 would have a great deal in common with the making of a Marvel film. Bringing in a pair of directors who know how to handle such enormous material, such as the Russos, could be the perfect way to get Avatar 4 made efficiently and effectively.