Avatar 4 Needs To Answer These 2 Questions Before Its End

Published Jul 25, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT Liz Declan is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant, primarily covering movies. She is a massive fan of Star Wars, the MCU, and Supernatural. In addition to writing, Liz loves attending and covering conventions and interviewing actors. Find her on TikTok and Instagram @va.va.vera The Avatar franchise has long been among the most praised franchises of the modern day. From countless awards and accolades to a dedicated fanbase that is always going to fill seats in theaters, Avatar has stood, and will no doubt continue to stand, the test of time for over a decade and a half. It should therefore be no surprise that Avatar 4 is already confirmed and is slated for a 2029 release date. However, that history of success doesn't automatically mean smooth sailing moving forward. In fact, these movies have wavered in terms of reception over the years, with their Rotten Tomatoes scores steadily declining with critics (audiences' scores have fluctuated more, with Avatar: The Way of Water performing the best and Avatar: Fire and Ash coming in second). Among the reasons for those dwindling scores is the fact that particularly Fire and Ash proved that the movies have begun to feel redundant, with Colonel Miles Quaritch returning as the villain once again and many of the threats feeling the same. Avatar 4 will certainly have that hill to climb regarding presenting something new and convincing audiences and critics alike that the movies have more to offer than just beautiful visuals and similar storylines—especially because Avatar 5 is already confirmed as well. In addition to that work that is still to be done, though, Avatar 4 has to finally answer some questions that have now been bothering audiences for years. Two, in particular, have more than earned an answer. Who Is Spider's Mom? Among the questions that audiences definitely want to know is who Spider's mom is. The Way of Water surprised viewers by revealing that Quaritch had a son, particularly because he seemed so heartless and, frankly, evil that it was difficult to imagine him finding romance, much less welcoming a baby into the world. Of course, with time, that opinion of Quaritch was right, as he was hardly father material—at least, the Avatar version of him who actually got to know Spider was. However, despite both The Way of Water and Fire and Ash spending considerable time on Quaritch and Spider's bizarre relationship, Spider's mother has never been revealed. While that might seem inconsequential, it is actually something that fans have wanted the answer to since The Way of Water, and it's just feeling increasingly weird that no reveal has come. The longer this mystery goes on, in fact, the more it seems like the movies have to be building towards some major revelation. Yet, it's also possible that this storyline will go nowhere, either by revealing that Spider's mother was no one of note or by simply never answering the question (definitely the worse option of the two). It's a difficult line to toe, however, as trying to make the reveal about Spider's mother some major twist might also seem like low-hanging fruit. Perhaps Avatar has simply let this question go on for too long and has shot itself in the foot a bit by doing so. The same, unfortunately, may be true of yet another major Spider question. Did Anyone Discover Spider Saved The Colonel? Among the most frustrating moments in The Way of Water was Spider's decision to save Quaritch in the end. Spider was certainly going through a range of emotions and a very complicated experience that few could understand, but there was also little doubt that his "father" was evil through and through, and keeping him alive was a massive threat to everyone. And, in the end, that proved true, as Quaritch managed to die or almost die at the end of both Avatar and The Way of Water and then serve as the primary antagonist in all three movies. Fire and Ash did introduce new villains with the Mangkwan Clan, also called the Ash People, and particularly their leader, Varang. However, they were often still overshadowed by Quaritch, who continues to be the thorn in the side of every protagonist in Avatar, but especially Jake and Neytiri—after all, he killed their son, Neteyam. In fact, it is that, especially, that raises the major question: Do Neytiri and Jake even know that Spider was the one to save Quaritch? Given that the couple was already almost willing to throw all of their morals and their love for Spider away and kill him, this absolutely would not go over well, yet it's difficult to imagine that Spider is just going around with this secret. If he hasn't actually told Jake and Neytiri yet, that very well may be a major plot point in Avatar 4, although that would be a shame. Fire and Ash did so much with their relationship, and this would set them so far back. Nevertheless, audiences want and deserve an answer to this question. Avatar 4 Has Some Work To Do As mentioned, Avatar 4 has significant work to do in terms of winning over audiences. Fire and Ash was still highly rated by viewers, it's true, but that's reflective of a dedicated fanbase, not consistently solid movies. The critics certainly caught on that these narratives are beginning to feel repetitive, and that doesn't only pertain to the return of Quaritch as the villain over and over again. Avatar has a great legacy, and it deserves to be revisited with a story that feels genuinely fresh. There are, at least, already signs that this will be the case, including the fact that Avatar 4 will reportedly have a time jump of several years. This likely means that we will get to see Jake pass the torch more directly to the next generation. It feels most likely that this will mean Jake and Neytiri's son, Lo'ak, take up the mantle, although that isn't confirmed. Their adoptive daughter, Kiri, is also incredibly powerful, and it's possible that she would take on that role instead. Many have also speculated that this jump forward in time may also spell Jake's death, which has long been discussed as a possibility within the fanbase. If that were to happen, then perhaps Avatar 5 would instead be focused on the younger generation. That would certainly be fresh, and presumably more interesting (if heartbreaking). For now, though, it remains to be seen what Avatar 4 will do and whether it will be the change the franchise needs. Avatar 7/10 Release Date December 15, 2009 Runtime 162 minutes Avatar: The Way of Water 8/10 Release Date December 16, 2022 Runtime 192 minutes Avatar: The Way of Water picks up more than a decade after the first film, with Jake Sully and Neytiri now raising a family on Pandora. When an old human threat returns, the Sullys are forced to flee their forest home and seek refuge with the ocean-dwelling Metkayina clan, where they must protect their children while adapting to a new way of life and preparing for war. Avatar: Fire and Ash Release Date December 19, 2025 Runtime 197 Minutes Avatar: Fire and Ash is a 2025 science fiction film continuing the saga of Pandora. Jake Sully and Neytiri confront a formidable new enemy, the Ash People, led by Varang. Struggling with personal loss and external threats, they strive to protect their family and Pandora's future. Avatar 4 Release Date December 19, 2029 Director James Cameron Writers James Cameron, Josh Friedman Producers Jon Landau Prequel(s) Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash Franchise(s) Avatar Avatar 4 is the fourth installment of James Cameron's science fiction franchise, scheduled for release in December 2029.