Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films to Debut on Disney+

Disney+ has announced that the new two-part documentary Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films is set to premiere on November 7, 2025. The trailer and key art for the release are now available.

From 20th Century Studios and Lightstorm Entertainment, the documentary provides a fascinating glimpse into the making of the Oscar-winning box office phenomenon Avatar: The Way of Water and a first look at the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash. It features exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, concept art, and interviews with cast and filmmakers.

The filmmakers traveled from Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Shasta Lake, and the Channel Islands to the Bahamas, Hawaii, and New Zealand, to follow the cast and below-the-line team as they work to hone and perfect the techniques of underwater performance capture technology and learn to free dive in a massive, state-of-the-art 680,000-gallon water tank.

The executive producers for Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films are James Cameron and Rae Sanchini. The director/producer is Thomas C. Grane, the writer/producer is Richard Brehm, the creative director is Robert Glowacki, the director of photography is John Clisham, the director of photography – interviews is Steven Wacks, and the creative consultant is Geoff Burdick.

The two-part documentary includes interviews with (in order of appearance): James Cameron (writer/director/producer/editor), Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Jon Landau (producer), Stephen Lang, Maria Battle Campbell (co-producer, 1st assistant director), and Richard Baneham (executive producer, Lightstorm visual effects supervisor).

There’s also Kate Winslet, Rae Sanchini (executive producer, president, Lightstorm Entertainment), Margery Simkin (casting director), Jamie Landau (co-producer), Stephen Rivkin (editor), Ryan Champney (visual production supervisor), Dylan Cole (production designer), and Garrett Warren (2nd unit director, stunt coordinator).

The list of talent appearing continues with Rob Innes (founder, Jetovator, Inc.), John Rosengrant (co-founder, Legacy Effects), Chis Denison (stunts), Joey Natale (stunts, stunt driver), Steve Brown (assistant stunt coordinator), Richie Schwalm (on-set coordinator), JD Schwalm (performance capture special effects coordinator), and Peter Zuccarini (underwater cinematographer).

Also on board are John Garvin (supervising dive master), Kirk Krack (performance free dive instructor), Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis, William Trubridge (Metkayina stroke consultant), Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Luke Freeborn (supervising art director), Ben Procter (production designer), and Brigitte Yorke (co-producer, New Zealand unit production manager).

Brendan Cowell, John Garvin (supervising dive master), Jack Champion, Joe Letteri (senior visual effects supervisor), Eric Saindon (Wētā FX, senior visual effects supervisor), and Nick Epstein (Wētā FX, visual effects supervisor) round out the talent list. Mob Scene served as the production company for the documentary.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is set to hit theaters on December 19, 2025. While the film has not yet been rated, Avatar: The Way of Water was rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity, and some strong language.