James Cameron Clarifies Michelle Yeoh’s Role: She Won’t Appear in ‘Avatar 3,’ but Will Join ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘5’

Michelle Yeoh’s anticipated role in the “Avatar” franchise will be postponed. James Cameron, the director of the series, has announced that Yeoh’s character, Dr. Karina Mogue, will not feature in the upcoming “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Instead, Yeoh will make her debut in the fourth and fifth installments of the franchise.

At Disney’s D23 convention, Cameron clarified the situation, stating, “Michelle Yeoh won’t be in 3. She’s in 4 and 5,” addressing some earlier misconceptions. Back in 2021, the late producer Jon Landau had shared an image of Yeoh on the set of the third film, leading to confusion about her involvement in that entry.

Cameron explained to Entertainment Weekly that Yeoh’s scenes will be introduced later, noting, “She will be coming in soon to do her part, which is an interesting, fun character.”

The director elaborated that the extensive planning for the series began years ago, with scripts completed well in advance, and some parts of the fourth film were shot concurrently with “Avatar: The Way of Water” due to the young cast’s aging.

Cameron expressed admiration for Yeoh, highlighting her rise to prominence and looking forward to her participation in future films. During the D23 expo on August 9, Cameron, along with stars Zoe Saldaña and Sam Worthington, revealed the title for the third film and shared concept art.

Cameron promised that “Avatar: Fire and Ash” will explore new aspects of Pandora and deliver a visually stunning and emotionally charged experience. The film is scheduled for release on December 19, 2025, with sequels planned for December 21, 2029, and December 19, 2031.