Avatar’s Planned Timeline Teases A New Main Character Replacing Jake Sully In Avatar 4

The Avatar film series is far from over, but with three more sequels planned, it’s unlikely that every character, like Jake Sully, will appear in every project. With two unbelievably successful movies under its belt, the Walt Disney Company is going to continue to milk the Avatar franchise for all it’s worth, and director James Cameron has signed on to helm the next three films. Following the release of Avatar: The Way of Water in December 2022, production is underway on the sequels, and Cameron is already teasing what the third and fourth movie’s plots will entail.

The sequel was set 16 years following the events of the first film, with Jake fully established in his role as the chief of the Omatikaya clan. Jake and Neytiri had started a family — two sons, Neteyam and Lo’ak, and two daughters, Tuk and Kiri. They are forced to retreat to the Metkayina clan’s home in Pandora’s eastern sea after the Resources Development Administration (RDA) tries to colonize the moon. During Avatar: The Way of Water‘s ending, Neteyam dies from a bullet wound, and Jake almost kills Colonel Miles Quaritch. Given its conclusion, Jake will return in Avatar 3, but Cameron’s recent comments suggest that might be his last film as the lead character.

Avatar 3 & 4 Will Have A Big Time Jump, According To James Cameron

During an interview with People in December 2023, James Cameron gave an update on the progress of Avatar 3 and Avatar 4 (their official names have yet to be disclosed). The director revealed that the third film is “right on track” for its 2025 premiere date since the cast and crew had already wrapped filming and had even begun shooting some parts in the fourth movie. But while explaining how production had already somewhat started on Avatar 4, Cameron shared that there is going to be a big time jump between the third and fourth installments. He said:

“We did the capture on three and the live-action photography on three as an intermingled production with [Avatar: The Way of Water], and we even did part of movie four because our young characters are all going to have a big time jump in movie four. We see them, and then we go away for six years and we come back. And so the part where we come back is the part we haven’t shot yet. So we’ll start on that after three is released.”

So, Avatar 4 will have a time jump of six years, meaning that Jake and Neytiri’s children — Lo’ak, Tuk, and Kiri — will likely be played by other actors when the story jumps forward (except for Kiri). Lo’ak and Kiri are 14 years old in Avatar: The Way of Water, while Tuk is only eight. So, it sounds as if the fourth movie will open with Lo’ak, Tuk, and Kiri at the same ages they are in the third installment, and then they will age six years following the time jump.

Avatar 4’s Timeline Means Jake Sully May Not Remain The Main Character

James Cameron’s brief description of the timeline in the fourth Avatar film suggests that Sam Worthington as Jake Sully will not be the main character in the upcoming sequel. It sounds as if Jake and Neytiri’s children could take over as the leads following whatever happens in Avatar 3 since the fourth movie will begin with them at the same ages they were in the third film before a six-year time jump. Lo’ak, Tuk, and Kiri will be older and more mature, meaning their stories will likely mature with them. Honestly, it would be repetitive if Jake was the lead throughout the franchise, and Avatar 4 might be the time to shake up the characters’ roles.

Avatar: The Way Of Water Already Set Up Jake’s Replacement

If any of Jake’s children were to replace him as the main character in the Avatar franchise, it would probably be Lo’ak. The 14-year-old’s story in Avatar: The Way of Water paralleled Jake’s development in the first film, suggesting that James Cameron could be preparing for Lo’ak to take over as the face of the final movies. Of course, the series includes multiple candidates for Jake’s replacement following the first sequel. But Lo’ak seems like the most likely choice, partly because he is the one who most closely resembles his father.

The second film features Lo’ak fully integrating himself into the Metkayina clan, earning their trust, and fighting alongside them in the battle against the RDA. Lo’ak’s journey completely mirrors Jake’s origin story. During the first movie, Jake became familiar with the Na’vi in his avatar form, sided with them during the war with the RDA, and made it his home by the ending. Depending on what happens in the third installment, Lo’ak could easily replace Jake as the star of the Avatar franchise by the time the fourth film premieres, but only time will tell what Cameron has up his sleeve.

Source: People