Michelle Yeoh Set to Join Avatar in Future Films, Says James Cameron

If the Avatar saga continues beyond its third installment, fans can expect to see Michelle Yeoh finally enter the world of Pandora.

During a recent interview tied to Avatar: Fire and Ash, franchise creator James Cameron confirmed that the Oscar-winning actress is planned to appear in the fourth and fifth Avatar films — provided the movies are officially greenlit.

“Michelle is definitely going to be in 4, if we make 4,” Cameron said while speaking with Taiwanese outlet TVBS News.

However, Cameron emphasized that the future of the franchise depends heavily on box office performance. According to the director, the film industry is currently struggling, and Avatar 3 came with a massive budget.

“We have to do well in order to continue,” he explained. “We also need to figure out how to make Avatar movies more inexpensively.”

If production moves forward, Cameron revealed that Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 would be filmed together, similar to how Avatar: The Way of Water and Fire and Ash were produced. The two future films would tell “one big story” across both installments.

Cameron also shared new details about Yeoh’s role, confirming she will portray a Na’vi performance-capture character named Paktuelat.

Yeoh has been linked to the Avatar franchise for years. The official Avatar X account announced her casting back in 2019, initially identifying her character as Dr. Karina Mogue. In 2021, producer Jon Landau shared a photo of Yeoh on set while Avatar 3 was in production.

Despite early reports, Cameron later clarified in 2024 that Yeoh would not appear in the third film. Instead, her role was always intended for later installments.

“She will be coming in soon to do her part, which is an interesting, fun character,” Cameron told Entertainment Weekly last year. He also noted that scripts for the franchise were written years ago, all the way through the fifth movie, and that parts of Avatar 4 were filmed early to accommodate the young cast.

Speaking alongside stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, Cameron had nothing but praise for Yeoh.

“We love Michelle,” he said. “She’s blown up into a huge phenomenon. I look forward to working there.”

Yeoh herself has also confirmed her involvement and expressed admiration for Cameron’s work.

“Yes, I am in the Avatar sequels,” she previously told Entertainment Weekly. “But it’s James Cameron! Come on! I would be the tea lady for James Cameron.”

The actress shared that she spent several weeks filming and was deeply impressed by Cameron’s energy and vision. “He’s a genius, a walking genius,” Yeoh said. “I really enjoyed the experience and I can’t wait to go back.”

For now, audiences can catch Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is currently playing in theaters, while waiting to see if Pandora’s story continues — with Michelle Yeoh finally joining the journey.