“FIRE AND WATER: MAKING THE AVATAR FILMS” to Premiere Exclusively on Disney+ this November 7!

Image courtesy of Disney+ Philippines

LOS ANGELES — Disney+ has announced a new two-part documentary, "Fire And Water: Making The Avatar Films," set to begin streaming on November 7, 2025! The special presentation will detail the extensive production work that shaped the 2022 blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water and will also provide an early look at the upcoming sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash.

The documentary, produced by Mob Scene, follows the film's creators as they drew inspiration from real-world locations to build the fictional universe of Pandora. The production's cameras traveled from domestic locations like Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Shasta Lake, and the Channel Islands to international settings, including the Bahamas, Hawaii, and New Zealand, capturing the elements that informed the films' world-building.

A primary focus of the documentary is the film's extensive "water work." The special will show how the cast and crew met the challenge of underwater performance capture. Actors underwent intense training to learn free diving, enabling them to perform extended scenes in a custom-built 680,000-gallon tank. The training was designed to make long breath holds and precise body control feel like second nature for the performers.

"Fire And Water" will feature commentary from both the cast and the extensive technical team. On the performance side, viewers will hear from director James Cameron, stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, and Sigourney Weaver, alongside Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, and Jack Champion.

The special also includes interviews with the production and visual effects crews who built the film's world. This "build team" includes producer Jon Landau, visual effects supervisors Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, and Eric Saindon, editor Stephen Rivkin, designers Dylan Cole and Ben Procter, and casting director Margery Simkin. Commentary will also come from specialists like stunt coordinator Garrett Warren, underwater cinematographer Peter Zuccarini, free-diving trainer Kirk Krack, John Garvin, and Nick Epstein, among others from the design, diving, and effects departments.

The documentary itself is directed and produced by Thomas C. Grane, with Richard Brehm serving as writer and producer. James Cameron and Rae Sanchini are executive producers. The creative team for the documentary includes Robert Glowacki, John Clisham on cinematography, Steven Wacks handling sit-down interviews, and Geoff Burdick as a creative advisor.

Fire And Water: Making The Avatar Films will be available to all Disney+ subscribers starting November 7.