The Oscars is far too competitive all on its own, and organizers wouldn't be harsh enough to take sequels and franchises off their list of options.
But could James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash be in trouble? Here's what poses a threat to the latest installment.
Is Avatar: Fire and Ash Getting an Oscar? The New Franchise Rule
With Avatar: Fire and Ash about to hit movie theaters in December, there is no doubt that the James Cameron creation is likely to still be in the running Academy Award-winning roster. However, as the third installment fast approaches its release, there have been a few changes to the Academy voters.
The first Avatar movie was rewarded with nine nominations, including Best Picture and Director. The Way of Water resurfaced and still managed to receive four nods for Best Picture and three technical categories, even 13 years later.
Now, considering the advancement of Sony Animation and other forms beyond motion capture, Avatar 3 might be the first downfall of the franchise.
There is no question that James Cameron puts his heart and soul into his works. This generation of voters, however, has grown particularly fond of stories and artistic breakthroughs that don't involve motion capture. So, where does that leave us in seeing Pandora for a third time?
The Academy, in general, refuses to embrace sequels. In Oscar history, there have only been 10 sequels to win the race. There is a high chance that Avatar 3 won't be one of them, especially given the number of films it's up against, including Wicked: For Good, Sinners, and Frankenstein.
Is Avatar: Fire and Ash a Sequel? James Cameron's Defense
Avatar has grown into its own franchise, and with the threequel expanding the world of Pandora, alongside Jake and Neytiri's family, Fire and Ash would typically be considered a sequel to The Way of Water's events.
James Cameron, the creator and director, begs to differ.
"I don't think of Fire and Ash as a sequel. I think it was a culmination of a saga. I like Saga better than Sequel because of where we were going with the story was in the original architecture of the story," Cameron explained (via Gizmodo), "So if you think of this as the third act, I think that's healthier. As opposed to a typical Hollywood sequel, where they make a bunch of money with a movie."
To Cameron, he dove back into Pandora, knowing he had to play a long game, betting that the audience would "come along with us" and "care about these people." It's more than money and fame, it's a Saga he can't bear to part from.
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