Avatar 4 Star Breaks Down the Epic Time Jump That Changes Everything

Well, if you thought Pandora was already a pretty wild place, it sounds like Avatar 4 is about to shake things up in a big way. One of the younger cast members, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (she plays Tuk), just spilled a few details that honestly make the next sequel sound anything but predictable. If you’re wondering when you’ll get to see it, you’ll have plenty of time to speculate—this thing doesn’t hit theaters until December 21, 2029.

Actual Time Travel (Sort Of)

Here’s the gist: according to Bliss, Avatar 4 is going for a major time jump. Not just a few months later, but a leap that essentially pops the story—and the characters—into an entirely new era of Pandora. If you were hoping for more of the same old bioluminescent forests, apparently, that’s not the plan. This means new parts of Pandora, new situations, and likely some characters who’ve grown up quite a bit since we saw them last.

Quoting Bliss herself:

'We filmed like a first little section of it, and that’s before this epic time jump, which is gonna really expand this story—from the character’s plans, ecosystems of Pandora, and it’s like...'

Basically, what’s already been filmed covers only the set-up, before the big leap forward. The rest? That’ll come later, and apparently that’s where the real expansion happens in both story and world-building.

Pandora: Still Mostly Unexplored

If you thought three films was enough to see every corner of Pandora, think again. Bliss says the films so far 'barely touched the tip of the iceberg' when it comes to both the planet and its people (or Na’vi, if you want to be specific). So expect a lot more deep-diving into the lore, probably with a few surprise settings.

Long Shoots and Growing Up With the Movie

Here’s a weird little behind-the-scenes detail: because of Avatar’s famously slow production schedule, some of these kids are literally growing up between shoots. Bliss started filming at age nine; now she’s sixteen. She even said:

'Actually, even though I was nine, because it was a time jump type thing… I am now sixteen. Isn’t that kind of insane?'

Not your typical shoot. Most actors don’t end up aging alongside their on-screen counterparts unless they’re in something like Boyhood.

So, What (and When) Can You Expect?

• Only a small chunk of Avatar 4 has been filmed so far, all before the time jump.
• That 'epic' time jump will kick the story into a new gear—think new settings, new developments, and older versions of the characters we've come to know.
• This is supposed to reveal even more of Pandora and, if we're lucky, some new conflicts (because let's face it, peaceful giant blue cat people don't make for a blockbuster every time).
• Don’t hold your breath—Avatar 4 aims for December 21, 2029. If you’re an optimist, Avatar 5 is following on December 19, 2031.

In summary: If you’re still on board for the Avatar ride, there’s finally something new on the way. Just expect a bigger, older, and maybe even weirder Pandora—whenever James Cameron actually wraps it all up.