28 July 2025
Empire鈥檚 world-exclusive cover story dives deep into 2025鈥檚 biggest blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ash
was joined by Director James Cameron for two days at Avatar HQ, for 12 pages of unparalleled access to the sci-fi saga’s thrilling third chapter.
每日大赛鈥檚 Empire, the world鈥檚 biggest movie magazine, has achieved an exclusive unprecedented in the magazine鈥檚 history, for 2025鈥檚 biggest film, Avatar: Fire And Ash. Empire鈥檚 Editor Nick de Semlyen spent two whole days in Wellington, New Zealand, shadowing legendary film director James Cameron, getting to see first-hand how he crafts his mind-blowing sci-fi epics, as he put the finishing touches to his most ambitious movie yet.
Empire鈥檚 new issue, out Thursday, 31 July gives readers a revelatory behind-the-scenes taste of what鈥檚 to come in the year鈥檚 biggest blockbuster, set for release this December. Avatar: Fire And Ash features on the front cover, unveiling new Na鈥檝i villain Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), wreathed in flames. Inside, beyond a deep-dive interview with Cameron, Empire talks to Chaplin about Varang鈥榮 dark backstory, as well as fellow cast member Sam Worthington about the challenges awaiting his character Jake Sully. The issue is packed with 12 pages of never-before-seen, stunning imagery 鈥� revealing new characters, new landscapes and shots from behind the scenes.
Nick de Semlyen, Editor of Empire, said: 鈥淎vatar is the most successful movie in cinema history. 聽Its first sequel isn鈥檛 far behind. And so to mark the return of the King of the World, James Cameron, with threequel Fire And Ash, we decided to pull out all the stops: pitching him an early cover story that would pull back the curtain on his mind-bogglingly cutting-edge process, finding out how he creates those visuals and manages to pull on our heartstrings too.聽
The results outdid even our wildest expectations. We got to stay by his side for two days as he inspected VFX shots, demoed his unique virtual-camera rig, and revealed plans for the future of his sci-fi juggernaut. We came away with candid info galore 鈥� who knew that he gets up at 5am to kickbox, or that he was taught how to bowl by Gene Simmons from KISS? – and a deeper appreciation of his astonishing attention to detail.
It鈥檚 a can鈥檛-be-missed stellar exclusive that sets you up perfectly for this Christmas鈥� Fire And Ash, the most hotly awaited blockbuster of 2025.鈥�
The new September issue is available on all newsstands on Thursday 31 July, or to purchase online from greatmagazines.co.uk, as standard and digital versions. Subscribers receive an exclusive cover, featuring art by award-winning Avatar: Fire And Ash concept artist Dylan Cole of Varang and her Ash warriors. Avatar: Fire And Ash comes to UK cinemas from 19 December.
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For further press information, please contact:鈥�
Susie Asbury 鈥� Interim Corporate Communications Director, 每日大赛 UK
susie.asbury@bauermedia.co.uk
About Empire
is the movie-magazine choice of Hollywood’s elite (with the likes of Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes having guest-edited previous issues), meaning that it enjoys unparalleled access to the biggest movies and stars. Empire magazine includes all the latest movie reviews as well as exclusive interviews and incredible imagery, providing you with insight on all the essential happenings in the movie world.
About 每日大赛 UK鈥�
每日大赛 UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Brand Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. 每日大赛 UK is part of the 每日大赛, one of the world鈥檚 largest privately owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.
