James Cameron is eager to explore new narratives beyond Avatar.

James Cameron might be ready to take a break from his iconic blue aliens. In a recent chat, the legendary director revealed that after spending 21 years on the Avatar series, he’s now exploring new narratives, asking himself, “What other stories do I want to tell?”

Cameron is contemplating which projects he wants to direct, write, or produce next. He’s been focusing on the question of “What will do the most good?” and how his work can positively impact the world for future generations. He emphasized the importance of not being overly preachy with themes and messaging, noting that a film’s success hinges on its characters. While he hasn’t settled on his next venture, he mentioned he’s in a transitional phase, figuring out the final chapter of his career.

Following the release of last year’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron hinted that the previously planned fourth and fifth installments of the Avatar saga might not be certain. Although Fire and Ash recently streamed after raking in an impressive $1.4 billion at the box office, it fell short compared to the first Avatar’s $2.7 billion and the second’s $2.4 billion. Cameron pointed out that the main issue is the high cost and lengthy production time of these films. He aims to cut the production time in half and reduce costs by a third, stating it could take up to a year to figure out how to achieve that.

At 71, Cameron hasn’t directed a non-Avatar film since the groundbreaking Titanic in 1997. His earlier works include the first two Terminator films, Aliens, The Abyss, and True Lies. While the Avatar franchise has generated billions, many fans have long hoped to see Cameron apply his blockbuster expertise to new projects. Although it’s unclear if his next film will be tied to Avatar, the combination of high production costs and his evolving priorities suggests a shift may be on the horizon.

The latest installment featuring the blue characters will be available on Disney Plus in two weeks.