James Cameron, the visionary filmmaker behind the monumental success of the “Avatar” series, has confirmed that “Avatar: Fire and Ash” serves as the grand finale to this epic saga. Despite hinting at the possibility of expanding the series to seven films, Cameron reveals that the story could conclude decisively with this installment. The film is rich with nods to its predecessors, such as the poignant moment when Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, reconnects with his Toruk from the very first movie. However, keen-eyed viewers might also notice a subtle homage to what many consider Cameron’s magnum opus—1986’s “Aliens.”

While fans won’t find any Xenomorphs lurking in “Avatar 3,” there is a clever tribute to one of the most iconic lines from “Aliens.” During a tense battle scene between the Na’vi and the Sky People, Sigourney Weaver’s character, Kiri, faces off against the formidable Varang, portrayed by Oona Chaplin. Just as Varang appears to have the upper hand over Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldaña, Kiri intervenes with a classic action movie retort: “Leave my mother alone, b****!”

This line is a clear echo of Weaver’s famous moment in “Aliens,” where her character, Ellen Ripley, confronts the Xenomorph Queen to protect her surrogate daughter, Newt. Armed with a power loader, Ripley declares, “Get away from her, you b****!” In “Fire and Ash,” the scene comes full circle, with Weaver transitioning from a protective mother figure to a daughter standing up for her mother, all while wielding that unforgettable term of defiance. It’s a quintessential one-liner that adds a perfect punch to the scene.

Spanning nearly four decades, “Aliens” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” together highlight recurring themes that James Cameron is drawn to explore, particularly the concept of motherhood. In “Aliens,” Ripley awakens 57 years after the events of “Alien,” only to find everyone she knew is gone. Yet, she forges a maternal bond with Newt, ultimately willing to sacrifice herself for her. This fierce devotion is mirrored in the “Avatar” series, where Neytiri is depicted as a warrior fiercely protective of her children, even going so far as to adopt Ronal’s newborn at the conclusion of “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Such powerful themes of family and protection remain central to Cameron’s storytelling.

Nearly 40 years separate “Aliens” with “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” but they make for a fascinating throughline of the ideas James Cameron clearly likes to explore in his work. First and foremost, there’s the idea of motherhood. “Aliens” sees Ripley wake up 57 years after the events of “Alien,” so everyone she knows is dead. But she manages to forge a new mother-like relationship with Newt, and by the end of the film, she’s willing to die to protect her. That fierce motherhood is also paramount in the “Avatar” movies, as Neytiri fights to protect her kids, and she even adopts Ronal’s (Kate Winslet) newborn baby at the end of “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” 

It’s also clear Cameron has maintained a healthy distrust of the corporate world throughout his career. In the “Alien” franchise, there’s Weyland-Yutani, a company that has proven it’s more than comfortable with sacrificing countless human lives to acquire Xenomorphs. Human lives don’t matter if they get in the way of maintaining profit margins. “Avatar” has a similar entity: The Resources Development Administration. It wants to extract any and all natural resources from Pandora, including Amrita inside of Tulkuns. They’re fine killing whales because the fluid can be used to reverse aging, and that’s far more important to a corporate entity than the well-being of sentient creatures. 

The budgets and box office expectations may have changed throughout Cameron’s career, but some things stay consistent. One thing remains true above all else: Cameron’s still the king of the sequels.