Avatar Finally Plans to Tell the 16-Year-Old Story Fans Have Been Asking For

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Fans have been transfixed by the immersive world of Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water's sprawling story of Jake Sully and the Na'vi. But one question has racked their brains ever since the latter's 2022 release: what happened in the unseen years between the two James Cameron films? Well, it looks like those answers are finally on their way.

Per an official press release, the Avatar franchise will reveal the truth in Avatar: The Gap Year—Tipping Point, a new comic book series from Dark Horse Comics. The limited six-issue series promises to "bridge the narrative between Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water," unveil "new villains facing down familiar heroes," and, in turn, crowd-please an eager fan base.

New Avatar Project Will Fill In 'The Gap Year'

Press Release Promises Story Will "Bridge The Narrative"

More than a decade passed between Avatar (2009) and The Way of Water (2022), both in the real world and the story itself. The original film is set in 2154, with the sequel jumping forward roughly 15 years to 2169–2170. While allusions, characters, and some story bits emerged about interim events, the vast majority remained in uncharted territory before the Avatar: The Gap Year—Tipping Point announcement.

• Year of Avatar (2009):
  • Canonically set in 2154.
  • Jake Sully transfers his consciousness into his avatar body permanently.
  • The Omaticaya defeat the RDA and force their retreat from Pandora.
• Time skip before The Way of Water:
  • Sequel takes place approximately in 2168-2170 — a 15–16 year gap in-universe.
  • Confirmed by the High Ground prequel comic, which takes place in 2168 and leads directly into the film.
  • Real-world release gap: 13 years (2009–2022).
• What’s changed by The Way of Water:
  • Jake and Neytiri boast a full family, complete with three biological kids (Neteyam, Lo’ak, Tuk), an adopted daughter (Kiri, from Grace’s avatar), and a human boy (Spider, son of Quaritch).
  • The RDA returns to wage war.
  • The Sullys flee the forest and seek refuge with the Metkayina reef clan.

The Avatar world, as much an Academy Award stalwart as it is a fan-favorite, is in good hands with The Gap Year. Written by Ethan Sacks (Star Wars Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker, Marvel’s Old Man Hawkeye), with art and covers by his adventurous creative touch to the Salvatore Porcaro (Dragonero, CCTVYLLE) and (Star Wars Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora–So’lek’s Journey), their collective chops should be able to nail the immersive touches to James Cameron's franchise.

“As a fan of James Cameron and his films ever since the Terminator terrorized my 11-year-old imagination, working on this saga has been one of the great professional honors of my lifetime,” Sacks gushes in the press release, continuing, “That this story is part of the official canon that bridges the gap between Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water makes it all the more special. The result is a labor of love by everyone involved and you’ll feel that passion in every panel and on every page.”

A synopsis of the in-between-quel included in the press release can be found below:

After defending their home of Pandora and sending the RDA packing back to Earth nearly fifteen years ago, the Na’vi returned to their peaceful lives. Former Marine Jake Sully, now accepted as Na’vi himself in an Avatar body, has started a family with Neytiri. Despite more than a decade of peace, Jake knows the RDA isn’t done with Pandora yet. And now he’s proven right as they return in force. With his adopted people and his children at stake, Jake will need to lead the Na’vi into war once again, this time facing more firepower and advanced weapons, with new enemies who have just as much to fight for.

Avatar: The Gap Year—Tipping Point #1 hits comic shelves on October 22, 2025.