James Cameron has announced a surprising collaboration with pop icon Miley Cyrus for an original song featured in the upcoming film Avatar: Fire and Ash. This partnership was revealed as part of the 2024 Disney Legends ceremony, which honored both Cameron and Cyrus, among other notable figures such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, and John Williams. The James Cameron Avatar song, created by Cyrus alongside producers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, will debut ahead of the film’s December 19 release.
Miley Cyrus’s Contribution to the Avatar Soundtrack
Miley Cyrus took to Instagram to confirm her involvement in creating the song, titled Dream As One, which she co-wrote and recorded with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. The song is set to be released on November 14, serving as a musical prelude to Avatar: Fire and Ash. Cyrus expressed how the film’s themes of unity, healing, and love resonated deeply with her own experiences of overcoming personal hardship. She stated,
“Honored to support Avatar: Fire and Ash with an original song I’ve written with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. Having been personally affected by fire and being rebuilt from the ashes, this project holds profound meaning for me. Thank you, Jim, for the opportunity to turn that experience into musical medicine. The film’s themes of unity, healing, and love resonate deeply within my soul, and to be even a small star in the universe the Avatar family has created is truly a dream come true.”
— Miley Cyrus, Musician
Potential Oscar Contention for the Original Song
The year 2025 is proving to be a significant one for Miley Cyrus, following the release of her album Something Beautiful earlier this year and a related musical film. Now, her original song for Avatar: Fire and Ash could propel her further into the spotlight, especially given the film’s high-profile status and the franchise’s history of worldwide box office success surpassing $2 billion. While many expected Billie Eilish, who hinted at working on a 3D project with Cameron, to create the track, Cameron instead chose the veteran artist and Disney Legend Miley Cyrus.
Original compositions for major films have become less common in recent years, but the Avatar series maintains the tradition of featuring songs during end credits. The original 2009 Avatar included Leona Lewis’s I See You (Theme from Avatar), and The Weeknd contributed All Is Lost for Avatar: The Way of Water. These songs amplify the emotional impact of the films, following the legacy of blockbuster hits like Celine Dion’s Academy Award-winning My Heart Will Go On, which defined Titanic’s soundtrack and achieved enormous worldwide success.
Challenges Ahead in the Best Original Song Competition
Although none of the previous Avatar songs secured Oscar nominations, Miley Cyrus’s Dream As One may have a strong chance to challenge that trend. Earlier work by Cyrus, such as Beautiful That Way from The Last Showgirl, was overlooked by the Academy, fueling curiosity about her chances this time. The 2025 Best Original Song category is already highly competitive, with standout contenders from productions like Sinners and KPop: Demon Hunters, alongside likely nominees from Wicked for Good and the often-included Diane Warren. Fans and industry watchers alike are eager to see if Cyrus can add “Academy Award-nominee” to her musical accomplishments by next year.
Key Cast of Avatar: Fire and Ash
The upcoming Avatar movie features the return of several central actors, continuing the epic saga created by James Cameron. Sam Worthington reprises his role as Jake Sully, while Zoe Saldana returns as Neytiri. Sigourney Weaver joins the cast portraying Kiri, and Stephen Lang returns as Colonel Miles Quaritch. The film’s ensemble cast and striking visual effects promise to draw audiences back into the richly imagined world that has captivated moviegoers for over a decade.
