Three Concepts, One Choice: Miley Cyrus's Journey to the 'Avatar 3' Theme Song

Miley Cyrus recently shed light on the intricate creative process required to land the final song for James Cameron’s highly anticipated film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, scheduled for release on December 19, 2025. It was far from a simple commission; the endeavor evolved into a genuine artistic exploration. Cyrus presented three distinct musical concepts, effectively testing different emotional keys against the film’s narrative until one melody resonated perfectly with its core spirit.

The very first iteration emerged almost spontaneously—the track titled “Dream as One.” This song was co-written with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, inspired directly after Cameron provided them with the film’s guiding title. For Cyrus, the song carried significant personal weight, deeply connecting to themes of resilience and internal reformation. She described it as capturing that state where something within you might burn away, yet instead of vanishing, you manage to reconstruct yourself anew.

Following this initial effort, two further attempts were made. While both were sincere and musically sound, they ultimately missed the mark. This situation highlights a key aspect of major cinematic productions: sometimes the most effective path forward isn't complication, but rather returning to the foundational idea, albeit viewed through a changed perspective. The team revisited “Dream as One,” and the consensus quickly became clear: this original concept provided the strongest emotional anchor for the film’s conclusion.

The finalized version of the song benefited from the involvement of the franchise’s established composer, Simon Franglen, who is credited as a co-author. “Dream as One” is featured prominently over the closing credits, serving as a gentle demarcation point—a soft conclusion to an epic story while simultaneously signaling the opening of the next chapter. The single premiered on November 14, 2025, followed by the digital soundtrack release on December 5, 2025, a date moved up from its initial December 12 announcement.

The industry has already acknowledged the song’s impact: “Dream as One” secured a nomination for the 2026 Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Original Song. The nominations were revealed on December 8, 2025, with the awards ceremony set for January 11, 2026. This marks Cyrus’s third Golden Globe nomination, serving as powerful validation that her vocal contributions can achieve significant cinematic precision beyond standard pop culture relevance.

Cyrus’s proactive approach to joining the project is equally noteworthy. She shared that during the Disney D23 Expo in August 2024, she personally approached Cameron to offer her songwriting services. She prefers to actively create opportunities rather than passively await formal invitations.

What thematic depth did this song bring to the world of Pandora? At its heart, the lyrics address the simple yet profound desire for unity, regardless of obstacles. It speaks to the possibility of achieving synchronous feeling, breathing, and hope once more, even after enduring fire, loss, and an arduous journey.

The film’s ending is not about outright victory or finality. Instead, it emphasizes connection—the moment individual voices cease their conflict and merge into a chorus. This harmony isn't achieved through uniformity, but through mutual understanding and active listening.

Ultimately, this track infused the film’s universe with a crucial message: the world is interconnected. Even within the vastness of the cosmos, we possess the capacity for “dreaming as one”—maintaining individual identity while simultaneously discovering shared purpose.

As Carl Sagan famously stated, “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”