Though completely unrelated to the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, James Cameron’s expansive Avatar saga appears to be exploring elemental themes in a similar fashion. The initial film saw Jake Sully (portrayed by Sam Worthington), a former Marine, take to the skies of Pandora. Then, Avatar: The Way of Water immersed him and his family in the planet’s vast oceans. Now, the conflict intensifies in the upcoming installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash.
A sneak peek at Avatar: Fire and Ash, scheduled for a December release, debuted exclusively before showings of Fantastic Four: First Steps over the weekend and then arrived online on Monday. The trailer showcased Cameron’s signature visual brilliance, revisiting key moments from previous films, including breathtaking aerial sequences above Pandora and scenes from its underwater world. We also catch glimpses of Payakan, the whale-like creature who captivated audiences in Avatar: The Way of Water, alongside other captivating new creatures that function as airships.
However, the primary focus shifts to the Ash clan, who seem hesitant to align themselves with Jake and his Na’vi spouse, Neytiri (played by Zoe Saldana). The trailer provides a first look at Varang (Oona Chaplin), their leader, issuing a warning to Jake and Neytiri’s adopted daughter, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver): “your goddess has no dominion here.” This statement alludes to Kiri’s exceptional connection to Eywa, the Great Mother, enabling her to communicate with Pandora’s diverse animal life.
Varang will likely pose a significant threat to Spider (Jack Champion), Jake and Neytiri’s adopted human son, who is shown in distress in the promotional footage. Although he resides amongst the Na’vi, Spider struggles to breathe unaided on Pandora. He must also confront his biological father, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who Neytiri killed in the original film. Quaritch has returned in a Na’vi avatar, fueled by vengeance, and seemingly joining forces with Varang, evidenced by his body adorned in the same striking red war paint.
Avatar: Fire and Ash is slated for theatrical release on December 19th.