Summary
- Avatar 3 will introduce the Ash clan of the Na'vi, led by Varang, adding complexity to the story.
- James Cameron aims to break the black-and-white paradigm in Avatar 3 by introducing an adversarial Na'vi clan.
- Cameron praises Oona Chaplin's performance as Varang and offers insight into the Wind Traders' role in the film.
New Avatar 3 photos give fans an updated look at the enemy Na'vi clan that will be introduced in the upcoming sequel. James Cameron provided insight into the clan and its leader, commenting on why the film features antagonistic Na'vi characters.
Cameron's Avatar and its sequel, The Way of Water, are two of the 3 highest-grossing films of all time. Despite their box office success, some critics contend that the Avatar films have left little to no cultural footprint. Another common criticism is that Avatar's story is derivative of several other projects involving a white (usually male) character who becomes the 'savior' of Indigenous people (ex. D ances with Wolves). Avatar 2 didn't escape this criticism, with many critics arguing the sequel covered many of the same beats as its predecessor. It appears Cameron is trying to shake up the formula with the third film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and he provided insight into his decision.
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The new issue Empire unveiled the latest Avatar 3 photo of the Na'vi Ash clan and its figurehead, Varang, played by Oona Chaplin. Avatar 3 will follow Jake and Neytiri's family as they meet the Ash clan, but this encounter won't be friendly. While speaking to Empire, Cameron gave insight into what motivates Varang. "Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship. She's hardened by that,” Cameron said. “She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil." Cameron explained that the decision to introduce an antagonistic Na'vi clan was so Avatar 3 wouldn't be "black-and-white simplistic," a criticism some have directed toward the first two films. "We’re trying to evolve beyond the ‘all humans are bad, all Na’vi are good’ paradigm," Cameron said.
Cameron also praised Chaplin's performance as Varang, admitting he didn't realize how much she embodied the character until they reviewed the Wētā animation. "She's an enemy, an adversarial character," Cameron said, "but [Chaplin] makes her feel so real and alive." Cameron also sheds light on the Wind Traders, who use Pandorian creatures to carry their vessels through the sky, "They’re nomadic traders, equivalent to the camel caravans of the Spice Road back in the Middle Ages," Cameron explained. "And you know, they’re just fun. Like all Na’vi, they live in a symbiosis with their creatures."
In 2023, Cameron indicated that Avatar 3 would have more character development, something some moviegoers felt was lacking in the first two films. This and the inclusion of Na'vi's antagonist suggest Avatar 3 is attempting to break the mold established by its predecessors. Fans must wait to see if these efforts succeed, but Cameron has often defied expectations, so Avatar 3 may surprise even the franchise's most cynical critics.
Avatar: Fire and Ash is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 19, 2025.
Avatar
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- December 15, 2009
WHERE TO WATCH
Avatar is a sci-fi action/adventure film created by James Cameron and released in 2009. Set in the fictional world of Pandora in the distant future, humans seek a rare mineral found on the planet but find a race of brilliant beings directly in their mining path. To attempt to communicate and work with them, scientists create body replicas called "avatars," one man will change the destiny of both races using an avatar of his own.
- Cast
- Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, Sean Anthony Moran, Jason Whyte, Scott Lawrence, Kelly Kilgour, James Patrick Pitt, Sean Patrick Murphy, Peter Dillon, Kevin Dorman, Kelson Henderson, David Van Horn, Jacob Tomuri, Michael Blain-Rozgay, Jon Curry
- Runtime
- 162 minutes
- Director
- James Cameron
- Sequel(s)
- Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Avatar 4, Avatar 5
- Franchise(s)
- Avatar
- Main Genre
- Action
- Website
- https://www.avatar.com/
- Franchise
- Avatar
- Characters By
- James Cameron
- Sequel
- Avatar: The Way of Water
- Cinematographer
- Mauro Fiore
- Producer
- Jon Landau, James Cameron
- Production Company
- 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners, Dune Entertainment
- Sfx Supervisor
- Joe Letteri
- Budget
- $237 Million
- Studio(s)
- 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners
- Distributor(s)
- 20th Century Fox
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Source: Empire