The third instalment in the Avatar franchise has generated great anticipation over the last few months, thanks to the concept art released in D23 event in Brazil and the recent poster of the franchise's new antagonist Varang, played by Oona Chaplin.
While it was confirmed that the new film Fire and Ash will have its trailer screened during the release of Marvel’s latest Fantastic Four: First Steps, certain footages have already been leaked online—and going by what social media users are saying, James Cameron seems to have upped the ante through his filmmaking by showing the life and ways of the Ash People clan.
However, the damage seems to have been minimal as copies of the videos are being taken down due to copyright violations as soon as they are posted online. Many users commented on how the trailer looks "incredible". One of them said it "absolutely rips" while another said it was "immaculate and overwhelming". Another user said it will "be the biggest movie of 2025 and epic". They described the video to be a "masterpiece" and hoped the saga will live up to its predecessors.
After showcasing intricate parts of nature in Pandora in the first part (2009), Avatar: Way of Water (2022) shifted its camera to the Metkayina clan and the family learning their ways of living and thriving in the waters. Fire and Ash is set for a global release on December 19, 2025 and revolves around Pandora’s volcanic regions, where Varang’s clan, the Mangkwan, or Ash People, reside.
Fire and Ash will see the return of Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana who are set to reprise their roles. The returning cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco and Dileep Rao. David Thewlis takes on the role of Peylak in Fire and Ash, one of the Na’vi who are Wind Traders, or Tlalim Clan.
Cameron has previously revealed that the new film Fire and Ash will introduce a more antagonistic race of Na’vi. “We’re trying to evolve beyond the ‘all humans are bad, all Na’vi are good’ paradigm,” he said. The new film sees Jake’s family fractured and under siege as the Ash People rebel against the Na’vi’s traditional way of life and spiritual beliefs. The new film will also be longer than The Way of Water.
Avatar 4 is set for December 21, 2029, and Avatar 5 will arrive December 19, 2031.