Los Angeles [US], July 21: The highly anticipated third installment of James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ saga, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ has offered a first glimpse of its new antagonist, Varang, the leader of the formidable ‘Ash clan.’ The character is portrayed by Oona Chaplin.
The reveal came via a post on the official ‘Avatar’ X account, which also confirmed that the first trailer for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ will debut exclusively in theaters, playing before screenings of Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps.’
The caption accompanying Varang’s first look read: “Meet Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Be among the first to watch the trailer, exclusively in theatres this weekend with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” This theatrical-exclusive trailer launch mirrors the strategy used for ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ whose first footage also debuted during a Marvel theatrical run. The trailer will begin screening for fans this Thursday, July 24, with ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ release.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ is slated to hit theaters globally on December 19, 2025. This film will be followed by ‘Avatar 4’ on December 21, 2029, and ‘Avatar 5’ on December 19, 2031, as James Cameron continues his ambitious five-film vision for the franchise.
Earlier in April at CinemaCon, Disney presented the first footage from ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ providing an early look at the next chapter. James Cameron, in a video segment, teased the film’s increased emotional depth and complexity, hinting at a thrilling conclusion to the trilogy. He also revealed that the heroes would face not only human invaders but also new adversaries: the Ash people, a fire-based Na’vi tribe residing near volcanoes, adding a new dimension to Pandora’s diverse environment.
Zoe Saldana, who reprises her role as Neytiri, further elaborated at CinemaCon that “Fire and Ash expands the beautiful world of Pandora and introduces two new clans, the Wind Traders and the Ash People.”
The approximately three-minute footage opened with Neytiri telling Jake, “The strength of the ancestors is here,” before transitioning to a dramatic battle sequence. A notable line from Jake implored Neytiri to “let go of her hatred,” while the footage concluded with a character lamenting, “We cannot defeat this enemy that comes from the stars.”
Cameron has previously stated that ‘Fire and Ash’ will be slightly longer than ‘The Way of Water,’ which had a runtime of 3 hours and 12 minutes. The official description hints at a gripping storyline where Jake and Neytiri’s family confronts grief and encounters the new, aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash People. Cameron has also emphasized that the film will move beyond simplistic “all humans are bad, all Na’vi are good” paradigms, exploring more nuanced morality.
The ‘Avatar’ franchise has consistently broken box office records. The original 2009 film remains the highest-grossing film of all time, with USD 2.9 billion globally, while ‘The Way of Water’ (2022) is the third highest-grossing film, having earned USD 2.3 billion worldwide.
The film boasts an ensemble cast including returning stars Sam Worthington (Jake Sully), Zoe Saldana (Neytiri), Sigourney Weaver (Kiri), Stephen Lang (Colonel Miles Quaritch), Giovanni Ribisi, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Matt Gerald, Kate Winslet (Ronal), Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass, Jemaine Clement, and David Thewlis.