The trailer, released on 28/7, takes viewers back to Pandora. Former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), his Na'vi warrior wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and their children defend their home from new conflicts.
Continuing the story from Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), the relationship between Reya (Bailey Bass) of the aquatic Metkayina clan and Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) deepens, worrying clan leaders Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) and Ronal (Kate Winslet). They fear the ongoing conflict will again engulf Jake Sully's family.
The death of their eldest son, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), creates a rift in the family. Lo'ak clashes with his father, while Neytiri is consumed by grief and vengeance. Meanwhile, Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang), thought defeated, returns with an advanced army, seeking revenge against Jake Sully.
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Varang, leader of the Ash People, makes her debut in the third installment. Photo: Disney |
The trailer also introduces the Ash People, a fire-worshipping clan. Their leader, Varang (Oona Chaplin), wields a power that threatens to burn down Pandora's forests. The Sully family must join forces with the Metkayina to confront Varang and her fiery army. Previously, Varang allied with Quaritch, forming a powerful threat to Pandora's future.
Beyond the narrative, the trailer showcases Pandora's diverse ecosystems, from forests and oceans to volcanoes. New creatures, like giant jellyfish, further highlight the planet's rich biodiversity.
In a 2024 interview at Disney's D23 event, Cameron explained the film's title, "Fire and Ash." "Fire" symbolizes hatred, anger, and violence, while "ash" represents the inevitable outcome: grief and loss. Cameron emphasized that the third installment delves into the violence and conflicts among the tribes, creating a seemingly endless cycle.
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Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) in "Avatar 3." Photo: Disney |
According to the director, the new film prioritizes story and character development over visual effects and VFX technology. In GQ magazine, he stated, "Audiences will see new cultures and creatures, as they expect from Avatar. However, the core idea of the series is the Na'vi. There will also be new characters appearing, from part three to four and finally five. The entire story is epic in scope."
Released in 2009, Avatar surpassed Titanic to become the highest-grossing film of all time. It revolutionized 3D technology on the big screen. For 13 years, Cameron didn't direct any other films, dedicating his time to researching technology and developing scripts for the sequels.
Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver co-wrote The Way of Water and Fire and Ash. Initially conceived as one project, Cameron decided to split the story into two parts due to its richness. The fourth installment is scheduled for release on 21/12/2029, with the final chapter, Avatar 5, slated for 19/12/2031.
Que Chi (adapted from Variety)