Summary
NewAvatar 3photos 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’sAvatarand 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 theAvatarfilms have left little to no cultural footprint. Another common criticism is thatAvatar’s story is derivative of several other projects involving a white (usually male) character who becomes the ‘savior’ of Indigenous people (ex. Dances with Wolves).Avatar 2didn’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.
The new issueEmpireunveiled the latestAvatar3 photo of the Na’vi Ash clan and its figurehead, Varang,played by Oona Chaplin.Avatar 3will 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 soAvatar 3wouldn’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 thatAvatar 3would have more character development, something some moviegoers felt was lacking in the first two films. This and the inclusion of Na’vi’s antagonist suggestAvatar 3is attempting to break the mold established by its predecessors. Fans must wait to see if these efforts succeed, but Cameron has often defied expectations, soAvatar 3may surprise even the franchise’s most cynical critics.
Avatar: Fire and Ashis scheduled to be released in theaters on August 02, 2025.
Avatar
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.
