As we enter the next Avatar film, we will also see the rise of a new side of Pandora. A few weeks ago, James Cameron teased Avatar 3 would introduce an antagonistic race of Na’vi, known for wielding the element of fire. Now, producer Jon Landau confirms that news and hints at what the characters will be like.
Speaking to Empire Magazine, Landau said that the group will be known as the Ash People, described by Empire as “an aggressive, volcanic race of Na’vi.” They will follow a leader named Varang, played by Oona Chaplin.
If that name sounds familiar, not only did Oona Chaplin star in Game of Thrones, but she’s also the iconic Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter. Chaplin was cast in Avatar years ago, with Flickering Myth reporting the news in 2017, but this is the first detail about her role in the film. The actress even praised the Avatar movies in 2018, saying she loved that Cameron uses big-budget filmmaking “to explore things that he finds important…like our relationship with nature, our relationship with people, our relationship with ourselves and the spirit.”
During the Empire interview, Landau expresses his feelings on how the Ash People play a role in the overall Na’vi society. “There are good humans, and there are bad humans,” Landau said. “It’s the same thing on the Na’vi side. Oftentimes, people don’t see themselves as bad. What is the root cause of how they evolve into what we perceive as bad? Maybe there are other factors there that we aren’t aware of.”
Also, during his conversation with Empire, Landau revealed that there would be “a big time jump” for Avatar 4, leading into Avatar 5, heading to Earth finally. As we know from The Way of Water, Earth is not in great shape in the Avatar films, but Landau doesn’t want it to feel all doom and gloom. “We don’t want to paint a bleak picture for where our world is going,” the producer notes. “The films are also about the idea that we can change course.”
Avatar: The Way of Water has crossed two billion dollars at the box office, while Avatar 3 is currently in post production ahead of a December 2024 release.
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
Avatar: The Way of Water is directed by James Cameron and sees Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Matt Gerald, Dileep Rao, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, and Sigourney Weaver all reprising their roles from the 2009 blockbuster, while new additions to the cast include Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Filip Geljo, Jamie Flatters, Bailey Bass, Trinity Bliss, Jack Champion, Duane Evans Jr., Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, Keston John, and CJ Jones.
