Avatar: Fire and Ashintroduces a brand-new clan to the world of Pandora, andthey are a Na’vi culture that is distinct from anything the franchise has yet shown.Following the introduction of the Omatikaya inAvatarand theMetkayina inAvatar: The Way of Water,Fire and Ashwill debut something much darker.
TheAvatarfranchise is enormous, and there is reason to believe thatFire and Ashcould be the highest-grossing movieof 2025.Introducing a new side of Pandora promises to bring great visual flavor to the franchise,showing off a different color palette and a surprisingly darker tone.
James Cameron’s focus in the first twoAvatarmovies has been the conflict between the Na’vi and the humans.In the new film, however, he looks to explore this in a different way. Thevillain forAvatar 3promises a unique conflict between the many complex characters, which should contribute to an exciting time at the movies.
What The Ash People Look Like In Avatar: Fire And Ash
The Mangkwan Clan Has An Affinity For Fire
The Mangkwan clan, otherwise known as the Ash People, will be introduced inAvatar: Fire and Ash.While still clearly Na’vi,they have taken up an unusual lifestyle on the planet of Pandora that is largely disconnected from nature and creation. This has changed how some of them appear.
Their skin has a grayer gloss to it than the forest- or sea-dwelling Na’vi seen in the first two films, but is still notably blue. Most importantly,the new characters have outfitted themselves in unique garb, including bright red warpaint.This design speaks to the violent, survivalist culture of the characters.
The new movie will also introduce another clan, the Tlailim, also known as the Windtraders
This design, as well as a thinner look to the characters, emphasizes their differences.They are an outcast clan, who have strayed from Eywa’s light. This is also reflected in their culture, which shows some clan members wearing unusual outfits, including what appear to be ceremonial bags over their heads.
Varang Is The Leader Of The Ash People In Avatar: Fire And Ash
The New Villain Will Be Played By Oona Chaplin
Varang will lead the Ash People inFire and Ash, and her character is already shown to be a violent and bitter Na’vi.She revels in battle and speaks out against Eywa directly.Her terrifying design looks to set up an incredible conflict for the heroes of the film to face.
Varang is set to be a complex villain, buther motivations will come from an understandable place.Cameron spoke toEmpireearlier this year about Varang, emphasizing her differences from what had been seen in the characters from the previous films:
Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship… She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil.
Rather than continuing to focus on the mostly black and white relationship between humans and Na’vi, Cameron wanted to examine other moral outlooks.Varang’s motivations may be at odds with the heroes of the film, but they are not evil to herselfor to her people. Everything she does is in service to a greater ideal.
Why Quaritch Is Working With The Fire Na’vi
The Villain Of The First Two Films Needs Allies
Quaritch is one of the most compelling characters in theAvatarfranchise, and while there is hope for areunion between Quaritch and Spiderin the new film, the villain’s path will be more complex than that. Having become disconnected from the RDA, and certainly still in conflict with Jake Sully,Quaritch has aligned himself with the Mangkwan clan.
The trailer forFire and Ashsees Quaritch approaching to surrender himself to the Ash People, then shows him covered in their warpaint.It appears that Quaritch has set out with the intent of joining them.
Quaritch still has hatred for Jake Sully, butafter his failed mission inThe Way of Water, he will likely be cast aside by the RDA. While some of the Recombinant Marines will likely fight alongside him, he will need new allies. Whatever conflict arises between Varang and Jake Sully, Quaritch will use it to his benefit.
Can The Ash People Control Fire In Avatar 3?
The Extent Of Their Ability Remains To Be Seen
The trailer forFire and Ashshows one of the Na’vi manipulating fire with his hand, but the extent of this ability remains to be seen.The Na’vi are not mystical beings with magical powers, but they have adapted to their environments.This helps the Metkayina to breathe longer underwater, while the Omatikaya are much better at traversing forestry.
What is likely the case is thatthe skin of the ash people is thicker and more resistant to heat, and that they have figured out oils and other items with which they can manipulate the use of fire more effectively.
Fire is a weapon that they use regularly, on their arrows and the like, and is an important part of their culture. It is a force of destruction that aligns with their disconnected outlook, which is why it is so important that they are able to use it effectively.
More details about the Ash People inAvatar: Fire and Ashwill surely follow. The characters are among the most important new additions to the world of Pandora in the film, andtheir impact may even go beyond the first, intoAvatar 4and5.It is necessary to understand their people.
