(Image: 20th Century Studios)
A new still from the third installment of the "Avatar" series, set to be the climactic blockbuster of late 2025, was released today via Empire magazine. The image reveals the first look at the leader of this film's new antagonistic Na'vi clan, the "Ash People." The character, Varang, is portrayed by Oona Chaplin (pictured below), granddaughter of the legendary comedy master Charlie Chaplin.
(Image: Empire)
During the press tour for "Avatar: The Way of Water" three years ago, director James Cameron had already teased that the third film would introduce the fire-aligned Ash People as a major antagonistic force. In his new interview with Empire, Cameron elaborated, explaining that the clan led by Varang has endured incredible hardship, which has forged her into a formidable leader. He stated that Varang will do anything for her people, even things that might be considered evil. Cameron added that one of their goals for this installment is to avoid simplifying the story into a black-and-white conflict, as they are trying to move beyond the formula of "all humans are bad, all Na'vi are good."
Cameron also had high praise for Chaplin's performance, teasing that she portrays a truly threatening villain. He described Varang as a major antagonist who stands in direct opposition to the protagonists, noting that Chaplin brought the character to life in an incredibly real and vivid way.
(Image: Empire)
Cameron promised that the third film is striving for a narrative breakthrough. He acknowledged that while they are beginning to experiment with new ideas, it's a tricky process, and there's a risk audiences might react negatively. However, he stressed that if you don't make bold choices, you're just wasting everyone's time and money. He remarked that while boldness alone doesn't guarantee success, it is a key ingredient, and you have to break the mold every time.
Additionally, Cameron revealed that the production progress on "Avatar 3" is more efficient than it was on "The Way of Water." He noted that they have completed twice the number of post-production shots at this stage compared to the previous film. The runtimes for both movies are expected to be similar, and he mentioned the crew's mastery of the technology has grown, making the process less arduous than on the first two films. "Avatar 3" is scheduled to hit North American theaters on December 19, 2025.