James Cameron Returns to Pandora with More Action

James Cameron is showing new sides of the fictional planet Pandora in the latest trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash.

20th Century Studios released a new trailer for the sequel to 2022’s The Way of Water on Thursday, Sept. 24. The footage introduces a new character named Varang (Oona Chaplin) who explains the backstory behind the new group of characters, the Mangkwan Clan, a.k.a. the Ash Clan, who live near an active volcano. The trailer also teases violent conflict between the Ash Clan and the Sully family and hints at a potential alliance between Varang’s clan and Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) as he continues to hunt down the Sully family.

An official synopsis for the movie reads that Cameron, 71, “takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine turned Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family.”

Cameron and Disney originally announced Fire and Ash‘s title at Disney’s D23 fan event on Aug. 9, 2024. The movie arrives three years after 2022’s The Way of Water, which first introduced characters like Kate Winslet‘s Ronal and Cliff Curtis’ Tonowari; both reprise their roles for the new film, as well as Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Edie Falco and Jack Champion. David Thewlis is among newcomers to the series’ cast in the third installment.

Footage shown from the movie at CinemaCon 2025 in April implied that Fire and Ash picks up just moments after The Way of Water ended with the death of Neytiri and Jake’s eldest son Neteyem. In July, Worthington, 49, revealed in an interview that his character Jake and Saldaña’s Neytiri “kind of split, not because they want to, but because they’re just trying to survive within themselves,” as they cope with Neteyam’s death.

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At CinemaCon 2025 in April, Oscar winner Saldaña added that Fire and Ash will also introduce a second new clan called the wind traders, whom she described as “a peaceful, nomadic air-traveling clan.” The wind traders are teased throughout the new trailer in what appear to be large flying apparatus. Back in March, filmmaker Cameron noted that Fire and Ash “will actually be a little bit longer than” The Way of Water, which ran for 3 hours and 12 minutes.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is in theaters Dec. 19.