Avatar: Fire and Ash introduces a brand-new clan to the world of Pandora, and they are a Na’vi culture that is distinct from anything the franchise has yet shown. Following the introduction of the Omatikaya in Avatar and the Metkayina in Avatar: The Way of Water, Fire and Ash will debut something much darker.
The Avatar franchise is enormous, and there is reason to believe that Fire and Ash could be the highest-grossing movie of 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 two Avatar movies 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. The villain for Avatar 3 promises 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 in Avatar: 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 in Fire 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, but her motivations will come from an understandable place. Cameron spoke to Empire earlier 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 herself or 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 the Avatar franchise, and while there is hope for a reunion between Quaritch and Spider in 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 for Fire and Ash sees 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, but after his failed mission in The 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 for Fire and Ash shows 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 that the 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 in Avatar: Fire and Ash will surely follow. The characters are among the most important new additions to the world of Pandora in the film, and their impact may even go beyond the first, into Avatar 4 and 5. It is necessary to understand their people.
