The trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash hints that a real human villain is returning. Since the ending of Avatar: The Way of Water, audiences have been eagerly anticipating the next installment in James Cameron’s epic saga. Finally, almost three years later, the first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash has been released.
The reaction to Avatar 3‘s trailer has been predictably big, with many looking forward to the next cinematic event in the $5.2 billion franchise. Fire and Ash is only the first of several upcoming Avatar sequels that will continue to chronicle the clash between the humans of Earth and the Na’vi natives of Pandora.
This time around, a rogue Na’vi tribe, led by Varang, will also be involved in the story. Additionally, the film will delve into the ongoing battle between Jake Sully and Miles Quaritch, as the latter seeks to wipe out the former’s family. Beyond all of these promises, though, Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s trailer teases the return of another human villain.
Varang & Quaritch Won’t Be Avatar 3’s Only Villains
A Minor Way Of Water Character Could Return In A Big Way
Many are naturally talking about Varang as Avatar 3‘s new villain, and the excitement to see Quaritch’s return stems from the effectiveness of his vendetta in Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water. However, the brief sH๏τ of Jake Sully in human custody in Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s trailer seems to indicate that a minor character from its predecessor is returning.
The character in question is Edie Falco’s General Frances Ardmore, the commander of military operations on Pandora from Avatar: The Way of Water. Naturally, the potential Na’vi civil war with Varang and Quaritch’s vendetta will be a big part of Avatar: Fire and Ash, but Jake’s implied incarceration promises they will not be the film’s only villains.
Why exactly Jake is in custody in Avatar: Fire and Ash remains to be seen, but, logically, he would answer to Ardmore in this scenario. Ardmore and her higher-ups want to colonize Pandora as Earth is dying, so it also makes sense that she would want to dispose of Sully and his Na’vi resistance if Quaritch failed to do so.
Ardmore can be presented as the real human villain of Avatar: Fire and Ash…
All of this indicates that there is more to Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s story. If the prior two Avatar films can be described as anything, it is long. Avatar: Fire and Ash will likely continue this by including several subplots away from Varang and Quaritch, be it the continued exploits of Jake Sully’s children or, as theorized, the return of Ardmore.
As the leader of the human exodus to Pandora, Ardmore can be presented as the real human villain of Avatar: Fire and Ash. The trailer hints that Quaritch is allying himself with Varang as a means to an end, but this could indicate him further embedding himself with Pandora’s natives, allowing Ardmore to be the true human antagonist of Avatar: Fire and Ash.