A new image has been revealed for Avatar: Fire and Ash, giving a closer look at the highly anticipated sequel. The movie comes three years after the release of Avatar: The Way of Water, a film that broke records despite its 13-year gap from the first movie’s release. Now, Avatar 3 is set to hit theaters on December 19.

In this latest James Cameron-helmed work, the Sully family is back to take on a new enemy. After meeting the oceanic Metkayina clan in The Way of Water, they now encounter the Mangkwan clan, aka the Ash People. But this time, the tension builds as the Ash People, led by Varang, are antagonistic to the other Na’vi.

Per Empire, a new image has been revealed for Avatar: Fire and Ash. The image shows a member of the Mangkwan clan attacking one of the threequel’s Wind Traders. The Wind Trader, Peylak (David Thewlis), wields some kind of stick-based weapon in front of him.

Opposite Thewlis’ character is a member of the Mangkwan, holding what seems to be an even bigger stick. This whole battle is taking place in the skies, with a peak at the Pandoran landscape below visible. Check out the image below:

What This Means For Avatar: Fire And Ash

In addition to the release of the new image, the source revealed that these scenes used a fair amount of practical effects. Despite using largely CGI environments, the Avatar 3 team worked with real fire, for instance. Second unit director Garrett Warren said that the team “want[s] people to feel the heat,” in a statement fully realized below:

“We want people to feel the heat. [This sequence is] a cross between a pirate-ship [invasion] and an air-to-air combat battle, with the ikran, the flying creatures that move through the air, like fighter jets”.“[Second Unit Stunt Coordinator] Steve [Brown] basically had to jump off a moving bird the same way the Ash Warriors do. There were a couple of good faceplants. This is Jim Cameron, you know? We’re not doing stuff for fake.”

This image and the accompanying statement captures a lot of what is exciting about Avatar: Fire and Ash. Though it is hard to top the technological feats already present in the first two movies, the team is pushing things even further by adding new elements — literally — to the scenery. The combination of practical and computer effects will be a big selling point.

The movie will also keep things fresh by including new types of Na’vi people that have not previously been seen in the other movies. The characters on screen in this sH๏τ have not been featured in previous movies. Their feature here showcases how Avatar: Fire and Ash will extend beyond just the Sully family.

Our Take On The New Avatar: Fire And Ash Image

Avatar: Fire and Ash presents an exciting opportunity to expand upon what were already two very impressive first movies. While the fire will still certainly be digitally enhanced in some way, it will be interesting to see how the practical effects work their way in.

It will also be a great opportunity to explore the skies of Pandora, with their brilliant colors and exquisite clouds. The first movie took place largely in the forest, and the second film is in the water. Now, Cameron and his crew will take to the skies in what is sure to be a great film with Avatar: Fire and Ash.