20th Century Studios has released the first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in James Cameron’s sci-fi franchise. The film is set to premiere exclusively in theaters on December 19, 2025.
The trailer introduces a new Na’vi clan known as the Mangkwan, or Ash People, a tribe that resides among volcanic terrain and appears to possess the ability to control fire. The Ash People, led by a new character named Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), are portrayed as hostile toward the film’s central family and seem to align with returning antagonist Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).
The story continues the saga of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) as they seek new allies in the face of rising threats. Returning characters include Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), Spider (Jack Champion), and members of the aquatic Metkayina clan introduced in Avatar: The Way of Water. The footage shows the Sully family joining forces with the Metkayina to confront the growing power of the Ash People.
According to Cameron, the film explores “more challenging emotional territory” and expands the scope of Pandora by highlighting internal conflicts between Na’vi clans. The trailer ends with Varang confronting Kiri, saying, “Your goddess has no dominion here,” marking a shift toward darker ideological themes in the series.
Avatar: Fire and Ash follows the box office success of The Way of Water, which earned over $2.3 billion globally. The Avatar franchise has collectively grossed more than $5.2 billion to date.
