MOVIE NEWS – Avatar: Fire and Ash introduces a new Na’vi leader whose anger is born from personal loss and threatens to change the Sully family forever.

Avatar: Fire and Ash returns audiences to Pandora this holiday season as the third chapter of James Cameron’s blockbuster saga. The film reunites viewers with the Sully family as they struggle to cope with a devastating loss, placing grief at the emotional core of the story.

As the family attempts to move forward, a new Na’vi faction emerges. Known as the Ash People, this tribe was shaped by a catastrophic event that destroyed their homeland. Rejecting the beliefs of other clans and turning away from Eywa, they forged a harsher worldview, driven by survival and anger.

At the center of this group stands Varang, portrayed by Oona Chaplin, whose previous credits include Game of Thrones and Taboo. In an interview with MovieWeb, Chaplin explained that Varang’s rage is deeply rooted in grief, something she was able to connect with on a personal level.

“That was really the big part. When I got the role, I had a lot of anger toward the world. I spent time in Calais, in an improvised refugee camp, and I would come home and cry in a hot shower simply because the water was hot.

I was heartbroken in so many ways that I could connect to that anger. It came from a deep place of grief. That helped me ground her in reality, not as a villain, but as someone who believes she’s doing the right thing for her people. She’s not interested in healing, she’s interested in destroying what frightens or challenges her.”

The Most Complex Villain the Avatar Franchise Has Seen

Following the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, the Sully family continues to mourn their son, Neteyam. The Ash People’s story mirrors this pain, while Cameron and Zoe Saldaña have hinted that Neytiri’s journey will take a darker turn in the upcoming sequel.

Varang’s charismatic yet ominous presence makes her a compelling antagonist. Cameron revealed that Chaplin contributed creatively to the character, helping design rituals, movements, and even a distinctive weapon used by the Ash People.

“Oona created her own ceremony, her own movement, and even designed that weapon, inspired by something called a bukang. She joined two together to form a spiral and created a hypnotic dance around it.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash promises higher stakes and darker themes than ever before. How the Sully family confronts Varang will be revealed when the film hits theaters on December 19.

Source: MovieWeb