The first trailer for James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash left me gasping in awe, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
The follow-up to 2009’s Avatar and 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water looks just like its predecessors, which is to say, downright stunning. The trailer had me at the appearance of iridescent hot air balloon-like creatures, along with the return of Avatar: The Way of Water‘s beloved tulkun. But where it really grabbed my attention was the reveal of the Mangkwan clan, a new Na’vi people that Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Zoe Saldaña) family will cross paths with.
Each Avatar movie so far has introduced a new Na’vi clan. Avatar featured the forest-dwelling Omatikaya clan, while Avatar: The Way of Water introduced the Metkayina clan, who make their home around Pandora’s reefs. These clans became allies to Jake and Neytiri, but that will not be the case with Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s Mangkwan clan.
Also known as the Ash People, the Mangkwan live among ashy, volcanic ruins and appear to ally themselves with Avatar antagonist Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). Their leader, Varang (Oona Chaplin), also seems to be fireproof, able to light her hands on fire without any pain. Is she a firebender? Is this officially a crossover between Avatar and Avatar: The Last Airbender? Finally, the Avatars collide.
In all seriousness, check out the full trailer above for a better look at the Ash People and at Avatar: Fire and Ash‘s mind-blowing alien landscapes. From just these two minutes alone, it looks like the Avatar franchise is on track to take home yet another Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters Dec. 19.
