Avatar 3: New Images Released

On December 19, "Avatar 3: Fire and Ash" by James Cameron will be released in cinemas. In order to raise expectations a little more, Empire magazine has now published two new images of the blockbuster.

It features the so-called Wind Traders, who fly through the skies with gigantic beings. They are nomadic traders and live in a symbiosis with their creatures. Cameron compares them to the camel caravans of the Spice Road in the Middle Ages.

The Ash People also come along with their mounts. They are led by a character called Varang. Cameron describes the character as someone who would do anything for her people due to a lot of suffering - even things that are considered evil. According to the director, one aim of the movie is to prevent a stark black-and-white portrayal like that of the humans and the Na'vi.

The plot picks up shortly after the events of "Avatar 2: The Way of Water" and follows Jake and Neytiri as they encounter the Ash People. It goes without saying that Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri are reprising their roles. Apart from them, we will also get to see Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet once again.

The Avatar Movies in Retrospect

Avatar (2009)

The story takes place in the year 2154 on the lush, alien moon of Pandora, inhabited by the Na'vi, a blue-skinned, humanoid species. Pandora's resources, particularly the rare mineral unobtanium, are of great economic interest to humanity, which is why the RDA company has established colonies to mine this material. Pandora's toxic atmosphere forces humans to use special technologies such as the "Avatar" program, in which genetically engineered Na'vi bodies are remotely controlled by humans.

The paraplegic Marine Jake Sully is accepted into the Avatar program as a replacement for his deceased brother. On Pandora, he meets Dr. Grace Augustine, the head of the program, and Norm Spellman, another scientist. During a mission, Jake is separated from his group and rescued by Neytiri, a Na'vi warrior. Neytiri recognizes a spiritual connection between Jake and nature, which is why she introduces him to her clan, the Omaticaya. Jake is introduced to the Na'vi culture and falls in love with Neytiri.

As Jake learns more about the Na'vi way of life, he passes on secret information to the RDA. The RDA plans to destroy the Tree of Souls, a Na'vi sanctuary, in order to access the unobtanium deposits beneath it. Jake recognizes the ethical conflict of his actions and changes sides. He leads the Na'vi in an epic battle against the humans, in which they defeat the invaders. In the end, Jake decides to live permanently in his Avatar body by transferring his spirit into it through a spiritual ritual.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

In the second part, Jake Sully is the leader of the Omaticaya and lives a peaceful life with Neytiri and their children. But humanity returns, led by Colonel Miles Quaritch, whose consciousness has been uploaded into a new Avatar body. The humans plan to colonize Pandora permanently as Earth becomes uninhabitable. Jake and his family must flee to protect the Omaticaya from human retaliation.

They find refuge with the Metkayina, a Na'vi clan who live on the coasts of Pandora and have a symbiotic relationship with the ocean. The Metkayina reluctantly accept the family, and Jake, Neytiri and their children must learn to master the way of life of the Na'vi of the ocean. The children in particular develop relationships with the Metkayina and discover new secrets of the ocean, including a connection to the Tulkuns, a whale-like species with extraordinary intelligence.

Quaritch and his troops pursue Jake by threatening and attacking the sea creatures. The action culminates in a massive showdown where the Metkayina and Sullys battle the humans. Jake confronts Quaritch, and Neytiri rescues her daughter in a dramatic scene. However, the battle costs the life of Jake's eldest son Neteyam, leaving the family in mourning.

Eventually, Jake decides to continue the fight against the humans, but this time with the support of the Metkayina. He finally accepts Pandora as his home and vows to defend it with his life.

Both movies address the conflict between nature and technological exploitation as well as the value of community, spirituality and the connection to an animate world. While the first movie focuses on the introduction of Pandora and the relationship with nature, the second part extends these themes to the ocean and the importance of family.