During the D23 expo, director
James Cameron and stars
Zoe Saldana and
Sam Worthington revealed the third
"Avatar" film's official title:
"Avatar: Fire and Ash". The third installment is once again written by Cameron,
Rick Jaffa and
Amanda Silver. The story will follow Jake and Neytiri as they encounter the Ash People, who Cameron has hinted are drawn more to violence and power than other clans.
Cameron didn't preview any footage, but showcased some concept concept art from the film, including Neytiri (Saldana) riding a banshee, what appeared to be giant airships, and a first look at the fearsome Ash People of the Na'vi, covered in ghost-like soot and otherworldly masks as they dance around a giant fire pit.
The filmmaker had this to say about the new installment:
"You'll see a lot more Pandora that you never saw before. It's an insane adventure and a feast for the eyes, but it's also got very high emotional stakes, more than ever before. We're going into really challenging territory for all the characters you know and love. There are new characters, one especially I think you're gonna love, or love to hate".
"Fire and Ash" was shot back-to-back with 2022's
"Avatar: The Way of Water", and the sequel will pick up soon after the events of the second film. Originally, they were meant to be a single film, but during the writing process, Cameron decided there was too much material and split the story into two parts.
New additions to the cast include
Oona Chaplin (
"Game of Thrones"), who stars as the leader of the Ash People, Varang, as well as
David Thewlis and
Michelle Yeoh. Returning cast includes
Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Britain Dalton, Jack Champion, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco and
Dileep Rao.
