Avatar 3 Ignites Pandora: Volcanic Trailer Unveils the Ash People

Zoe Saldaña, portraying Neytiri, appeared radiant at the press conference in Tokyo for Avatar: The Way of Water. As the Avatar 3 trailer creates a buzz, this image reminds us of the emotional power the actress brings to the saga. In Avatar 3: Of Fire and Ashes, Neytiri faces grief, hatred, and the arrival of the Ash People. The runtime of Avatar 3 is expected to be monumental. The French version of the Avatar 3 trailer confirms a darker and more spectacular direction. This snapshot reflects the intensity of the character and the importance of Pandora in this epic. While waiting for the release date of Avatar 3, fans can rewatch the Avatar trailer and also keep an eye out for the Avatar 4 trailer.

The first trailer for Avatar: The Seed Bearer has emerged on social media. Three years after the immense success of The Way of Water, the new film by James Cameron is taking shape. Indeed, it promises to be a turning point both dark and incandescent for the saga. The images reveal a renewed visual universe, dominated by the glowing lights of volcanoes and the untouched majesty of Pandora. The French release is scheduled for December 17, 2025, in 2D and 3D formats.

A reinvented visual universe, dominated by volcanoes and ashes. The intense return of Jake Sully and Neytiri, devastated by grief. The discovery of the Ash People, a tribe cut off from Eywa and driven by hatred. Spectacular confrontations and constant dramatic tension. An emotional and sensory fresco, enriched by an ever more ambitious direction.
A reinvented visual universe, dominated by volcanoes and ashes. The intense return of Jake Sully and Neytiri, devastated by grief. The discovery of the Ash People, a tribe cut off from Eywa and driven by hatred. Spectacular confrontations and constant dramatic tension. An emotional and sensory fresco, enriched by an ever more ambitious direction.

Fans reunite with Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their family, marked by the tragic loss of their son. However, the major announcement lies in the appearance of a new tribe of Na’vi, the Ash People. This clan, led by Varang, evolves in a hostile volcanic environment, far from the tranquility of the forests or the azure of the oceans. This confrontation promises to disrupt the fragile balance established at the end of the second film.

Zoe Saldaña at TIFF 2024. She returns as Neytiri, a Na'vi warrior, wounded mother, and survival strategist. An international star, she is also known for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, and Star Trek.
Zoe Saldaña at TIFF 2024. She returns as Neytiri, a Na’vi warrior, wounded mother, and survival strategist. An international star, she is also known for her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, and Star Trek.

The third installment of Avatar reunites Sam Worthington (Jake Sully) and Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri). They are joined by Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Oona Chaplin, and other leading actors. The return of Colonel Miles Quaritch, the main antagonist of the saga, stirs tension around the grief and revenge that now drive the heroes.

Oona Chaplin at the festival. She portrays Varang, the volcanic leader of the Ash People, forged in hatred and solitude. The granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, she has made her mark in Game of Thrones, Taboo, and The Longest Ride.
Oona Chaplin at the festival. She portrays Varang, the volcanic leader of the Ash People, forged in hatred and solitude. The granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, she has made her mark in Game of Thrones, Taboo, and The Longest Ride.

The trailer emphasizes the absence of dialogue and visual intensity. However, the scenes reveal a series of upcoming conflicts: clashes in crumbling mountains, aerial chases, threatening rituals, and hateful glances between tribes. Each shot reveals Cameron‘s distinctive aesthetic. He continues to explore the emotional depth of his characters. Moreover, he renews the saga’s fantastic bestiary.

Sigourney Weaver in a conference. She plays Kiri, a teenager connected to Eywa, and returns as Dr. Augustine in genetic memory. An icon of science fiction cinema, she has made history with Alien, Gorillas in the Mist, and Working Girl.
Sigourney Weaver in a conference. She plays Kiri, a teenager connected to Eywa, and returns as Dr. Augustine in genetic memory. An icon of science fiction cinema, she has made history with Alien, Gorillas in the Mist, and Working Girl.

The Ash People: an exploration of evil, between hatred and survival

With the Ash People, Avatar tackles a new dimension. Thus, hatred, loss, and rebirth become the new drivers of the plot. The clan, led by Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), was forged by the violence of a volcanic eruption. Since then, it has lived in bitterness, cut off from the deity Eywa worshiped by the other Na’vi. The rejection of nature and the quest for another spiritual power create complex antagonists. Indeed, they are far removed from the simplistic patterns of the earlier installments.

Britain Dalton in Avatar 2. He plays Lo'ak, the rebellious son of Jake and Neytiri, torn between loyalty and a quest for identity. A promising young American actor, he became known in the series Goliath alongside Billy Bob Thornton.
Britain Dalton in Avatar 2. He plays Lo’ak, the rebellious son of Jake and Neytiri, torn between loyalty and a quest for identity. A promising young American actor, he became known in the series Goliath alongside Billy Bob Thornton.

James Cameron states his desire to explore the diversity of Pandora’s cultures. He specifies that "the great advance will be a greater depth of the characters." Additionally, producer Jon Landau reminds us: "There are good and bad humans – the same goes for the Na’vi – but often, people do not see themselves as bad." This desire to humanize each side gives the saga a more adult and nuanced resonance.

Sam Worthington in an official portrait. He portrays Jake Sully, a former Marine turned Na’vi, now a grieving leader and tormented father. The Australian actor, who gained fame with Avatar in 2009, also shone in Terminator Salvation and Hacksaw Ridge.
Sam Worthington in an official portrait. He portrays Jake Sully, a former Marine turned Na’vi, now a grieving leader and tormented father. The Australian actor, who gained fame with Avatar in 2009, also shone in Terminator Salvation and Hacksaw Ridge.

A monumental project, between technological innovation and narrative ambitions

The filming of Avatar: The Seed Bearer began in 2017, in parallel with the second installment. Thus, the teams benefited from the latest advances in motion capture and visual effects. The production, largely relocated to New Zealand, was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing successive delays. However, post-production, led by the studio Weta Digital, continued, mobilizing thousands of digital artists. The film’s budget, estimated at $250 million, reflects the project’s scale.

Kate Winslet in Toronto. She portrays Ronal, the spiritual matriarch of the water people, experiencing inner conflict amidst chaos. An Oscar winner for The Reader, she is globally known for Titanic, Eternal Sunshine, and Mare of Easttown.
Kate Winslet in Toronto. She portrays Ronal, the spiritual matriarch of the water people, experiencing inner conflict amidst chaos. An Oscar winner for The Reader, she is globally known for Titanic, Eternal Sunshine, and Mare of Easttown.

This new installment will be followed by two other films already announced by Disney and 20th Century Studios. The sequels are scheduled for 2029 and 2031. Thus, the Avatar franchise could become the most extensive science fiction saga of the 21st century. According to Cameron, some characters are expected to leave Pandora to discover Earth in the upcoming episodes, thereby broadening the narrative horizon.

Bailey Bass in a stylized portrait. She plays Tsireya, the daughter of the Metkayina chiefs, a peaceful witness to the clash between clans. An actress and singer, she also portrayed Claudia in 'Interview with the Vampire', a critically acclaimed series.
Bailey Bass in a stylized portrait. She plays Tsireya, the daughter of the Metkayina chiefs, a peaceful witness to the clash between clans. An actress and singer, she also portrayed Claudia in ‘Interview with the Vampire’, a critically acclaimed series.

Pandora: a laboratory of imagination and a mirror of contemporary fears

Since 2009, Avatar has established itself as a mirror of the ecological and existential concerns of our time. The third film reinforces this connection with reality. Thus, the destruction of natural environments, the crisis of grief, and the temptation of violence inhabit every frame. The rivalry between the tribes of Pandora evokes the ethnic and religious tensions of the real world. By embodying these fears, James Cameron invites the viewer to question the possibility of reconciliation. Indeed, this takes place in a universe where technology and the sacred are in constant conflict.

A major cinematic event in 2025

Avatar: The Seed Bearer will be released in French theaters on December 17, 2025. The distribution promises a visual spectacle that meets expectations. But above all, it offers a darker exploration of the themes dear to the saga: grief, hatred, rebirth, and the question of evil. Thus, this new chapter is part of the continuity of a major work of contemporary cinema. It invites each viewer to rediscover Pandora, "like never before," according to James Cameron.

Avatar: The Seed Bearer is already shaping up to be one of the major cinematic events of 2025.

Trailer for Avatar 3: The Seed Bearer

This article was written by Pierre-Antoine Tsady.