Fans waited more than a decade for the squeal of Avatar, eager for another chance to explore the beautiful world of Pandora. When Avatar: The Way of Water finally arrived, it reignited the franchise’s magic and this time, fans won ´ t have to wait nearly as long for the next chapter. But their return to Pandora won´t be the same. But with the introduction of the hostile tribe, The Ash People, the stakes grow for Jake, Neytiri, and their family.
December 18, 2009 is when it all began when director James Cameron released the Avatar franchise inspired by the science fiction books he loved as a child using them to create his award-winning movie. Since then, the movies have been one of the most recognizable sci-fi films in the world. Taking place on Pandora, where the lives of Na’vi-tall, blue, spiritual beings roam-along with the journey of Jake Sully, a former Marine becoming part of the Na’vi world.
Avatar, introduces Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), arriving on Pandora to take the place of his late brother, Tom, in the Avatar program. During the program, Jake inhabits a Na’vi body and slowly understands the culture of the tribe. Instead of being called Jake Sully by the Na’vi, he earned the name Toruk Makto, also known as Rider of Shadows. Jake´s mission was to gain the trust of the Na’vi for the military in order to relocate them to extract unobtanium. This all changes when he falls in love with Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), the chief s daughter, and his loyalty shifts. In the end, he fights along the Na’vi to defend their home ending in a spiritual ritual permanently transferring Jakes consciousness into his Na’vi body under the sacred Tree of Souls.
Avatar: The Way of Water, the second movie premiered on December 16, 2022 was inspired by the sea nomads such as the Bajo Tribe follows Jake and Neytiri as they raise their growing family. When the sky people return seeking revenge, the Sully´s are forced to relocate from their forest home to their ocean home. Their journey of Uturu (refuge) brought them to Metkayine, also known as the Reef people, gradually offered Uturu. Struggling to adapt to their ways, the sky people led by Miles Quartich (Stephen Lang) and helper Spider, (Jack Champion) attacked the Reef people trying to draw out the Sully´s. Fortunately it didn´t work but sadly they killed Ro´a-the spirit sister of the clan leader Ronal (Kate Winslet)-Tulkun and her Calf. The conflict rises as Jake and Neytiri´s children are captured leading to a violent battle ending in the heartbreaking death of their oldest child, Neteyam´s (Jamie Flatters) funeral under the traditional burial of the Reef People.
Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third movie, will be released on December 19, 2025. Even though the details are limited, this film will focus on the Sully´s after Neteyam´s passing as well as introducing a new, violent Na’vi tribe the Mangkawn or also known as The Ash People. The Mangkawn, was shaped into a violent tribe because of a volcanic eruption that destroyed their homeland and the feeling of being rejected by Eywa. Because of this, they are rumored to be aggressive, hostile, and to be working alongside Miles Quartich. This story will remain in the themes of family, nature, grief, and conflict. There have been rumors that Neteyam will spiritually return from Eywa.
As someone who grew up watching the first Avatar movie, I have always loved the world of Pandora because of the beauty, the culture, the colors, and the emotion that is portrayed in the film. When Avatar: The Way of Water was released, my love for the movies only increased deeper. I´m excited to see how Jake, Neytiri, and their family are able to heal after Neteyam´s passing and how they grow stronger as a family. In this upcoming movie, I hope to see them reconnect with Na’vi tribes, overcoming difficult hardships, and possibly the unison or conflicts of The Ash People. Whatever director James Cameron decides, I will look forward to the return of Avatar on Pandora once again.
