James Cameron teases darker, fire-based Na’vi people in Avatar 3 as the franchise continues to expand into new areas of the moon Pandora.
Avatar 3 will introduce a fire-based Na’vi people who differ from the Omaticaya and Metkayina in a key way. Avatar: The Way of Water built upon the foundation set up by Avatar by displaying a new side of the moon Pandora. Due to Quaritch (Stephen Lang)’s pursuit of Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their family, the Sullys were forced to leave the forest behind and start a new life far from their home. They eventually settled on the islands populated by the Metkayina clan, where they had to learn to assimilate to a new culture and way of life.
While Avatar introduced the forest-dwelling Omaticaya, Avatar: The Way of Water brought the island-based Metkayina into the fold, a clan that evolved differently from the Omaticaya in order to adapt to their oceanic environment, sporting green-tinged skin, thicker tails, finned arms, and a few other distinctions. During a conversation with 20 Minutes, Cameron teases the introduction of a new Na’vi clan in Avatar 3 and beyond, explaining that the element of fire “will be represented by the ‘Ash People,'” which suggests that Jake and Neytiri may interact with a new group of Na’vi in the next movie. In addition, Cameron offers an intriguing detail about the next installment of the franchise, implying that the Na’vi in Avatar 3 will not be as positively portrayed as they were in the previous movies. See what the director had to say below:
“[In the next movie, viewers can expect to see] different cultures from those I have already shown. The fire will be represented by the “Ash People.” I want to show the Na’vi from another angle because, so far, I have only shown their good sides. In the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Na’vi examples. In Avatar 3, we will do the opposite. We will also explore new worlds, while continuing the story of the main characters. I can say that the last parts will be the best. The others were an introduction, a way to set the table before serving the meal. But, obviously, everything will depend on how Avatar 2 is received, if it finds its audience.”
How Will The Na’vi Be Different In Avatar 3?
Based on Cameron’s comments, the “Ash People” may be the most aggressive clan of Na’vi yet, challenging the expectations of viewers by complicating their perceptions of the native people of Pandora. Though Avatar featured a layered look at the Omaticaya, showing that Neytiri, her parents, and the others in their clan had differences of opinion when it came to humans and other matters, the native population as a whole were painted as essentially good in terms of their morals, while humans took on a more antagonistic role. The same is true in Avatar: The Way of Water – humans are the villainous force in the film, and the Metkayina people, though somewhat divided in their approaches to the Sullys, are easy to root for.
Cameron’s above statement indicates that, in Avatar 3, the Na’vi will no longer be aligned with righteousness, despite Jake’s family continuing to take center stage. The “Ash People” may fill that role, making the human scientists or perhaps Quaritch’s son Spider (Jack Champion) the possible targets of the new clan and forcing Jake and his family to defend them, painting the fire Na’vi as the antagonists of the movie. In terms of physical and cultural differences, the “Ash People” could sport red or gray-tinged, heat-resistant skin and shorter hair, as well as inhabiting the volcanic regions of Pandora.
Has Avatar 2 ‘Found Its Audience’?
The box office data for Avatar: The Way of Water is impressive, as the film has already garnered over $1.3 billion in less than one month. This strong start indicates the film has struck a chord with viewers, meaning the future is bright for further installments, especially since Cameron has hinted the next films will be shaking up the franchise’s formula by bringing in more complicated thematic elements, new environments, and new characters. Avatar: The Way of Water has earned heaps of praise from viewers, who have been vocal on social media about their appreciation for the movie, a potential sign of strong interest in Avatar 3.
Source: 20 Minutes