Game of Thrones star Oona Chaplin will portray the leader of the fire nation of Na’vi, the Ash People, in Avatar 3, producer Jon Landau has now confirmed. While it was already known that Chaplin would play a role in the sci-fi action sequel, Landau revealed to Empire Magazine that her role would be a crucial one, with her character Varang acting as the leader of the antagonistic fire tribe.
Landau also revealed that the Ash People would inhabit the volcanic regions of Pandora, meaning that Avatar 3 will explore another element and area of the richly detailed world, portraying the humans in a more positive light while making the fire tribe of Na’vi the villains.
“There are good humans, and there are bad humans – the same thing on the Navi side – but oftentimes, people don’t see themselves as bad. What is the root cause of how they evolve into what we perceive as bad? Maybe there are other factors there that we’re not aware of.”
Oona Chaplin is best known for starring as Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones, as well as starring alongside Tom Hardy in Taboo. The actress is currently seen alongside Daredevil star Charlie Cox in Netflix’s spy thriller miniseries, Treason. No doubt her role as one of the main antagonists in Avatar 3 will quickly make her a household name.
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Avatar 3 Will Introduce Two New Tribes as it Further Explores Pandora
20th Century Studios
Not only will Avatar 3 introduce the antagonistic Ash People, but the sequel will also bring another nation of Na’vi into the fray. Director James Cameron revealed this detail recently, explaining how Avatar 3 will explore the alien world of Pandora more freely.
“Fire has a symbolic purpose in the film and there’s a culture that is specifically around that concept,” Cameron explained. “That’s probably saying too much as we speak. You’re going to meet two completely new cultures in the next film. We met the Omaticaya, we met the Metkayina, and you’re going to meet two new cultures in the next film, and it kind of roves a little more freely around the world of Pandora to different places.”
While we await further details of Avatar 3, audiences only recently met the water-dwelling Metkayina in the billion-dollar grossing Avatar: The Way of Water. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water tells the story of the Sully family, the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.
Directed by James Cameron, Avatar: The Way of Water stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, and Matt Gerald, each of whom reprised their roles from the original movie, with Sigourney Weaver returning as a new character. New cast members include Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, and Brendan Cowell.
Avatar: The Way of Water is now in theaters, with three more sequels scheduled. Avatar 3, meanwhile, is currently due for release on December 20, 2024, with further installments planned for December 18, 2026, and December 22, 2028.
