Avatar 3: Fire and Ash Set to Invert Franchise Morality with the Introduction of the Fire-Wielding Mangkwan Clan

Avatar 3: Fire and Ash Set to Invert Franchise Morality with the Introduction of the Fire-Wielding Mangkwan Clan

The narrative begins one year after the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, finding Jake Sully and his family grappling with the grief following Neteyam’s death.

RMN News Entertainment Desk
New Delhi | December 11, 2025

James Cameron’s highly anticipated Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in the saga, is slated for release on December 19, 2025, and promises to dramatically expand the established world of Pandora. The upcoming installment confirms a significant thematic shift for the franchise by introducing a fierce and challenging new group: the Ash People. This fire-wielding tribe, also known as the Mangkwan clan, is set to challenge both the Sully family and traditional views of the Na’vi people.

Thematic Inversion and the Ash People

The introduction of the Ash People marks a major thematic departure for the franchise, as this tribe is characterized as morally ambiguous. Unlike the sea and forest clans, who have generally been portrayed as harmonious, the Ash People embrace conflict. Director James Cameron noted that while previous films showcased “very negative human examples and very positive Na’vi examples,” the third installment is set to “do the reverse”. The Ash People’s hardened nature is attributed to a past volcanic disaster, leading them to reject Eywa, Pandora’s guiding force, and instead adhere to a philosophy that “fire is renewal”.

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Plot, Alliances, and Escalating War

The narrative begins one year after the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, finding Jake Sully and his family grappling with the grief following Neteyam’s death. Their struggles are immediately amplified when they encounter the aggressive Mangkwan clan. Further escalating the tension is the revelation that the Ash People have formed an alliance with the returning human antagonist, Colonel Miles Quaritch, who appears in his avatar form.

The main conflict will see the Ash People clashing with other Na’vi tribes. Concurrently, the Resources Development Administration (RDA) returns to Pandora with a renewed, more destructive agenda focused on exploiting the planet’s core energy. Jake and Neytiri will be forced to navigate fragile alliances in a war that pushes them to their limits. The film will also introduce another new, more peaceful clan, the Wind Traders.

Visuals and Core Character Arcs

Visually, Avatar 3 promises a major shift, moving away from the vibrant underwater worlds and lush forests. The film will instead focus on arid, ashen, and volcanic landscapes, utilizing cutting-edge CGI technology to realize complex fire and lava sequences.

The narrative will continue to delve deeply into character development. Key arcs include further exploration of Kiri’s special connection to Eywa and the origins of her powers. Additionally, Lo’ak is expected to serve as the film’s narrator. On a more personal level, Neytiri will struggle with her intense grief and her initial distrust of her adopted human son, Spider.