Avatar 3, officially titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, is set to take audiences deeper into the world of Pandora by introducing a brand-new Na’vi clan: the Ash People, also known as the Mangkwan Clan. This group is unlike any we have seen before in the Avatar universe. Their story is one of pain, survival, and a struggle that has shaped them into a hardened, complex people. The emotional core of Avatar 3 revolves around understanding why the Ash People are the way they are, and how their past suffering has led them down a path that challenges the very idea of good and evil on Pandora.
The Ash People are led by Varang, a fierce and determined leader played by Oona Chaplin. Director James Cameron has described Varang as someone who has endured incredible hardship, and this suffering has made her willing to do anything for her people—even things that others might see as evil[1]. This sets the stage for a story that is far from black and white. Cameron has said that Avatar 3 aims to move beyond the simple idea that all humans are bad and all Na’vi are good. Instead, it explores the gray areas of morality, showing that even among the Na’vi, there are those who have been pushed to extremes by their circumstances[1].
So, what exactly happened to the Ash People? Production designer Dylan Cole has hinted that a natural disaster struck their homeland, changing everything for them[1]. Once, they lived much like the Omatikaya clan from the first Avatar film—connected to nature, living in harmony with the vibrant life of Pandora. But after the disaster, their world became the opposite: harsh, barren, and filled with ash. This catastrophe did not just destroy their environment; it shaped their culture, their beliefs, and their way of life. They became a people defined by loss and the need to survive against all odds[1].
The Ash People’s home, the Ash Village, is a stark contrast to the lush forests and glowing waters we have seen before. It is a place where life is hard, resources are scarce, and the connection to Eywa—the guiding force and goddess of Pandora—seems distant or even broken[5]. Unlike other Na’vi clans, the Ash People do not follow Eywa in the same way. Their faith has been tested, and their trust in the natural order has been shattered by the disaster that befell them[5]. This spiritual disconnect adds another layer to their emotional journey, as they grapple with feelings of abandonment and anger.
The arrival of Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their family into this world sets the stage for conflict. After the death of their son Neteyam in Avatar: The Way of Water, Jake and Neytiri are grieving and searching for a new place to belong[2]. They have left the Omatikaya and joined the Metkayina, but now they must face the Ash People, who are not just another clan to befriend or fight—they are a mirror of what can happen when hope is lost and survival becomes the only goal[2].
Varang’s leadership is driven by a deep love for her people, but also by a desperation that has made her open to alliances that others would reject. Rumors suggest that the human envoys from the RDA have already made contact with Varang, offering her tools and weapons in exchange for her loyalty[3]. This puts the Ash People at the center of a new war, one that is not fought in the water or the sky, but in the burning ash of their homeland[3]. The humans see the Ash People’s rage and independence as an opportunity to divide the Na’vi and weaken their resistance[3].
As the influence of the Ash People spreads, doubt begins to grow among the other Na’vi clans. Some start to question why Eywa would allow such suffering, why the forests burn, and why the humans keep returning[3]. Temples that were once filled with song now stand in uneasy silence, and even Neytiri, once Eywa’s most devoted warrior, feels her connection to the goddess flicker under the weight of her loss[3]. Meanwhile, Kiri, the adopted daughter of Jake and Neytiri, senses Eywa more strongly than ever, hearing whispers that others cannot. In a deep trance near the sacred Tree of Voices, Kiri has visions of flame consuming Pandora and a shadowed figure—perhaps a sign of the chaos to come[3].
The emotional story of the Ash People is not just about their conflict with Jake and Neytiri, or their alliance with the humans. It is about understanding how trauma can change a people, how loss can harden hearts, and how the fight for survival can lead to choices that are neither purely good nor purely evil. The Ash People’s origins are a tragedy, a story of a clan that was once like any other, but was broken by forces beyond their control. Their journey in Avatar 3 is one of pain, resilience, and the search for meaning in a world that has taken so much from them.
By focusing on the Ash People, Avatar 3 promises to explore themes of grief, betrayal, and the cost of survival. It asks the audience to empathize with characters who have been pushed to their limits, and to question the easy divisions between hero and villain. The emotional weight of the Ash People’s story is sure to make Avatar 3 a deeply moving chapter in the saga of Pandora, one that challenges both the characters and the viewers to see the world in shades of gray, rather than black and white.
