The first-look image of the Ash Village of the Mangkwan Clan from James Cameron‘s Avatar: Fire and Ash has been revealed. This village is home to the darkest side of the Na’vi—those filled with anger and rage after their civilization was destroyed by a volcanic eruption.
In a recent interview with Empire, production designer Dylan Cole revealed that in Avatar: Fire and Ash—we’ll be introduced to the Ash Village—the home of the Mangkwan Clan (aka the Ash Clan)—where all that abundant color is nowhere to be seen.
According to Cole, the Ash Village is a stark contrast to the vibrant world of Pandora seen so far. Even though it was destroyed, the Na’vi there still have a strong connection with the land. The place experienced a volcanic eruption, which changed the way the Mangkwan Clan lives.
Most of Pandora is full of life, but the Ash Village is the complete opposite. Their village used to have a huge Hometree, but now only burned remains are left. Before the disaster, the Mangkwan Clan lived in a way similar to the Omatikaya from the first Avatar movie.
Cole said, “It’s a stark contrast to the world we know so far – and yet, in true Avatar style, it still depicts a symbiosis between the land and its people.”
“[The Mangkwan] had a natural disaster befall them, and that sort of helped shape their culture,” he added. “So much of the world of Pandora is rich, vibrant, and full of life — this is just the exact opposite.”
It wasn’t always that way, though – the center of their village used to be a gigantic Hometree, which now stands as nothing more than charred remains. “They used to live not too dissimilarly from the Omatikaya in Avatar 1.”
Recently, the first look at Varang, the leader of the Ash Clan and the villain of Avatar: Fire and Ash, was revealed. Additionally, the Wind Traders, a new group of Na’vi, have been confirmed to appear in the movie. They are nomads who trade goods, similar to camel caravans on ancient trade routes.
See the first-look image of Peylak, chieftain of the Wind Traders, in Avatar: Fire and Ash below.
In the third Avatar movie, Jake Sully’s story will take him and Neytiri’s family into uncharted territory and introduce a new Na’vi group, the Ash Clan. They have a darker, more complex relationship with Pandora, shaped by hardship and survival. Described as reflecting the worst side of the Na’vi, the Ash Clan is filled with anger and rage after their civilization was destroyed by a volcanic eruption.
Directed by Cameron from a screenplay he co-wrote with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, it is the sequel to Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and the third installment in the Avatar film series.
In the film, Sam Worthington stars as Jake Sully, Zoe Saldaña plays Neytiri, Sigourney Weaver portrays Kiri, Stephen Lang returns as Colonel Miles Quaritch, Giovanni Ribisi appears as Parker Selfridge, and Kate Winslet plays Ronal. Cliff Curtis stars as Tonowari, Joel David Moore reprises his role as Dr. Norm Spellman, and CCH Pounder returns as Mo’at. Edie Falco portrays General Frances Ardmore, Brendan Cowell plays Captain Mick Scoresby, Jemaine Clement is Dr. Ian Garvin, Britain Dalton stars as Lo’ak, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss plays Tuktirey (“Tuk”), Jack Champion portrays Miles “Spider” Socorro, Bailey Bass plays Tsireya (“Reya”), Filip Geljo is Ao’nung, Duane Evans, Jr. plays Rotxo, Dileep Rao returns as Dr. Max Patel, and Matt Gerald reprises his role as Corporal Lyle Wainfleet.
Avatar: Fire and Ash will hit theaters on December 19, 2025, by 20th Century Studios.
Source: Empire
