James Cameron’s Avatar universe has always been about balance. The main focus has always been on the delicate harmony between nature and technology, and, ultimately, between two species trying to coexist. With ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ on the horizon, the third installment in the franchise promises to expand Pandora in bold, fiery new directions.
However, beyond its visual spectacle and the introduction of the Mangkwan clan, there are compelling signs that the film may already be laying the groundwork for ‘Avatar 5‘, which Cameron and the late producer Jon Landau have teased as the series’ emotional and thematic conclusion.
‘Avatar: Ash And Fire’ Will Showcase The Rise Of Mangkwan Clan
While ‘The Way of Water’ introduced the vast oceans and a new coastal clan, ‘Fire and Ash’ seems to be turning up the heat by exploring the more destructive forces at play on Pandora. The arrival of the Ash People, or the Mangkwan clan, adds a darker layer to the Na’vi world. So, the consequences of their story could ripple far beyond ‘Avatar 3’. It could potentially set up the epic journey back to Earth that will define ‘Avatar 5’.
Related: Why The Ash People Of ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ Are Pandora’s Most Dangerous Clan Yet
At the center of ‘Fire and Ash’ lies the Mangkwan Clan, aka the Ash People, led by the powerful Varang. Once protectors of their homeland, their story takes a tragic turn when a devastating fire wipes out their village. Varang’s haunting words in the trailer, “We cried for help, but Eywa did not come,” reveal a deep spiritual crisis that could threaten Pandora’s interconnected way of life.
For the first time, the franchise will explore a Na’vi group that questions Eywa, the deity-like force that unites all living things. This loss of faith introduces a morally complex angle: what happens when the Na’vi themselves become divided? Jake Sully and his family, who have been fighting to defend Pandora from humanity’s greed, now face a battle on two fronts, against the humans invading from above and the Na’vi who have turned against their own.
The Na’vi’s strength has always come from their bond with Eywa and each other. However, if the fire spreads, literally or metaphorically, it could consume Pandora’s spiritual foundation. This could force Jake, Neytiri, and their allies to make difficult choices about survival, leadership, and belief. This inner conflict could also serve as the catalyst for the story’s next great leap: a journey beyond Pandora itself.
‘Avatar 5’ Could Focus On Neytiri And Jake’s Road To Earth And Humanity
While the Avatar franchise has shown us the beauty of Pandora, it all started from a dying Earth. The opening scenes cut from the first Avatar depicted Jake Sully’s bleak existence on a devastated planet riddled with pollution, war, and desperation. It’s the reason humanity came to Pandora in the first place. It was not just for greed, but out of survival. While talking to Gizmodo in a 2022 interview, producer Jon Landau confirmed that ‘Avatar 5‘ would bring Neytiri to Earth.
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He claimed the film will “open people’s eyes, open Neytiri’s eyes, to what exists on Earth.” Neytiri, who has only ever seen humanity through the lens of destruction and colonization, will finally confront the human world. It’s a move that could redefine her character and also redefine the entire meaning of the Avatar saga. ‘Fire and Ash’ could subtly set this in motion. With the Mangkwan’s devastation and growing human interference, the line between Earth and Pandora’s problems is blurring.
In ‘The Way of Water’, the introduction of Spider, a human boy who can breathe on Pandora without an oxygen mask and even connect with its creatures, suggests that the boundary between the two species is weakening. If humans can adapt to Pandora, could Na’vi one day adapt to Earth? This idea opens endless narrative possibilities. Perhaps by ‘Avatar 5’, Jake and Neytiri’s family will be forced to seek a new beginning on Earth, not as conquerors or refugees, but as ambassadors of Eywa’s balance.
