What 'Avatar' Fans Should Know About the Wind Trader Clan Before 'Avatar 3'
As we rapidly approach the release of the third installment of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, releasing December 19, 2025, excitement builds on the new elements and chief among them are definitely the new clans that Cameron has hinted at: the elusive Ash Clan and the nomadic Wind Traders, known to the Na’vi as the Tlalim Clan. While one promises to be a daring enemy of the clans we already know and love—as well as the Sully family and their allies—the Wind Traders appear to be something completely different. Though we know little at the moment, the Wind Traders have been positioned as a peaceful clan, or potentially multiple clans, known for traveling throughout Pandora and trading goods and supplies between the Na’vi.
In an article released by Empire magazine last month, James Cameron touches more on the new Wind Traders, stating that “They’re nomadic traders, equivalent to the camel caravans of the Spice Road back in the Middle Ages.” He continues with, “And you know, they’re just fun. Like all Na’vi, they live in a symbiosis with their creatures.” These new majestic creatures, known as Medusoids (or fpxafaw in Na’vi) and first seen in the concept art released at 2024’s D23 conference, are giant jellyfish-like creatures that serve the Wind Traders as both transportation and refuge. Inspired by the Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish of Earth's warm oceans, the Medusoids dwell high in the skies of Pandora, kept afloat by their ability to produce hydrogen gas. Cameron describes them as “giant, living soap bubbles, 500 feet tall.” Assisting the Medusoids in their path through the clouds is another creature of Pandora: the Windray. Described in the article as similar to Earth’s stingrays, they propel themselves forward with “sinusoidal motion,” and act “kind of like a tug-boat, or a tow vehicle,” to help pull and guide the Medusoids to their destination. These creatures work as one to enable the Wind Traders to travel through the vast skies of Pandora, exchanging goods and stories between other clans.
A glimpse of the Wind Traders was shown back in 2017, with the opening of the Pandora: The World of Avatar theme park area in Walt Disney World, Florida. The park's gift shop, named Windtraders, pays homage to the nomadic clan. Themed as a bustling market located in an abandoned RDA outpost, it hints at the clan’s role among the Na’vi in stocking the shop with goods to sell, and highlights their trading culture and connection to Pandora.
Fans have also already been introduced to a member of the Wind Trader clan, with the release of the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora video game. As you progress through the storyline, a Na’vi NPC will inform you that “You are not the only visitor among the Aranahe. Kukulope, she comes to trade with us on occasion. Where from is a mystery.” You can encounter this NPC at any Na’vi camp to receive the A Mysterious Guest quest, where you can then meet the character Kukulope at Ikran Landing in the Aranahe Hometree. It is confirmed that she is a member of a Wind Trader clan by Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora developers in their official Artstation post containing Kukulope’s concept art, sharing, “Kukulope is a member of a Wind trader clan and it was an absolute joy to work for Lightstorm costume team to bring her to life.” This adds a new layer to the complexity of the Wind Traders in the forthcoming film, as well as giving fans a glimpse into the new clan’s way of life.
Even before these two reveals, however, there had already been discussions about the Wind Traders before we ever knew about them being in Fire and Ash. In an interview with Deadline Hollywood in early 2023, discussing the designs featured in Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron name-dropped the Wind Traders for the first time, describing them as a clan that “trade and, you know, travel around, that sort of thing.” Although we didn’t know what a significant piece of information this would be at the time, some fans were able to reference back to the interview when the Wind Traders were announced for Fire and Ash, connecting it as the first sneak peek we have of the nomadic clan.
Along with these exciting possibilities for Avatar: Fire and Ash, a new character has recently come to light. A behind-the-scenes photo revealed Kevin Dorman, a veteran performer known for playing the body motion capture of over 20 characters across the Avatar films, standing next to a smiling Trinity Bliss (Tuktirey). His motion capture suit labeled him with a name that we hadn’t seen before: Peylak. Speculation quickly began to swirl around Peylak’s role in Fire and Ash, with many suggesting he may be a member of the Wind Trader clans. Observant fans noticed differences in Peylak’s motion capture suit compared to members of the Ash Clan’s; in other behind-the-scenes photos, motion capture suits for Ash Clan members displayed a distinctive red emblem, something that was notably missing from Peylak’s suit.
The speculation and theories paid off when it was confirmed in a sneak peek for this month’s Empire article that Peylak is, in fact, a Wind Trader–and not just any Wind Trader, but the clan’s leader (Olo’eyktan). Confirmed to be played by David Thewlis (widely known for his roles in Harry Potter and Kingdom of Heaven), Peylak is described as “a cool, colourful chieftan with one hell of a dress sense.” Deborah L. Scott, the main costume designer for Fire and Ash and attributed with the creation of Peylak’s sunset-colored cloak, also gives us a tidbit about the clan. “They’re upbeat, happy, colourful,” she says. “And when they come into our movie, everyone’s excited to see them. It’s like the circus is in town.”
As we get closer to December, we expect more juicy tidbits from Cameron and the Lightstorm team, along with insights from the monthly Empire articles. Based on the patterns from The Way of Water’s release, it’s possible we could even get a trailer in May. Fans, including us here at Kelutral, are eagerly awaiting more, and are excited about what we shall see next.
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