An 'Avatar' Fanatic's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Trailer Breakdown
The first trailer for Disney's Avatar: Fire and Ash arrived this weekend, giving audiences their first true look at what to expect from James Cameron's third return to the moon of Pandora. On the surface, the trailer is mostly vibes- with limited dialogue or plot indicators. However, for the keen-eyed 'Avatar' fan, there's a lot happening beneath the surface as Disney works to remind people why they should be excited for the most visually striking film of the year. Here's everything we noticed in the Fire and Ash trailer, a few major spoilers ahead.
The trailer opens with several quick establishing shots: a flashback shot of Jake and Neytiri's sons, Lo'ak and Neteyam, flying through the Hallelujah Mountains on the backs of their Ikran. Lo'ak and Tsireya visiting the sunken remains of the Sea Dragon ship from Avatar: The Way of Water's climactic battle. Kiri watches as an drifts downward. Lo'ak and Tsireya kneel together along the Metkayina coast at night.
The music soars as we get our first look at the majestic Wind Trader fleet. Their vessels float aloft, towed by manta-like creatures. They soar over forest and ocean. Another shot shows Kiri and Peylak, the chieftain of the Wind Trader clan who is played by Avatar newcomer David Thewlis, standing aboard one of their ships with Kiri looking about in wonder.
After a closing shot of the Wind Trader ships sailing into the sunset, the trailer switches gears- bringing us to a volcanic and barren terrain. A lone figure, Colonel Miles Quaritch, hikes in front of an actively erupting volcano. The next shot shows us the home of the new antagonists in Fire and Ash: The Ash Clan. Their dwelling is shown inside the burnt-out trunk of one of Pandora's massive hometrees, with similar destruction visible all around.
The next few shots give us a look at a party of Na'vi wading through a dark, swamplike environment. Paying close attention as the shot changes, the group appears to be composed of Lo'ak, Kiri, Tuktirey, Jake, Spider, and alarmingly, Quaritch. Lo'ak leads the group, and Quaritch covers their rear. Jake carries Spider on his back through the deep swamp waters. They stumble ashore, and Tuktirey helps an exhausted Lo'ak.
The trailer then transitions back to the Metkayina clan, giving us a stunning shot of a Tulkun opening its eye, and a gathering of ornately adorned Tulkun elders alongside the Metkayina people. Ronal's baby is still unborn, and many of the Metkayina youth kneel behind her as some form of ceremony is conducted by clan chief Tonowari.
Several rapid fire shots pass by- Kiri and Spider stalk through the forest, knives out. Lo'ak and Tsireya enjoy a quiet moment by the ocean, with Tsireya sporting her first Metkayina tattoo on her forehead. Tonowari and Ronal look on at something disapprovingly. Lo'ak shoves Jake's chest and walks away, tears in his eyes.
Our first dialogue in the trailer comes from the next scene, where Jake is shown admonishing a weary and bandaged Neytiri. "We can't live like this, baby. In hate." In light of several other details in this trailer, Neytiri is likely preparing to seek out the Ash Clan, hoping for revenge against the RDA for the loss of her son Neteyam.
Almost as if confirming this, the trailer jumps back to Quaritch as he approaches the Ash Clan village. Barefoot, shirtless, with just a rucksack with him, he holds his hands high as he approaches.
The next shot contains a spoiler so large, we're shocked it made it into the trailer: Jake embraces Spider, who is notably not wearing an exo-pack mask that is required for humans to survive on the surface of Pandora without dying. This is one of three shots in the trailer that show us this same detail, so this isn't some passing coincidence. Somewhere along the line, Spider will gain the ability to breathe Pandora's air without fear of death.
In the next scene, Ronal advises Kiri "if there is something you can do, you must do it" as the trailer cuts to Jake running through a crowd of Metkayina Na'vi towards approaching RDA forces. Their village burns in the background, and Jake puts himself between Quaritch, Varang, and Tonowari, holding up his hand in desperation.
Several quick shots pass, the RDA's sea fleet (including their new, massive refinery platform) skims over the water. A beaten Quaritch and Lyle stand inside a control room of some kind. Jake holds Neytiri from behind as she opens tear-filled eyes.
The trailer then pivots to show us our brand new villain, Varang, in all her intimidating glory. She exits a tent crafted from the jaw of a large creature and appears to regard something that is approaching. The Ash Clan warriors hold their bows and spears in threat to something, then another shot shows Varang standing down approaching RDA forces led by Quaritch. Two AMP suits carry what appear to be supplies. The next cut shows Varang lighting her fingers aflame in some kind of ritual or practice, an ornate tattoo visible on her right hand. Flaming arrows rain down around Spider (again without a mask), Kiri, Tuk and Lo'ak. Lo'ak fires back with an assault rifle.
The next shot shows Neytiri in a human hospital facility, bandages around a wound on her left shoulder. She holds the hands of another Na'vi, her mother Mo'at, and exclaims "the children!" before the trailer cuts back to Kiri, Tuk and Spider crashing through the underbrush of Pandora's jungle. Another quick cut shows Spider collapsing to the ground surrounded by Kiri, Tuk and Lo'ak, warning lights flashing on the inside of his exo-pack. This clip appears to take place moments before the fire arrow clip from earlier in the trailer where Spider no longer has his mask- leading us to believe that this is where Spider's miracle happens.
The trailer cuts back to an RDA facility, where a large crowd of humans have gathered. Ash Clan forces including Varang and Quaritch land on the tarmac alongside RDA aircraft, before the trailer cuts to show us Jake being perp-walked in front of a jeering crowd of human onlookers.
In the next shot, a lone banshee flies before Polyphemus, carrying an injured Na'vi with an arrow in their shoulder. Under close inspection, this appears to be Neytiri, being ferried to some unknown location before winding up in High Camp's hospital facilities.
Another short dialogue scene is shown, with Neytiri in dissolving Ash Clan warpaint responding to Jake's earlier advice with her own: "then we will find another way."
Deep into the climax of the trailer, a quick shot of the Tulkun matriarch attacking an RDA vessel, Jake and Neytiri hero-walk toward some new conflict. Neytiri and Jake both have new outfits that indicate this is shortly before the final confrontation. Varang leads aerial Ash Clan forces against Jake and Neytiri. Neytiri is seen to be wearing her mourning warpaint as she strikes down an Ash Clan warrior, indicating that these two scenes take place at different points in the film.
Nearing the end of the trailer, Spider leaps down a series of floating rocks as the Flux Vortex rages around him. He has a long, singular braid which appears to be a Na'vi , possibly related to his other miracle? A massive chunk of metal flies up into the air as Jake and Quaritch (in full Ash Clan regalia) fist fight on the rocks below. A quick shot of Jake, back in his Metkayina warrior garb as he looks at something with visible alarm. Spider slides towards the edge of a floating rock, desperately reaching for a handhold. Again, he has no mask.
Rapid fire shots, Kiri holds her mouth in concern, Jake comforts a mourning Neytiri. Quaritch serves absolute face in a close-up look at his Ash Clan warpaint. Jake tackles Quaritch as more structures or material fly into the air in the Flux Vortex. Lo'ak stares down the scope of a rifle before grunting in frustration. Neytiri and an unknown Na'vi land on the floating rocks in the Flux, with Neytiri drawing her bow towards Varang, who is wielding a flamethrower. Neytiri appears to have a baby wrapped in a protective harness on her chest.
Finally, the money shot as Kiri faces down with Varang, who declares "your goddess has no dominion here". She appears to be holding a lock of Spider's dreads in her left hand.
So there you have it, everything we noticed in the first Avatar: Fire and Ash trailer! While nothing is certain, we are starting to get a clear picture of the shape this film will take. If any of the information here surprised or excited you, be sure to join our Discord community which is full of the fans who identified all of these details and be sure to follow us on social media for more breaking Avatar news!
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