David Thewlis' character in Avatar: Fire and Ash revealed as a "battle for the ages" looms

It's hard to believe, but later this year we'll be watching Avatar: Fire and Ash, the forthcoming third movie in James Cameron's sweeping sci-fi film series. After waiting more than a decade between the first two movies, it's mind-blowing that we'll be returning to Pandora again so soon. But the promotion train is already rolling out some new images and details from the new movie, so it's happening!

Today, Empire Magazine revealed a ton of intriguing updates about the film, which features prominently in their February 13 issue. Let's start with the most exciting: the identity of the character played by David Thewlis. We've known for a while now that Thewlis was joining the Avatar franchise, with rumors pegging him as a leader of the antagonistic Ash Clan of Na'vi. But surprise! Thewlis isnt playing a villain, but a charismatic good guy.

In addition to the Ash Clan of Na'vi, Fire and Ash will also introduce the Tlalim Clan, known as the Wind Traders. They ride around the plains of Pandora on giant floating jellyfish, and are led by a chieftain named Peylak, played by Thewlis. He's a stylish fellow:

David Thewlis plays the chieftain of the Wind Trader Na'vi clan in Avatar: Fire and Ash

If the Ash Clan of Na'vi will lean toward the villainous side of things, the Tlalim Wind Traders are the opposite. “They’re upbeat, happy, colorful,” Avatar: Fire And Ash costume designer Deborah L. Scott told Empire. “And when they come into our movie, everyone’s excited to see them. It’s like the circus is in town.”

Obviously, if the Tlalim are comparable to a traveling circus, they have to dress the part. Scott discussed how the design for Peylak's signature cloak evolved throughout the production process. “Originally the cloak was a little more rugged, a little more rustic,” she recalled. “But as all the clans developed, Jim [Cameron] said, ‘I just don’t think it’s grand enough.’ So I went back and reinvented it.”

The Avatar movies have always had great casting, but Thewlis is an actor I'm especially excited to see join the series. He's got a long history of crushing it in genre roles, from his turn as the sneering King Einon in 1996's Dragonheart to the wise-but-tortured Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter movies and the demented John Dee in Netflix's adaptation of The Sandman. There's no denying that he's a huge get for Avatar: Fire and Ash, where he'll throw on a motion capture suit and steal scenes as the Na'vi chieftain Peylak.

“The way he carries himself, he’s got great posture,” Scott said of Thewlis. “He’s absolutely stunning in the movie.”

A massive battle is coming in Avatar: Fire and Ash

Empire also showed off a first-look at a new ship of the RDA (Resources Development Administration), aka the human industrial faction which wants to mine Pandora for its natural wealth. In Fire and Ash, they've got a gargantuan new vessel, dubbed the Factory Ship. According to production designer Ben Procter, it's "essentially a moving oil platform that is designed to capture and process the tulkun on an industrial scale." The tulkun, in case you forgot, were the sentient whale creatures introduced in Avatar: The Way of Water.

But dubious harvesting of whale oil isn't the only purpose of the Factory Ship: it's also a transport for the RDA's armed forces. “Coming out of these vehicles is an army, and all of that leads into a war,” Procter teased. “At the end of Avatar 3, what we’re going to see is something of a scale, in terms of conflict, that we have not seen before.”

Yes, a massive battle is coming at the end of Avatar: Fire and Ash. While Avatar: The Way of Water also featured a big clash at the end, for my money it didn't top the collapse of hometree and the final battle at the end of the first Avatar, at least scale-wise. That sounds like it's going to change with this new film, because Procter says "we’re going to see an airborne and water-borne battle for the ages, as the Pandoran forces and RDA clash in a really interesting environment,” adding that it will make the climax of The Way of Water look like "nothing but a skirmish."

If we're going to get technical, the end battle of The Way of Water actually was just a skirmish, at least in terms of armies and what have you. It was more about rescuing the captured children than it was a full-scale assault, so this is all good to hear.

Avatar: Fire and Ash concept art shows desolate Ash Clan village and war beasts

But wait, there's more! Empire also dropped some brand new concept art for the Ash Clan, the much-teased new faction of Na'vi which will serve as one of the primary antagonists for Avatar 3. Their Na'vi name is the Mangkwan Clan, and according to production designer Dylan Cole, “they used to live not too dissimilarly to the Omatikaya from Avatar 1” before things took a dark turn.

“[The Mangkwan] had a natural disaster befall them, and that sort of helped shaped their culture,” Cole explained. “So much of the world of Pandora is rich and vibrant and full of life — this is just the exact opposite.”

See that big ruined structure in the middle of the concept art? That's the charred remnants of a hometree not unlike the one we saw collapse in the first Avatar movie. I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of sorrow and rage surrounding the introduction to the Mangkwan in Avatar 3.

Like the Wind Traders and Omatikaya, the Mangkwan are also practicing with riding aerial beasts. The last piece of concept art revealed today shows the Ash Clan leader Varang (played by Game of Thrones alum Oona Chaplin) riding her war mount, called a Nightwraith. Or at least, that's the official name of the creature. "We jokingly call her Ashley,” recalled Cole.

One thing's for sure: we're going to be seeing a whole new side of Pandora in Avatar 3. “Each new film gives us a chance to open up a door that was closed before and go, ‘Check this out’,” said Procter. I can't wait.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is slated to hit theaters on December 19, 2025.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.