For all of the discussions and discourse surrounding James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, there is simply no denying facts: these movies resonate with a gargantuan portion of audiences.
When Avatar: The Way of Water was released in 2022, it was a full thirteen years after the original film had gone on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, which led many to prognosticate that Cameron’s belabored effort would sink at the box office. However, just the opposite proved to be true, as Way of Water became yet another one of the highest-grossing films of all time and cemented that the Avatar franchise had more than enough cultural relevance to warrant further sequels.
Beyond simply being a well-recognized property that audiences had fond memories of, Way of Water also benefitted from being a genuinely great film. As someone who really likes the first film, I feel confident in saying that I am not alone in confirming that Way of Water surpasses it on every front. Now, with the second trailer for the third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron and co. promise even more emotion, even bigger set pieces, and even more gonzo science-fiction storytelling.
Notably, the trailer opens in a very different way from prior Avatar marketing materials. All of the trailers for Way of Water and even the first trailer for Fire and Ash opened with beautifully scenic and joyful shots of characters amidst the natural environment of Pandora, generally with James Horner’s iconic theme playing over the top. This has obviously worked tremendously well, as it immediately reminds audiences of the immersive qualities that they enjoy so much about these films. However, this new trailer breaks from tradition, and instead opens by putting audiences with the new antagonist of the film, Varang, as played by Oona Chaplin. These beats effectively set her up as an imposing force, and demonstrate how the new film is poised to flip previous franchise rules on their heads.
Elsewhere, the trailer does a great job of simultaneously spotlighting the heartfelt familial dynamic of the Sully family (especially in the aftermath of losing one member during the climax of Way of Water) and showcasing the absolutely bonkers, grandiose action the film has to offer. James Cameron has always been an action filmmaking legend, and the Avatar films have served as a phenomenal latter-day platform for him to really strut his stuff. Whereas other filmmakers seem to lose a bit of heft and impact when they pivot to such digital effects-driven action, Cameron has managed to maintain the kind of grit and integrity integral to making his action feel so affecting, and that is on dull display in the ludicrously large-scale action featured here.
Avatar: Fire and Ash is set for release this December, with a planned fourth and fifth installment in the franchise to follow soon after.