Our Intergalactic Nightmare Is Over — Payakan Is Back

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When the universe called upon him the most, he made his grand return for us. The intriguing and often misinterpreted rebel of Tulkun society, Payakan, initially presented in “Avatar: The Way of Water,” will reappear on a grand scale in the third film of the series, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” This was made possible by the dedicated fandom who have grown to love him. As Richard Baneham, VFX supervisor and EP of Avatar, shared with Empire magazine, “He has proven to be one of the most beloved characters. The positive response encouraged us to elevate Payakan’s role to its maximum potential.” And here’s a bittersweet twist for his admirers – he’ll even have a romantic interest! So, I’m afraid, ladies, he’s no longer available.

In the 2022 movie, Payakan is shunned from his sophisticated space-whale community due to his quest for vengeance against cruel humans who murdered his mother, which he described as an unbearably painful memory. Despite going against the peaceful Tulkun Way, his rebellious and determined nature are what ultimately enable him to rescue his fellow Tulkun from treacherous whalers near the film’s end. Essentially, Payakan is like the underdog character Luigi but a whale. In Fire and Ash, viewers will encounter Payakan’s new ally, a female Tulkun named Ta’nok. Baneham describes her as another outcast and hints at an intriguing relationship between them, which seems to be the developing “it” pair on Pandora.

viewers will get to know the heads of the Tulkun tribe, referred to as Matriarch and Patriarch; these captivating glimpses into the Tulkun culture will be shown in cinemas on December 19, 2025. That’s just 258 days until Payakan arrives!

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2025-04-04 23:53