Everything We’re Allowed to Say About the New Avatar Trailer

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On Monday morning, I stepped into Disney’s recently built New York City campus, known as the Robert A. Iger Building. The team was previewing the trailer for the upcoming film Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is the third installment in James Cameron’s long-running defense of motion-capture technology. In the lobby, one man asked another, “I assume you’re here for the same reason I am?” To which the other replied, “Yes, but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to discuss why.” He then questioned the front-desk staff about the Avatar trailer. Our guide led us through turnstiles and informed us that we shouldn’t write about the trailer itself, although we could express our reactions on social media. Since Vulture has a comments section, I suppose it can be considered a type of social media? So here is my account of the trailer for the third Avatar film in as vague terms as possible to avoid any legal trouble, as Kate Winslet says in the Avatar: Fire and Ash trailer, “If there’s something you can do, then you must do it.” Unfortunately, I may have revealed too much already!

As a cinephile, let me share my thoughts on the Avatar franchise. Since watching Coraline, I haven’t encountered another film that truly justifies the use of theatrical 3-D quite like these movies do. The CG landscapes of Pandora, especially in the pitch-black of the cinema, are breathtakingly crisp and vibrant.

The first two films beautifully explored the bioluminescent forests and oceans of this planet, but Fire and Ash takes us to new heights – quite literally! We witness the Sully clan sailing on massive sky-boats pulled by colossal, translucent creatures that resemble plump manta rays.

Another fascinating aspect is the depiction of the big volcano and the burnt-out wastelands where the Fire Nation resides. This is a bit concerning considering the series’ focus on elementally bound societies, with the antagonists being firebenders. It seems a bit coincidental that the creator named this entire series Avatar when the Fire Nation is such a central part of it. But hey, that’s just Jimmy for you!

The firefighters in the trailer appear both awe-inspiring and terrifying; they are pale and thin, with daunting face paint, skilled in using military flamethrowers, and uttering ominous phrases like “Your goddess has no power here,” a line I find myself wanting to repeat. From the trailer, it seems that Quaritch has infiltrated their society, which could lead to conflicts with Spider, his biological son who has adopted the Sully lifestyle. Furthermore, there appears to be tension within the Sully family, as Jake is seen arguing with Neytiri, saying “You cannot continue living like this, my love! In anger!” It amuses me to see how the Na’vi address each other affectionately as “baby.

This upcoming movie will feature massive battle scenes, some involving tribal conflicts and others against humans with their warships and tanks. However, what you might really want to know is: Does it include tulkun? The answer is affirmative; there’s a close-up shot of a whale-like tulkun’s eye. Soon, you should be able to view the trailer legally for yourself. Exciting times ahead!

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2025-07-21 23:54