“It Came from a Deep Place of Grief”: ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’s New Villain Channels Anger from “Heartbreaking” Real-Life Experience [Exclusive]

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Avatar: Fire and Ash returns to the world of Pandora this holiday season. The new film, directed by James Cameron, continues the story of the Sully family as they grapple with a painful loss. Things become even more challenging with the arrival of the Ash People, forcing the family to confront difficult choices that will test their values.

In Fire and Ash, we meet Varang, the leader of the Ash People – a unique Na’vi tribe with a tragic history. After a devastating disaster destroyed their homeland, they chose a different path than other tribes, embracing a darker way of life. As conflict rises, Varang’s compelling personality and the Ash People’s unusual beliefs pose a serious challenge to the Sully family, potentially driving them apart.

Eleanor Chaplin, known for her roles in shows like Game of Thrones and Taboo, portrays Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash. In a recent interview with MovieWeb, Chaplin discussed how she connected with the character. Given that the Ash People are defined by tragedy and have rejected Eywa, finding motivation wasn’t difficult; Chaplin drew on personal experiences of grief to bring the role to life.

Looking back, that emotional core of the role really resonated with me. When I landed the part, I was carrying a lot of frustration and anger with how things were. I was actually spending time in Calais, witnessing the conditions in ‘the jungle’ – that makeshift refugee camp. It was a stark contrast, and I’d come home and just… break down. A simple thing like a hot shower would hit me hard, and I’d end up crying because I had a hot shower, something so many others didn’t.

I understood her anger because I’d experienced deep sadness myself, and that connection was crucial. It allowed me to portray her as a person driven by strong beliefs and a desire to do what she thought was best for her community, rather than simply as a villain. While I would have approached things differently, her focus isn’t on healing; she’s determined to eliminate anything that frightens or threatens her. That internal conflict was a powerful foundation for the character.

Varang Presents the ‘Avatar’ Franchise’s Most Complex Villain Yet


20th Century Studios

After the events of Avatar: The Way of Water, the Sully family continues to grieve the loss of their son, Neteyam. The resilient Ash People provide a fitting backdrop as the characters search for understanding. Both director James Cameron and actress Zoe Saldaña have discussed Neytiri’s difficult path forward, revealing that her grief will lead her to a dark place and challenge her core beliefs in the next film.

Varang is a great introduction to the Ash People. He’s a compelling character – charismatic, but with a hint of danger – and acts as a villain you can almost understand. Cameron talked about where the Ash People came from, and even mentioned that Chaplin contributed to designing a ritual featured in Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Oona developed a unique ritual, complete with her own distinct style of movement. She even designed a special weapon, inspired by a technique called bukang, but she modified it by connecting two together to create a spiral shape. She choreographed an entire dance to go with it, and it’s incredibly mesmerizing. I wanted to include more of the dance in the final piece, as it’s quite extensive and captivating. Ultimately, I combined this with a traditional binding fire dance.

The new Avatar film, Fire and Ash, promises a more dangerous story than previous installments, showing James Cameron’s commitment to developing his sci-fi world. It’s still unclear how the Sully family will deal with the threat of Varang, but audiences can return to Pandora when the movie premieres on December 19th.

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2025-12-16 15:33