James Cameron has teased a new Na'vi clan, the "Ash People," for Avatar 3, so many have begun to theorize what part they could play in the upcoming Avatar sequels. Released in December 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water introduced audiences to a new clan of Na'vi, distancing Jake and Neytiri from their home with the Omatikaya and finding them living with the Metkayina, who reside in Pandora's reefs and oceans. James Cameron has confirmed that at least three sequels will be produced in the Avatar franchise, revealing even more new locations and different clans of Na'vi on Pandora, teasing the possibility of a villainous clan in Avatar 3.
Avatar introduced the world to the Na'vi, the indigenous race of Pandora, the vibrant moon orbiting the massive gas giant Polyphemus. While Avatar focused on the Omatikaya, who are initially found living in Hometree before its destruction at the hands of the RDA, Avatar: The Way of Water introduceded the Metkayina, who have a very different physiology to their forest-dwelling counterparts. In a recent interview with 20 Minutes, Avatar creator James Cameron hinted at the debut of the "Ash People" during Avatar 3, solidifying the fact that there is a lot of Pandora that audiences still haven't seen.
Avatar 3's Ash People Explained: Everything We Know
Hot on the heels of Avatar: The Way of Water's release, Cameron revealed that the future sequels would show "different cultures from those [he has] already shown... fire will be represented by the Ash People." While not much has been revealed about the inclusion of this new group of Na'vi, Cameron explained that the Ash People in Avatar 3 will show a different side to the Na'vi, proving that not only are there good and bad humans, but there are also good and bad Na'vi. Cameron stated, "in the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Na'vi examples. In Avatar 3, we will do the opposite."
James Cameron's comments have left many to theorize that the Ash People will be the primary antagonists in Avatar 3, potentially even teaming up with the RDA, who now have a permanent base on Pandora in the form of Bridgehead City. The Ash People are set to provide a realistic depth to the mythos of the Na'vi, as it's unrealistic to think that every member of the species is on the right side of history. More information will surely be revealed over the coming years about the status of Pandora's fire-focused Na'vi, but until then, one Reddit theory might have answered some questions regarding the mysterious new community.
A Volcanic Eruption Could Have Severed The Ash People's Connection To Eywa
The theory poses that the Ash People have lost their connection to Eywa, something which is held sacred to other clans thanks to their access to the Tree of Souls. Cameron also revealed that other locations across Pandora would be explored in the Avatar sequels, and it could be assumed that one of these could be a volcanic area of the world. This would perhaps be the perfect place to introduce the Ash People, and would suggest that Pandora has experienced volcanic activity, most likely explained because of its proximity to its host planet, Polyphemus. An ancient volcanic eruption would brilliantly explain the Ash People's loss of connection to Eywa.
A volcanic eruption would have destroyed the Ash People's own sacred locations, their Tree of Souls, as well as any surrounding flora in their area of Pandora, which would have completely separated the Ash People from their connection to Eywa and their ability to speak to their ancestors. If this had taken place on a remote volcanic island, the Ash People would have been cut off permanently from other Na'vi tribes, so over the generations, the Ash People could have lost their belief in the Pandoran deity, with Eywa simply becoming a myth. This would easily lead to the Ash People not sharing the same appreciation for Pandora as the other Na'vi clans.
Why Avatar 3's Ash People Could Team Up With Humans
The Ash People being cut off from their Tree of Souls and from other Na'vi clans would mean that they would be more likely to exploit Pandora for its resources, rather than appreciating every part of Pandora like the other Na'vi. A volcanic eruption would have exposed the Ash People to molten rocks and metals, allowing them to forge weapons that would be seen as far more advanced than the typical Na'vi bows and arrows. This advancement in weaponry would perhaps lead the Ash People to team up with the RDA during future Avatar projects, fighting in the battles against Jake and the "good" Na'vi.
Avatar: The Way of Water also showed that the human forces on Pandora seem to have an affinity to weapons that utilize fire, which could provide the perfect chance for the Ash People and the RDA to team up. Both the RDA and the Ash People have doubts about the existence of Eywa, and both forces could be exploiting Pandora's resources for everything its worth, which means they would make the perfect partnership. With the RDA now using recombinant avatar soldiers, including the recombinant avatar Quaritch, they could easily integrate themselves in the community of the Ash People.
Will The Ash People Actually Be Avatar 3’s Villains?
In a recent interview with BTV Korea, James Cameron confirmed that the upcoming Avatar sequels will feature the same villain throughout, instead of introducing new villains with each film. This means that, while many have suspected that the Ash People would be the primary villains of Avatar 3, it seems that humanity, and the new recombinant Quaritch, will still be the villains in the upcoming sequels. However, the Ash People can still be introduced as a villainous clan of Na'vi, especially if they were to team up with the RDA in the battle against Jake and the Na'vi, but they won't be the new major villain in the Avatar franchise.
The Ash People are set to be only one of several new clans of Na'vi that will be introduced in the future Avatar films, and though not much has been confirmed about the new group, it seems that losing their connection to Eywa could easily explain their nefarious intentions. The RDA could realize that the best way to infiltrate and defeat the Na'vi would be to team up with an indigenous community that shares the opposite values to Jake and his family. Luckily, fans won't have to wait too long to see the Ash People in action, as Avatar 3 is currently slated for a December 2024 release.
