‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Stuns at CinemaCon with Dazzling 3D Trailer and Fierce New Na’vi Clans
James Cameron is back—and this time, he’s bringing fire. Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in the visionary sci-fi saga, made its grand debut at CinemaCon with a jaw-dropping 3D trailer that lit up the Las Vegas crowd. Featuring epic sky battles, new Na’vi factions, and emotional intensity, the footage confirmed what many already expected: Cameron is once again aiming for a box office inferno.
Unveiled to an auditorium of theater owners, the trailer introduces two new Na’vi clans—the Wind Traders, a nomadic air clan that floats through Pandora’s skies in elaborate balloon-like crafts, and the Ash People, a fearsome, flame-wielding group of Na’vi who have renounced their devotion to Eywa, Pandora’s spiritual force. Riding Ikran through burning skies, the Ash People are poised as major antagonists in this next chapter.
Zoe Saldaña, who reprises her role as Neytiri, was on hand to introduce the footage. “The Wind Traders are a peaceful, nomadic air-traveling clan,” she explained, “and the Ash People are former Na’vi who have forsaken Eywa.” A chilling line from the trailer sets the tone for the Ash People’s brutality, as their leader warns Neytiri, “Your goddess has no place here.”
The trailer also teases emotional fallout from The Way of Water, with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri grappling with the grief of losing their son, Neteyam. Their journey continues as they seek refuge with the oceanic Metkayina clan while battling not only the RDA (Resources Development Administration), but the newly introduced Ash People. The trailer’s emotional core is echoed in a poignant line from Jake:
“We can not live like this, baby. We can not live with this hate.”
The trailer shows sweeping terrains, including oceans, skies, forests, and mountains, and culminates in intense aerial combat. One scene depicts a Na’vi warrior struck midair by a flaming arrow, falling lifeless to the jungle below. Later, a Water chief solemnly declares, “We can not defeat this enemy who comes from the stars.”
While Cameron couldn’t attend CinemaCon in person—he’s currently in New Zealand finalizing Fire and Ash—he appeared in a pre-recorded message to thank theater owners and preview what’s to come.
“The Sully family are really put through the wringer on this one,” Cameron said. “They face not only the human invaders, but new adversaries—the Ash People.” He added with a grin: “Sorry I can’t be there, but I think we can all agree this sucker’s coming at us like a freight train on Dec. 19.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash follows the box office juggernauts Avatar (2009) and The Way of Water (2022), which each grossed over $2 billion globally. If Fire and Ash follows suit, it would become the only film franchise in history with three $2 billion-plus entries—cementing Cameron’s crown as king of the cinematic mega-hit.
Disney also used its CinemaCon platform to preview major 2025 releases including Marvel’s Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four: The First Steps, Zootopia 2, Freakier Friday, Tron: Ares, and a live-action Lilo & Stitch.
But it was Cameron’s stunning new vision of Pandora that stole the show. Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives in theaters December 19, 2025, setting the stage for what could be the most visually spectacular, emotionally charged chapter yet in the iconic saga.