The latest trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash is packed with thrilling glimpses of what’s to come, from the formidable Varang to the strained relationship between Jake Sully and Neytiri following their son’s death. However, one character you won’t spot in the trailer is Peylak, portrayed by David Thewlis. Making his debut in the third installment of the epic saga, Peylak is the leader of the Wind Traders, a unique Na’vi clan with jellyfish-like giant ship-creatures that feature prominently in the teaser. While concept art of Peylak has previously been shared, here’s your first look at him in Fire and Ash.
Avatar creator and director James Cameron reveals that Peylak and the Wind Traders will play a significant role not just in Fire and Ash, but beyond. “They're going to be throughout the cycle of 3, 4 and 5,” he teases, highlighting their distinctiveness as a Na’vi clan. “They're still 100% Na'vi but they're not place-specific, which is different because most indigenous people are very rooted in their sense of place.” Cameron is playing “a long game” with Peylak, similar to the approach taken with characters Ronal and Tonowari in the previous film.
The Wind Traders’ journey promises to be a rewarding one, with Cameron drawing inspiration from classic cinematic sagas. “You're gonna wait for it, but it's satisfying,” he says, referencing the influence of The Godfather movies. This kind of intricate world-building is what sets Avatar apart, offering not just a glimpse of the Wind Traders as part of Pandora, but a deeper understanding of their way of life. “Somebody said to me once, and it kind of resonated: ‘It's fantasy, but it has a level of procedural detail that makes me believe what's happening’,” Cameron explains. “We only see a glimpse of it, but it feels like a glimpse through a keyhole of a much greater reality that's persistent and ongoing, you know? That's the feeling that we want to create.”
Watch Avatar: Fire and Ash only in theaters December 19, 2025.
And revisit the first two films in the series, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, available to stream now on Disney+.
This information originally appeared in Empire magazine.