The conclusion of 2023’s Avatar: The Way of Water saw the tragic death of Neteyam, Jake Sully and Neytiri’s firstborn son — spurring his heartbroken mother into a furious (and ultimately victorious) rage against the villainous RDA. The upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash will continue to deal with the aftermath of that monumental loss, the “absolute devastation” of which is still top of Neytiri’s mind, says actor Zoe Saldaña.
“That pain is seamlessly followed up on,” she says. “And because it doesn’t really have anywhere to go, and doesn’t go away, rage can also come from it.” A fierce new image of Neytiri from the upcoming film can be seen above. Saldaña warns that Neytiri’s grief will radiate into every corner of her life. “[The Sullys] are going to be tested as a family,” she shares. “Not only would everything that’s happening compel her to question the bond she has with her husband, but also her bond with herself, her people, her land, and the way the Na’vi are. She’s going to question everything.”
In addition to this internal turmoil, Neytiri will “meet her match” in Varang, the leader of the Mangkwan Ash Clan, played by Oona Chaplin. Although the character of Neytiri is facing immense challenges in Fire and Ash, this brings out an “incandescent” performance from Saldaña, according to director James Cameron. He raves, “With Emilia Pérez, she’s finally getting recognized as the top-tier actor we’ve always known she is — but in [Fire and Ash], that goes way beyond what you’ve seen before.” While Neytiri may have a tough time ahead of her, the audience is in for a treat.
Stay tuned to Avatar.com for all the latest news on Avatar: Fire and Ash, only in theaters December 19.
This information originally appeared in Empire magazine.