James Cameron, Zoe Saldaña debut new ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ footage at CinemaCon
The King of the World is back on Pandora.
On Thursday, to close out the Disney presentation at CinemaCon, Oscar-winning director James Cameron and Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldaña revealed the first footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash. The third film in Cameron’s Avatar franchise premieres in theaters on Dec. 19.
Cameron did not attend CinemaCon but shared a video message from New Zealand, where he is finishing the film before its Dec. 19 release. “The Sully family are really put through the ringer on this one as they face not only the human invaders, but new adversaries, the Ash people,” Cameron said.
Appearing on stage at CinemaCon, Saldaña spoke briefly about the film before introducing two extended sequences. “Fire and Ash expands in the beautiful world of Pandora and introduces two new clans: The Windtraders are a peaceful, nomadic air traveling clan, and the Ash People are former Na’vi who have forsaken Eywa,” the reigning Best Supporting Actress winner shared. “I'm thrilled to share a clip today that features the Windtraders, the Ash People, and gives you a sense of where this next chapter of our epic story leads.”
In the clips, the Sully family is shown connecting with the Windtraders on massive airships flying high above Pandora's water. However, the idyllic scenes of splendor quickly turn violent as the Ash People attack from above. An extended teaser trailer followed the sequences, revealing several sequences of danger and strife for the characters.
Theater exhibitors and Academy members have high expectations for the next Avatar installment. The first two movies grossed more than $5.24 billion worldwide, good enough to place first and third all time. Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water also received 13 Oscar nominations, including two bids for Best Picture and multiple wins.
Before CinemaCon, Cameron teased that Avatar: Fire and Ash is the most emotional installment of the franchise yet. “My wife watched the whole thing from end to end. She had kept herself away from it, and I wasn’t showing her bits and pieces as we went along. This was Dec. 22,” Cameron said. “She bawled for four hours. She kept trying to get her shit back together so she could tell me specific reactions, and then she’d just tear up and start crying again. Finally, I’m like, ‘Honey, I’ve got to go to bed. Sorry, we’ll talk about it some other time.’”
The Avatar: Fire and Ash trailer premiere was far from a surprise, not just because people were given 3-D glasses before the Disney presentation started on Thursday. Cameron is a longtime proponent of CinemaCon — he previously appeared here with Avatar: The Way of Water — and an advocate for the theatrical experience.