Avatar: Fire and Ash Cast & Characters: Who’s New, Who Returned
Avatar: Fire and Ash Cast & Characters
Updated: January 16, 2026
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash expands Pandora again—this time with a new volcanic threat, a new skyfaring culture, and a lineup that blends familiar faces with major newcomers. Below is a spoiler-light cast and character guide focusing on who’s new, who returned, and why these characters matter going forward.
Quick Snapshot: New Clans, New Stakes
- New Na’vi forces: the volcanic Ash People (Mangkwan) and the nomadic Wind Traders.
- Big newcomers: Oona Chaplin as Varang and David Thewlis as Peylak.
- Core returning POV: Jake, Neytiri, Kiri, Lo’ak, Tuk, and Spider—still the emotional heart of the series.
Who’s New in Avatar: Fire and Ash (New Cast & Characters)
Oona Chaplin as Varang (Leader of the Ash People / Mangkwan)
Varang is the headline newcomer—and a major tonal shift for the franchise: a Na’vi antagonist with power, strategy, and a worldview shaped by devastation. Varang leads the Mangkwan (also known as the Ash People), a clan tied to a volcanic biome and hardened by repeated destruction. In the franchise’s moral language, Varang isn’t presented as a “cartoon villain” so much as a leader willing to do terrible things to protect her own.
David Thewlis as Peylak (Leader of the Wind Traders)
Peylak leads the Wind Traders, a traveling Na’vi culture that crosses Pandora’s skies aboard massive, living “ship-creatures.” Unlike most Na’vi clans we’ve seen (deeply rooted to a single home biome), the Wind Traders are defined by movement, trade, and connection—making them a natural bridge between worlds, factions, and future sequels.
Who Returned (Returning Cast & Characters)
The returning lineup is stacked—spanning the Sully family, Metkayina allies, the human/RDA presence, and the franchise’s long-running “unfinished business” characters.
| Actor | Character | Returned As |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Worthington | Jake Sully | Na’vi leader, Sully family patriarch |
| Zoe Saldaña | Neytiri | Omatikaya warrior, Jake’s partner |
| Sigourney Weaver | Kiri | Sully family, deeply connected to Eywa |
| Stephen Lang | Miles Quaritch | Recombinant colonel, still hunting Jake |
| Britain Dalton | Lo’ak | Sully son |
| Trinity Jo-Li Bliss | Tuk | Sully daughter |
| Jack Champion | Spider | Human teen tied to Quaritch |
| Kate Winslet | Ronal | Metkayina leader |
| Cliff Curtis | Tonowari | Metkayina chieftain |
| Bailey Bass | Tsireya | Metkayina teen, close to Lo’ak |
| Filip Geljo | Aonung | Metkayina teen |
| Duane Evans Jr. | Rotxo | Metkayina teen |
| Jamie Flatters | Neteyam | Returned appearance (likely memories/flashbacks) |
| Edie Falco | General Frances Ardmore | RDA leadership |
| Giovanni Ribisi | Parker Selfridge | RDA administrator |
| Jemaine Clement | Dr. Ian Garvin | Marine bio specialist |
| Joel David Moore | Dr. Norm Spellman | Avatar Program scientist ally |
| CCH Pounder | Mo’at | Omatikaya spiritual leader |
| Brendan Cowell | Mick Scoresby | Whaling captain (human antagonist thread) |
Reddit Rewatch Guide: What to Remember Before You Overthink Fire and Ash
- Jake vs. Quaritch never stays “just personal.” Their conflict keeps evolving with new bodies, loyalties, and collateral damage.
- Kiri remains the wild card—especially when the story starts arguing about what Eywa does (and doesn’t) protect.
- Spider is the emotional fuse: human, raised among Na’vi, and permanently tied to the man hunting the Sullys.
- The Metkayina aren’t a pit stop; they’re now part of the Sully family’s identity and survival network.
Reddit Theories: Is Varang a Villain… or the Franchise’s Harshest Mirror?
One reason Varang instantly sparked debate is that she forces a difficult question the earlier films mostly dodged: what happens when Pandora’s suffering creates Na’vi who no longer believe in the old spiritual “rules”? If your home keeps burning—and help never comes—faith can curdle into fury. That doesn’t excuse violence, but it does explain how an antagonist can feel chillingly logical inside her own story.
If you’re writing about her without spoilers, focus on the tension: Varang is a protector first, a believer second, and a war-leader whenever those two collide.
Reddit’s Biggest Question: Why the Wind Traders Matter Beyond One Movie
The Wind Traders are more than “cool new visuals.” Story-wise, they can connect far-flung biomes and clans—meaning information, alliances, and conflict can spread faster than ever. In a franchise built around the idea that Pandora is a living network, a traveling Na’vi culture is basically a narrative superhighway.
Related Content: What to Watch / Read Next
FAQ (Cast & Characters)
Who are the new main characters in Avatar: Fire and Ash?
The biggest newcomers are Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), leader of the volcanic Ash People (Mangkwan), and Peylak (played by David Thewlis), leader of the sky-traveling Wind Traders.
Which cast members returned from Avatar: The Way of Water?
Most of the core ensemble returns, including Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), Quaritch (Stephen Lang), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), Spider (Jack Champion), Ronal (Kate Winslet), Tonowari (Cliff Curtis), and more.
Is Neteyam in Fire and Ash?
Jamie Flatters appears in the cast list as Neteyam. Given Neteyam’s fate in The Way of Water, his presence is commonly understood as likely being through flashbacks, memories, or related appearances.