With anticipation rising for James Cameron’s next installment in his Avatar franchise, there is great interest in the new explosive character Varang.
With anticipation building for Avatar 3, fans are wondering who Varang is and why she wasn’t included in Avatar: The Way of Water. The first of several previously-announced Avatar sequels titled Avatar: The Way of Water became the third highest-grossing movie of all time. James Cameron’s original 2009 Avatar remains in the top spot at just under $3 billion at the global box office. Avatar 3 has the potential to break both of these records and effectively become the most successful theatrical release ever made, with Varang as a central figure.
Disney announced that the release of Avatar 3 will be delayed by a year, pushing the premiere of James Cameron’s blockbuster back to late 2025. The remaining two Avatar sequels also were delayed in a major way, pushing both of their release dates back three years. While little is known about the plots of the upcoming sequels, there is expected to be a major jump in the narrative timeline between Avatar 3 and Avatar 4. This makes the new major character Varang, who is expected to appear in both films, even more intriguing, especially as she wasn’t present in Avatar 2.
Oona Chaplin Will Play Varang In Avatar Sequels
Oona Chaplin will play the new pivotal character Varang in Avatar 3, Avatar 4, and Avatar 5. Chaplin, 37, has previously acted in a number of major films and television shows over the past 15 years. She appeared in a small role in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, one episode of the Benedict Cumberbatch-led BBC series Sherlock, one episode of Black Mirror titled “White Christmas,” and most famously played Talisa Maegyr in 11 episodes of the acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones. Varang will undoubtedly be the biggest acting role of Chaplin’s career thus far.
Chaplin is the granddaughter of legendary silent film auteur Charlie Chaplin, one of the most influential figures in cinematic history. Chaplin’s casting in the Avatar sequels has been known for quite some time, however, it is now confirmed that she will be playing the crucial role of Varang. Not much is known about the character yet other than her affiliation with the Ash People, a tribe of Na’vi who are based in volcanic areas of Pandora. Varang and the Ash People may present a threat to both the human “Sky People” and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in the future installments of the Avatar franchise.
Varang Is The Leader Of Avatar 3’s Ash People
Chaplin’s Varang is the leader of the indigenous Ash People, who are set to be the first antagonistic Na’vi tribe in the Avatar universe. Similarly to how water was thematically significant to the plot of Avatar 2, fire will play a major part symbolically in the story of Avatar 3. The Ash People are expected to be an aggressive, fiery clan led by the formidable influence and authority of Chaplin’s Varang. It is unclear how Varang and the Ash will intersect with the Omatikaya and Metkayina Avatar tribes, but they are set up to clash in very explosive ways.
With the villainous angle of Varang’s Ash People set for Avatar 3, it will be interesting to discover how Cameron will characterize the human Sky People in the new movie. The humans have been the primary antagonists in both Avatar films thus far, raising the question of whether they will even play a pivotal role in the upcoming installment. With Varang and the Ash People taking over as the primary source of conflict for Jake Sully and his family, it’s plausible that the role of Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) will be significantly reduced in Avatar 3.
Why Varang Does Not Appear In Avatar: The Way of Water
Varang does not appear in Avatar: The Way of Water because her tribe has not been featured yet in the Avatar universe. Avatar 3 will be the first installment of James Cameron’s massively successful franchise that will introduce Varang and the Ash People to the big screen. Due to the very early announcement of Varang’s inclusion in the Avatar sequels, it will be fascinating to discover whether the villainous character will remain a force of antagonism throughout the future Avatar franchise. Chaplin will likely deliver a nuanced performance as a protective yet overly vicious leader whose determination to protect her clan’s interests will be as understandable as they are destructive, providing a fascinating new dynamic for the Avatar universe.