Audiences are preparing to return to Pandora with James Cameron's upcoming third installment of the Avatar franchise, titled 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'. The film sees Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their children once again confronting human invaders who seek to exploit Pandora's natural environment. Following the events of 'Avatar: The Way of Water', Jake and Neytiri face not only new adversaries in the form of the Mangkwan clan but also the profound grief stemming from the loss of their first child, Neteyam (Jamie Flatters).

Zoe Saldaña, who portrays Neytiri, shared insights into the emotional weight of her character's journey in 'Fire and Ash'. She described the experience of delving into Neytiri's grief as "heavy, heartbreaking and hard." Saldaña highlighted the challenging nature of these emotions for both herself and Sam Worthington, as well as for director James Cameron, who, as a father, found these themes uncomfortable to explore. The entire Sully family cast, including Trinity Bliss, Sigourney Weaver, Britain Dalton, and Jack Champion, experienced these intense emotions collectively, with Saldaña expressing admiration for the young actors' professionalism and deep connection to Pandora.

A significant aspect of Neytiri's storyline in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' revolves around her complex relationship with the human child, Spider (Jack Champion). Saldaña candidly described Neytiri as "a full-blown racist" in the movie, a perspective she discussed with James Cameron. Neytiri's prejudice is rooted in the immense loss and destruction she has witnessed at the hands of the human species, whom she struggles to understand or accept. Despite her deep-seated animosity, she finds herself challenged by her own family, having fallen in love with a human (Jake) and raised children with him. Her faith is tested, forcing her to grow and evolve, particularly as her children become her teachers, guiding both her and Jake to recognize the strength and courage within them and accept guidance when needed. Saldaña teased one of the film's most emotional scenes, emphasizing that when a child is vulnerable and in need, their appearance becomes irrelevant, and that Neytiri ultimately demonstrates that love, as a core Na'vi value, will always prevail. 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' is set to arrive in theaters on December 19.