One of the new characters that is introduced in Avatar: Fire and Ash is Varang, the leader of the Ash People and the main villain. But who plays her in the new film?
The latest installment in James Cameron's epic science-fiction saga will expand the world of Pandora once again with the introduction of the Mangkwan Clan (or the Ash People), another Na'vi tribe. Fans are curious to learn more about the new characters and the new tribe, and how their presence will affect the story of Jake and Neytiri's family in the new film.
Who Plays Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash?
Varang, the leader of the Ash People and the main villain of Avatar: Fire and Ash, is played by 39-year-old Spanish-Swiss-British actress Oona Chaplin.
She has been in the acting scene for two decades now. She notably played Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones and Zilpha Geary in Taboo. She also starred in the film The Longest Ride and the BBC drama The Crimson Field.
In case you're wondering, she is indeed the granddaughter of movie legend Charlie Chaplin and the daughter of veteran actress Geraldine Chaplin, so she is part of the lineage of a famous showbiz family.
In an interview with Empire, Cameron described Varang as a fearless leader of the Ash People who will be an adversary to the main characters.
"Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship. She's hardened by that. She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil," he said.
"One thing we wanted to do in this film is not be black-and-white simplistic. Or blue-and-pink simplistic. We’re trying to evolve beyond the ‘all humans are bad, all Na’vi are good’ paradigm."
Cameron also offered his praise to Chaplin's work in the film. "She’s an enemy, an adversarial character, but [Chaplin] makes her feel so real and alive," he said.
What to Expect in Avatar: Fire and Ash
In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death, encountering a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans, Jr., and Kate Winslet.
The film will be released in theaters worldwide in the week of December 19. It will also be available on IMAX and other premium formats. It is already receiving positive early reactions from critics.
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