Oona Chaplin says Varang, Avatar’s new antagonist, is no villain, she’s a saviour in fire and fury

In Avatar: Fire And Ash, audiences will meet the Ash People — a Na’vi clan scorched by trauma and severed from the spiritual roots that once bound them to Pandora. Led by the fierce and complex Varang, the Ash People will take centre stage in what promises to be the most confrontational chapter of James Cameron’s sprawling sci-fi saga.

Played by Oona Chaplin, Varang is no mere villain. In fact, she sees herself — and is seen by her people — as a saviour. “It’s easy to fall into the villain mentality,” Chaplin says, “but actually she’s the hero of her people. Because she’s saved them out of misery and starvation and begging.”

In contrast to the previous films’ harmonious clans — the jungle-dwelling Omatikaya and the ocean-bound Metkayina — the Mangkwan, or Ash People, have a fractured relationship with Pandora and its spiritual deity, Eywa. Having endured a devastating natural disaster, their worldview hardened. “They have a bunch of unresolved trauma,” says Chaplin. “They got hit by a natural disaster and what Varang did was say, ‘Well, f*** Eywa.’”

Rather than turning inward to faith, Varang leads her people toward a new source of power — one not yet fully revealed. She chooses survival over submission, forging a path that defies the sacred balance cherished by other Na’vi tribes. “She basically goes towards a different power, and tries to harness that,” Chaplin explains. “And in so doing kind of raises her people out of misery.”

Chaplin immersed herself deeply in the psyche of the character, tapping into raw emotional territory. The transformation wasn’t just on screen — it crept into her personal space. “I kind of covered my whole trailer with very vivid and disturbing images of the kind of trauma that Varang would have gone through,” she reveals.

To fully embody Varang’s brooding presence, Chaplin turned to unexpected sources. “I got really into throat-singing with Varang, and I got really into Slipknot,” she admits. Known for their guttural chaos and aggressive sound, Slipknot helped her channel the fire inside the Ash People’s leader. “I’d never really gone into death metal, and probably Slipknot is laughable to some people: ‘Oh, that’s so mild’,” she laughs. “But it was pretty hardcore for me.”

The character left a mark — emotionally and mentally. “She did seep into my psyche a little more than I had anticipated,” Chaplin adds. “It was okay. I didn’t rip anybody’s head off.” A moment of dark humour in a performance forged in fire and ash.

With James Cameron at the helm, Avatar: Fire And Ash promises to deepen the world of Pandora in previously unseen ways. The September 2025 issue of Empire includes a full feature on the upcoming film, including cast interviews, behind-the-scenes revelations and exclusive imagery. Cameron, never one to shy away from raising the stakes, appears poised to ignite his world with conflict — spiritual, cultural, and literal.

Set for release in UK cinemas on 19 December, the film marks a bold new direction. Varang, flanked by a people forged in pain and fire, will confront not only other Na’vi but the very essence of what it means to belong on Pandora.