‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Ending Explained: Everyone Who Dies, and Will There Be an ‘Avatar 4’?

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers for “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” now playing in theaters.

Director James Cameron is back with biggest and longest “Avatar” movie yet, “Fire and Ash.” Taking place shortly after the events of 2022’s “The Way of Water,” “Fire and Ash” ups the stakes even further, bring massive battles between the Na’vi and humans, and introduces the series’ scariest villain yet.

Just like “The Way of Water” introduced the aquatic Metkayina clan, who became allies with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family, “Fire and Ash” debuts the evil Mangkwan tribe, led by the mystical Varang (Oona Chaplin). The Mangkwan live in a dormant volcano and raid the other Na’vi groups on Pandora, which is how they first run afoul of the Sullys.

Soon, the Mangkwan ally themselves with Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who still has a bone to pick with Jake, and trade in their spears and arrows for guns and flamethrowers. Varang grows close with Quaritch and joins her fiery Mangkwan forces with the human RDA army, who captures Jake.

After escaping, Jake bands together the Na’vi forces to battle the Mangkwan and RDA, but the bad guys are nearly too powerful and kill many of the Sullys’ allies. In the nick of time, the whale-like Tulkun aid the heroes, and Jake’s adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) connects with the spiritual deity Eywa and rallies the animals of Pandora to their cause. Jake’s family saves the day and defeats Quaritch, Varang and the RDA…for now.

Cameron has long spoken about his plans to make “Avatar 4” and “Avatar 5,” which have release dates set for 2029 and 2031, respectively. The director has said he’s already shot some footage for a fourth movie, but Disney greenlighting it will depend on how well “Fire and Ash” is received. The two previous “Avatar” movies each grossed more than $2 billion at the worldwide box office, so expectations for “Fire and Ash” are high.

Just like “The Way of Water” and “Fire and Ash,” the next sequels would jump ahead in time to account for the young actors’ aging, Cameron has revealed. “Fire and Ash” also briefly introduces a new, airborne group of Na’vi called the Wind Traders, who would play a role in the fourth and fifth movies. They’re led by Peylak (played by “Harry Potter” alum David Thewlis), who shelters the Sully family before they’re attacked by the Mangkwan raiders.

See who else may reappear in future “Avatar” sequels, and who fans said goodbye to in “Fire and Ash” below.

Quaritch: Dead or Alive?

Quaritch and Jake Sully are forced to partner up but also face off multiple times in “Fire and Ash.” In the climactic battle, the two fight in the midst of a gravity well that sends rocks hurtling through the air. The two briefly put aside their differences and save Spider, Quaritch’s human son raised by Jake, who nearly falls to his death. Just when it seems like Quaritch and Jake have made amends, Neytiri joins them with her bow pointed at Quaritch, and he throws himself to the fires below. We don’t see Quaritch fall to his death, only disappear into the plumes of smoke. So, it’s possible that he survives and could reappear in “Avatar 4,” but would he ally himself with Varang once again or finally switch sides and be Team Sully?

Varang: Missing

Varang, the newest villain in the “Avatar” franchise, goes missing after she leads her fiery Mangkwan forces along with the RDA against the Sully family and their own army. She flees the battle after Kiri connects with the mystical Eywa and summons more animal allies to turn the tide of the fight. Currently missing, Varang is too compelling of an antagonist to not bring back for “Avatar 4.” There are also fan theories that she and Quaritch could reunite, or possibly start their own family to take on the Sullys in a sequel.

Ronal: Dead

Kate Winslet’s Metkayina mother dies during the final battle against the Mangkwan and RDA. However, she’s able to give birth in her final moments with the help of Neytiri, who promises to raise the newborn girl as one of her own. If there is an “Avatar 4,” surely the Sully family’s latest addition would have to factor into the plot, with Neytiri, Jake and their children raising a young kid in the dangerous world of Pandora.

Rotxo: Dead

Rotxo is one of the divers of the Metkayina and a friend of the Sully children and Ronal’s son, Ao’nung. He dies during the final battle against the Mangkwan and RDA.

Scoresby: Dead

Captain Mick Scoresby returns after his debut in “The Way of Water,” this time rocking a robotic arm after losing the limb in the last movie. The deep-sea fisherman hunts the Tulkun and harvests the valuable substance Amrita found inside of them, which can stop humans from aging. However, Scoresby meets his match in “Fire and Ash” and is swallowed by a Tulkun out of revenge during the final battle.