The Recurring Faces of Avatar

As part of our Sigourney Weaver season, we’re revisiting James Cameron’s 2023 blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water - perfect lead-in to this December’s highly anticipated sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash. The third film promises a sweeping emotional and thematic shift: new dangers on Pandora, fractured alliances, and the lingering weight of grief. Although we’re experiencing new threats, we can expect old faces, old loyalties, and unresolved grief. Here are the characters confirmed (or highly likely) to return, and what that might mean.

The Core Family & Na’vi

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington)
Still the central hero-figure (though possibly sharing narrative weight more). He’ll be dealing with the fallout from The Way of Water, especially the loss of his son Neteyam.

Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña)
Her grief and anger are expected to be central. There’s early promo showing her in conflict, ready for battle.

Lo’ak (Britain Dalton)
After Neteyam’s death, Lo’ak becomes the older brother among the Sullys; Dalton is returning.

Tuktirey “Tuk” (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss)
The younger daughter, growing up, likely getting more agency.

Kiri (Sigourney Weaver)
Their adopted daughter, with special spiritual / mystical connection to Eywa. Her origins and her faith/role appear to be more challenged in Fire and Ash.

Other Na’vi & Allies

Ronal (Kate Winslet) & Tonowari (Cliff Curtis)
The leaders of the Metkayina clan are back. The Metkayina’s relationship to the conflict (especially with new Na’vi clans) will be important.

Tsireya (Bailey Bass)
Daughter of Ronal & Tonowari; her interactions with the Sullys - and possibly her role in upcoming inter-Na’vi conflict - are expected to grow.

Ao’nung (Filip Geljo)
Older brother to Tsireya; though less spotlighted so far, he is listed among returning Na’vi characters.

Returning Humans

Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang)
Still around in his “Recombinant” avatar form. His relationship with Spider (his biological son) and with the Sullys is expected to be more tense.

Spider (Miles “Spider” Socorro) (Jack Champion)
Raised among the Sullys, Spider’s identity as a human born into Na’vi culture, and as Quaritch’s son, gives him a complex allegiance and potentially central role.

Dr. Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) & Dr. Max Patel (Dileep Rao)
The scientists will also be back. Their roles may continue to straddle the human/Na’vi divide, particularly in issues of ecology, conservation, and exploitation.

Dr. Ian Garvin (Jemaine Clement)
A strong voice for conservation; likely to remain one of the moral anchors among the humans.

What Returning Means for the Story

The returning characters in Avatar: The Way of Water signal more than just fan service; they hint at several key thematic directions for the story. Loss and grief are likely to be central, as Neytiri and Jake are not only defending their home but also mourning, with Neteyam’s death casting a shadow over their journey. Internal Na’vi conflict is also on the horizon, particularly with the introduction of The Ash People, a clan that rejects Eywa, suggesting that ideological rifts will complicate the narrative beyond a simple “humans versus Na’vi” framework. Themes of shifting loyalties and identity will emerge as well, exemplified by characters like Spider, who bridges human and Na’vi worlds, and Quaritch, who exists through Recombinant technology, blurring the lines between friend and foe. Finally, the younger generation - including Lo’ak, Tuktirey, Ao’nung, and Tsireya - may take on larger roles, potentially carrying significant portions of the story, with Lo’ak even serving as a narrative guide in some capacity.

Watch Avatar: The Way of Water at our re-release screenings from Friday 3 October 2025.

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The third installment; Avatar: Fire and Ash hits cinemas Friday 19 December 2025.

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Written by Sadie Longden - Social Media Assistant at The Light
19 September 2025