Avatar was a box office hit in 2009, and 13 years later, 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water was also a huge hit, grossing over $2.3 billion at the worldwide box office. Now, all eyes are on Avatar: Fire and Ash to do the same this December.

The sequel introduced us to Payakan, a tulkun (space whale), who is now confirmed to return in the next instalment. Talking to Empire (via SFFGazette.com), VFX supervisor and executive producer Richard Baneham said, "He’s turned out to be one of the most popular characters."

"The reaction emboldened us to go forward and play Payakan at the very highest level," he continued, adding that Payakan now has a female friend, Ta'nok, "another outcast" who has a really "great dynamic" with her fellow tulkun.

Then, there are clan leaders, Matriarch and Patriarch. "Matriarch is a very interesting character," Baneham teased. "She’s in full regalia. We...