Avatar 3 Is Finally Bringing Back One Iconic Creature 16 Years Later

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Okay, so Avatar: Fire and Ash is bringing back a seriously cool creature from the first film – the Toruk, that massive, leonopteryx-like beast. Remember how James Cameron’s original Avatar blew us away with Pandora and the conflict between the Na’vi and the humans, or the RDA? Well, the Toruk was key to Jake Sully’s victory back then. He actually bonded with one, becoming ‘Toruk Makto,’ and it gave him a huge advantage. It looks like this time around, Jake’s going to need that same edge against a new threat – the Fire Na’vi – and thankfully, it seems his old friend is returning to help even the odds.

In Na’vi culture, a skilled warrior can earn the title of Toruk Makto by bonding with the formidable Toruk, known as the Last Shadow. Jake Sully, a human who became Na’vi, achieved this feat, earning the trust and respect of the Na’vi people, including Neytiri, who later became his wife. As Toruk Makto, Jake was recognized as the leader of the Omatikaya clan, completely embracing the Na’vi way of life and fighting to protect Pandora.

The amazing leonopteryx wasn’t in *Avatar: The Way of Water*, so the role of Toruk Makto wasn’t central to the story. However, the new trailer for *Avatar: Fire and Ash* shows this powerful creature will return in the next film, sixteen years after it first appeared in the original *Avatar* back in 2009.

The creature and Jake are reconnecting, suggesting he might be named Toruk Makto again before the final fight with the Fire Na’vi.

The massive leonopteryx also participates in the final aerial combat, attacking the RDA’s spaceships above Pandora.

Watch the official trailer below: 

Expected to be a major release in 2025, *Avatar: Fire and Ash* features many returning stars from the original films, including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, and Cliff Curtis. Joining the cast is Oona Chaplin as Varang, the leader of the Fire Na’vi.

Avatar: Fire and Ash will premiere in theaters on December 19, 2025. 

Why Jake Sully as Toruk Makto Is Crucial in Avatar 3

In the final scene of *Avatar*, Jake made the decision to release the powerful leonopteryx, allowing it to return to the wild. While this didn’t remove his status as Toruk Makto, it signaled to the creature that it was free to roam and didn’t need to constantly follow him, as the leonopteryx’s strength was primarily needed during conflicts on Pandora.

The latest trailer suggests the Fire Na’vi are joining forces with Miles Quaritch and the humans, hinting that a major war is coming to Pandora. This means Jake Sully and his family and friends will have to fight together to protect their home.

With the return of the powerful leonopteryx in *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, Jake Sully is likely to reclaim his role as Toruk Makto and rally the Na’vi clans against a new, greater danger. However, uniting all the tribes will be more difficult this time because of an alliance between the Fire Na’vi and the RDA. Despite this, Jake still has the support of the Omatikaya, Metkayina, and Tlalim clans, which should give them a fighting chance against the enemy.

Jake Sully’s status as Toruk Makto might convince other Na’vi tribes, who have remained hidden, to join the battle and defend Pandora. The story has already shown that disagreements exist between the Na’vi clans, and a strong leader like Toruk Makto could potentially help resolve these conflicts.

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2025-09-28 16:04