At the recent premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash for the Asia-Pacific region, held in Wellington, New Zealand, Vietnamese rapper Rhymastic became the first local artist to meet and speak with blockbuster director James Cameron.

During the event, James Cameron asked Rhymastic whether Vietnamese audiences would resonate with the family themes portrayed in Avatar 3. Rhymastic expressed strong belief that they would, saying Vietnamese viewers would share his emotional response. He even joked that the Na’vi name, when reversed, sounds like “Vina,” hinting at a playful cultural connection.

Cameron shared Rhymastic’s sentiments, noting the parallel histories of colonial struggle, war, and an enduring spirit of resistance between Vietnam and the film's fictional world. He was intrigued by Rhymastic’s interpretation of the Avatar tribes as symbolic of the world’s basic elements - Water, Fire, and Wind. In particular, Rhymastic explained that Fire, to him, represents conflict and hatred, which transforms into Ash - a symbol of healing and rebirth.

Cameron went further to reveal that he once considered writing an entire book on Eywa - the mother-spirit entity in the Avatar universe - and her influence on the fate of Pandora’s inhabitants, including the new character Varang.

Rhymastic’s rap tribute: a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Hollywood

 
Rhymastic gifted Cameron a freestyle rap composed especially for the occasion. The short verse, delivered live, was a tribute from Vietnam to the famed filmmaker, which left Cameron amused and impressed. The lyrics centered on the Ash Tribe (Mangkwan), portraying their uprising under the fierce leadership of female warrior Varang, setting the stage for a cinematic clash that promises to ignite the screen.

The rapper explained that the rap was his way of creating a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Hollywood, expressing his excitement for the expanded Avatar universe and the coming battles among the Na’vi, humans, and rival tribes of Pandora. Interestingly, Rhymastic had previously demonstrated his love for the franchise by modeling his alter-ego YC after the Mangkwan, bearing a visual resemblance to the formidable Varang.

Avatar: Fire and Ash introduces new tribes and characters, including the fierce and isolated Mangkwan and the Wind Traders, who spend most of their lives soaring above Pandora’s skies. Alongside returning characters Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their children, the film depicts fierce tribal confrontations, plunging Pandora into flames.

Backed by a colossal production budget and advanced visual effects, Avatar: Fire and Ash is projected to dominate the global box office this holiday season and further cement the franchise’s place in cinematic history.

The film will have special advance screenings in Vietnam on December 18, with nationwide theatrical release starting December 19.

My Anh