Watch the new trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water

James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water has visual spectacle to spare if the newly released trailer is anything to go by. The original Avatar movie was eye-popping enough, further bolstered by its RealD 3D immersiveness.

However, the underwater environments of the sequel look set to glimmer and sheen in quite breathtaking fashion, akin to a live-action Finding Nemo. Before we get to the trailer, here's the gorgeous new poster.

More than 10 years after the events of the first movie, we pick up with Pandoran hero Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), an ex-marine now locked in his indigenous Na'Vi avatar body. Jake is joined by his now partner Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), newly pregnant but still a mean shot with an arrow.

In fact, the couple now has several children: Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), Tuktirey (Trinity Bliss) and Kiri (Sigourney Weaver, returning to the franchise in a new role).

As the family is forced to seek refuge with the underwater Metkayina clan, Kiri shows an affinity with the Pandoran deity Eywa, and it's implied that she can influence the behaviour of Pandora's aquatic residents. It seems, therefore, that The Way of Water will be a coming-of-age story as much as anything else.

Good thing too, because the thought-to-be-dead Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is on the warpath. He's also been reborn in an avatar body (somehow) and he's taking his militaristic might underwater where it's set to get really personal.

Kate Winslet's Metkayina leader Ronal finally gets some dialogue (although not much) and the screen positively bursts with eye-widening goodies. Check out the trailer below.

Bowled over by that trailer? There's not too long to wait now. Avatar: The Way of Water is released at Cineworld on December 16. Stay tuned to the blog for when tickets go on sale and bring yourself up to speed with the Avatar questions we need answering.

Can't wait that long? Sate those Avatar cravings with the following video that stresses the importance of the film's extraordinary ocean environment, and how it can teach us important lessons in the real world.