The wait for the upcoming sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 smash hit Avatar is almost over.

On November 3, the new trailer for the upcoming film Avatar: The Way of Water was released. It not only introduces some of the new characters in the feature, but teases how the humans will return to wreck havok on the Pandora.

The trailer opens on a pregnant Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) notching a bow before introducing Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), one of her and Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) children. Also in the brood are their sons Neteyam and Lo’ak, daughter Tuktirey and their adopted human son Miles.

It should go without saying the film looks visually incredible. Avatar: The Way of Water and the other announced sequels were famously delayed because of Cameron’s “commitment to the special effects that set Avatar apart from other films of its time,” according to Kayleigh Donaldson for Screenrant.

“A noted perfectionist, he made no qualms about taking his time and waiting for the technology to catch up to his vision,” Donaldson said.

With how visually stunning the first film is, it’s incredible to see what time and technological advances have done to make the sequel look even better. What remains to be seen, of course, is the full story.

If nothing else, The Way of Water certainly promises something entertaining. The Omaticaya seem to be at odds with the aquatic Metkayina clan, shown when the leader Ronal’s (Kate Winslet) partner Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) explicitly tells Sully, “We cannot let you bring your war here.” It does not seem that will deter Lo’ak and the Metkayina clan leaders’ daughter, who seem to have a Romeo and Juliet love story going on, nor will it stop the inevitable battle between humans and Na’vi.

Not only that, but it seems the humans never left to begin with. A new mech suit with skinny, almost spiderlike arms runs through a burning environment alongside an avatar in Army fatigues. The avatar can be presumed to be Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who is confirmed to be back in the story as a “specialized avatar” known as a recombinant. Giovanni Ribisi is also confirmed to reprise his role as weaselly bureaucrat Parker Selfridge in the film.

The effects were certainly worth the thirteen-year wait, but audiences won’t know until December whether the story is. If nothing else, audiences certainly have a gorgeous three-hours-and-twelve-minutes to look forward to.

Avatar: The Way of Water releases exclusively in theaters December 16. Check out the full trailer below!

Will you return to Pandora this winter? What are you anticipating most? Let us know in the comments!