Avatar: Fire and Ash is finally almost in theaters, and the long-awaited third film in James Cameron's epic sci-fi franchise is set to be the darkest chapter yet. Alongside the Sully family having to contend with the invasion of Pandora by forces sent from Earth, there is also the new issue of the Mangkwan Clan, referred to as the Ash People. These embittered Na'vi set the stage for an entirely new kind of conflict in the film, especially since the trailers and marketing for the movie indicate that they'll be allying themselves with humans, and specifically Miles Quaritch, played by Stephen Lang.
Quaritch has had one of the most fascinating character arcs of the Avatar films, having originally died in the first film and subsequently coming back with an Avatar of his own in Avatar: The Way of Water. With this Na'vi body and the memories of the old Miles, this new version of Quaritch goes through something of an existential crisis, especially with the discovery that Miles' son Spider (Jack Champion) is alive and thriving on Pandora. In an interview with MovieWeb, Lang opened up about what his character is going through in Fire and Ash, explaining how the character is entirely new territory with these different relationships on Pandora:
"Confusion is the primary thing that he's feeling, and that's an uncharacteristic feeling for the colonel. So he's trying to sort that out. He's being beset by feelings that are kind of what he has curtailed long ago, it seems to me, but he gets to explore them, certainly with a resentful way with Spider and also with Varang. It's different, but it's also something he's not used to."
Stephen Lang's Character in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Has One Constant in Sam Worthington's Jake Sully
Stephen Lang in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'
20th Century Studios
One constant throughout the trilogy of Avatar films, though, is Quaritch's struggle with Jake Sully. After initially working together, the two have been at odds ever since. However, now that Quaritch is a Na'vi himself, their relationship has become slightly more complicated. Lang went on to tell MovieWeb that the rivalry only becomes more multi-faceted. The actor even went so far as to describe a brief scene between the two that summarizes where the characters are at in this point of the story, saying:
"Then he probably even more intensely with Jake Sully, because there's an ambivalence in that relationship that's really getting more and more interesting. It's not just betrayal and hatred. And actually, there's a scene like this when Jake is in the cell, and I come in, and I say, This is personal. You betrayed me, in a way. It sounds like old news, you know, to Quaritch, who thinks that it's not just that. So why am I? What's this all about? The easiest thing to do is say, I'll see you at 06:00 and leave. I don't want to talk."
Avatar: Fire and Ash is shaping up to be the darkest chapter yet in James Cameron's epic sci-fi series. It will be interesting to see how Sam Worthington's Jake Sully rises to the occasion in the third film of the trilogy, as well as how Quaritch continues to evolve and if his relationship to humanity ends up being tested even further.
