Hyper-masculine characters have been a through-line across Stephen Lang‘s filmography, and in some aspects, his antagonistic turn as Quaritch in the Avatar franchise does seem to fit the bill. But in contrast to his onscreen reputation, Lang isn’t defined by the toxic masculinity in real life and has no intentions of promoting some brand of “alpha masculinity” (via EW).
I left the man club some years ago. My sons are beautiful guys, and my daughters are extremely amazing humans, as is my wife. I have no interest in promoting some idea of masculinity that is either aggressive or more important than anyone else. I play it. I love playing it. I enjoy it. But I, I don’t want to ever be thought of as some lunkhead male who’s promoting some form of alpha masculinity ’cause that’s not who I am and not what I want to do.
Moreover, even his villainous gig in the Avatar movies isn’t defined by toxic masculinity either; as Lang clarified, Quaritch is a far more multifaceted character than the archetype might suggest.
Stephen Lang Elaborates on Quaritch’s Characterisation
While Quaritch’s aggressive and militaristic background might make him an easy fit for such readings, confining him to a narrow brand of masculinity would be a disservice to the character’s complexity. Though undeniably villainous, he isn’t rooted in misogyny, as Lang explains, the character acknowledges the power of women, as he recognizes Neytiri as a worthy adversary.
The threequel further fleshes out Quaritch as a character, shedding light on his moments of vulnerability and a surprising emotional connection with Varang, the leader of the Ash clan.
He acknowledges the power of the women in his life, acknowledges Mrs. Sully as one tough cookie. His former partner, who is the mother of Spider [Jack Champion], she was a tough cookie. If I’m getting typed in some way, I don’t mind it because the roles are good. But as I’m, in a way, segueing into older roles, for obvious reasons — and I like that too! I don’t mind getting old. I just want to stay old for a really long time.
Lang expressed that he doesn’t mind getting typecast into these roles as long as the character is good, and in Quaritch’s case, the character is definitely worth returning, which explains why Lang continues to reprise the gig.
Will Quaritch Return in Avatar 4?
Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers for Avatar: Fire & Ash
As for what’s next for Lang in the Avatar franchise, even though the actor isn’t a huge fan of sequels, the third movie does leave his fate ambiguous. For fans yet to experience the third movie on the big screen, Quaritch seemingly falls to his presumed death in Fire & Ash.
Stephen Lang as Quaritch | Credit: 20th Century Studios
However, it’s important to note that we don’t see his body, and given his history with near-death experiences in the franchise, which includes a literal resurrection. When posed with this question, Lang added (via Comicbook):
The line that I don’t say when I take that is ‘F**k it’ because that’s really what it is. It’s a ‘F**k it’ moment. This is too confusing and complex for me. I’ve done plenty. I really won’t say more than that about it.
Given James Cameron‘s knack for bringing Quaritch back, there’s a good chance Lang might return if the fourth movie gets materialized. But following his growth in the third movie, it remains to be seen if he undergoes a redemption arc in the potential follow-ups.
Share your thoughts on Lang’s remarks below!
Avatar: Fire & Ash is currently running in theaters.
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