Will Quaritch Become a Hero or Stay a Villain?
Colonel Miles Quaritch has been the big bad guy in the Avatar movies since the first one. He is a tough human soldier turned into a Na’vi body who hates the blue-skinned Na’vi people and wants to take their world for humans. Fans love to hate him, thanks to actor Stephen Lang’s strong performance. But after Avatar: The Way of Water and the new Avatar: Fire and Ash, out in theaters on December 19, 2025, people wonder if Quaritch might change. Could he turn into a hero, or will he stay evil?
A lot rides on Spider, Quaritch’s real son. Spider grew up with Jake Sully’s family, the good guys who protect the Na’vi. At the end of The Way of Water, Spider saves Quaritch from drowning, even though Quaritch is the enemy. This split loyalty makes things messy. James Cameron, the director, almost cut Spider from the story because filming him with giant Na’vi actors was hard. But he kept Spider because he adds heart to the fight between Jake and Quaritch. Without Spider, it is just two men trying to kill each other, Cameron said in an interviewhttps://www.superherohype.com/movies/644332-james-cameron-avatar-3-divisive-character-wrote-out. Spider pulls Quaritch into a father-son bond. Quaritch sees himself as Spider’s dad because of memories from his old human life. This forces Quaritch to question who he is.
In Fire and Ash, that bond grows. Quaritch and Jake end up in an odd team-up over Spider’s safety. Quaritch wants to be a real father, but Spider loves Jake’s family. Fans split on Spider’s choice to save Quaritch. Some say it shows Quaritch has a soft side. Others think it is just a trick.
Then comes the big twist in Fire and Ash. Quaritch seems to give his life to save Spider in the final fight. He jumps into danger, and we do not see his body after. Remember, Quaritch died in the first movie, but humans brought him back in a Na’vi clone. Is this death real, or another fake-out? Stephen Lang told Digital Spy he is ready for more if there is another moviehttps://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a69825557/avatar-3-quaritch-dead-alive/. Lang is signed for Avatar 4 and 5. He calls the role rewarding and loves working with Cameron. In another talk, Lang shared why he keeps playing Quaritch and what it would take for a sequelhttps://www.aol.com/articles/avatar-star-stephen-lang-quaritch-180000526.html.
So, hero or villain? Quaritch’s arc hints at change. His love for Spider makes him protect Na’vi life, even if he started as a killer. A true hero turn would mean he picks Spider’s side fully and fights humans. But his past runs deep. He might fake good acts to win Spider over, then betray everyone. With more films coming, Cameron could go either way. Quaritch’s story feels like a slow burn toward something new, driven by family ties in a war-torn world.
Sources
https://www.superherohype.com/movies/644332-james-cameron-avatar-3-divisive-character-wrote-out
https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a69825557/avatar-3-quaritch-dead-alive/
https://www.aol.com/articles/avatar-star-stephen-lang-quaritch-180000526.html
