Will Quaritch Betray the RDA in Avatar 3?
Fans of the Avatar series have been buzzing about Colonel Miles Quaritch since he returned in Avatar: The Way of Water. Played by Stephen Lang, Quaritch was the tough human leader who tried to wipe out the Na’vi in the first movie. He died, but the RDA brought him back as a powerful Na’vi-human hybrid called a recombinant. Now, with Avatar 3: Fire and Ash set to hit theaters in December 2025, everyone wants to know: will Quaritch turn against the RDA, the big company he has served for so long?
In The Way of Water, Quaritch shows hints of change. He leads a squad of recombinants to hunt Jake Sully and his family. But as he lives in a Na’vi body, he starts to feel Pandora’s world in a new way. He bonds with his squad, especially Lyle Wainfleet, and even spares some Na’vi lives when it suits him. At the end, he fights Jake one-on-one and loses again, but his final moments leave room for doubt about his loyalty. Director James Cameron has said in interviews that Quaritch’s arc is about identity and revenge, but he has not ruled out a bigger shift. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/james-cameron-avatar-3-quaritch-revenge-exclusive/
Avatar 3 picks up right after the ocean battle. Trailers show Quaritch alive and angry, leading more attacks on the Na’vi. He blames Jake for his “deaths” and wants payback. The story moves to a new Na’vi tribe called the Ash People, who are fiery and aggressive. Quaritch teams up with their leader, Varang, played by Oona Chaplin. This could push him closer to Na’vi ways, or make him more ruthless. Leaked set photos from 2023 showed Quaritch in tense talks with RDA bosses, hinting at friction. https://collider.com/avatar-3-fire-and-ash-quaritch-stephen-lang-way-of-water-change/
Why might he betray the RDA? Quaritch now thinks and feels like a Na’vi. He has memories of his human life, but his body pulls him toward Eywa, the planet’s spiritual force. In the games and comics that expand the Avatar universe, recombinants struggle with split loyalties. Quaritch calls Jake “son” in a twisted way because Jake took his original body. This personal tie might make him question the RDA’s goal of mining unobtanium at all costs. Actor Stephen Lang told Variety that Quaritch is “evolving” and not just a villain anymore. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/avatar-3-fire-ash-stephen-lang-quaritch-exclusive-1236156789/
On the flip side, Quaritch is a soldier at heart. He hates losing and sees the RDA as his path to victory. The company gave him a second chance at life, so turning on them would mean burning that bridge. Trailers for Fire and Ash show him in RDA gear, blasting Na’vi with high-tech weapons. Plot leaks from trusted insiders suggest he stays loyal through big battles, but a late twist involves him facing RDA betrayal first, maybe over failed experiments or resource grabs. https://screenrant.com/avatar-3-quaritch-rda-betrayal-theory-explained/
The real clue comes from Cameron’s storytelling style. Every Avatar film flips expectations. Neytiri went from hating humans to loving one. Jake switched sides completely. Quaritch could follow that path, especially with three more movies planned. Fire and Ash focuses on fire versus water themes, symbolizing inner conflict. If Quaritch betrays anyone, it might be a slow burn, starting with small acts of defiance.
Sources
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/james-cameron-avatar-3-quaritch-revenge-exclusive/
https://collider.com/avatar-3-fire-and-ash-quaritch-stephen-lang-way-of-water-change/
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/avatar-3-fire-ash-stephen-lang-quaritch-exclusive-1236156789/
https://screenrant.com/avatar-3-quaritch-rda-betrayal-theory-explained/
https://www.ign.com/articles/avatar-the-way-of-water-quaritch-return-explained
