Yes — Colonel Miles Quaritch is one of the main antagonists in Avatar 3, but he shares that role with a new Na’vi leader named Varang, so the film presents multiple antagonists rather than a single villain. Evidence from promotional clips and cast discussions shows Varang is a central new threat and that Quaritch (here often called Recom Quaritch, the recombinant version of the character) remains a key adversary working with or against other forces on Pandora[2][1].
Context and supporting details
– Quaritch’s return and role: Stephen Lang’s character has returned across the Avatar sequels, and promotional material and interviews confirm he continues as a major antagonist figure in the third film[1].
– Introduction of Varang: Official clips and marketing for Avatar: Fire and Ash introduce Varang as a violent, power-hungry Na’vi leader who drives much of the conflict in the story, and those materials position her alongside Quaritch as co-antagonist material[2].
– Shared antagonist structure: Coverage and fan resources describe Varang and Recom Quaritch as two principal antagonists in the film, indicating the story divides antagonist focus between the returning human antagonist and the new Na’vi threat[3][2].
– How the dynamics work on screen: A released scene shows Varang making a deal with Quaritch, which implies the antagonistic threat comes from an alliance or intersection of agendas rather than a single-person conflict[2].
– Casting and descriptions: Reporting around the film’s release and cast notes highlight that Varang’s arrival changes the antagonist landscape and gives Quaritch a partner or foil, rather than replacing him[1][3].
Why this matters for the story
– Emotional stakes: Keeping Quaritch as an active antagonist preserves continuity and personal stakes for Jake Sully and his family while Varang introduces internal Na’vi political conflict and a fresh cultural threat to Pandora[2][3].
– Narrative complexity: Having more than one antagonist lets the film explore multiple motivations and conflicts — human military aggression embodied by Quaritch and Na’vi internal power struggles embodied by Varang — which broadens the scale of danger and moral complexity in the story[1][2].
Limits of available sources
– Much of the evidence comes from promotional clips, interviews, and secondary wikis rather than full published scripts; plot details and exact character arcs are based on those materials and may omit or simplify on-screen nuance[2][1][3].
– Fan wikis and promotional excerpts report the dual-antagonist framing, but final critical readings may refine character prominence after full viewings and critical analysis[3][2].
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-P22aw3vhk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iSMQsZ9FcI
https://james-camerons-avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Varang
