Quartich & Varang’s Fire & Ash Relationship Addressed By Avatar Star Stephen Lang

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I was so excited to hear Stephen Lang talk about the new Avatar movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash! He mentioned this really interesting dynamic between his character, Quaritch, and the new villain, Varang, played by Oona Chaplin. It’s cool to see how they’re building on Quaritch’s story since he’s been such a strong antagonist throughout Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), constantly going after Jake Sully and his family. It sounds like this new relationship will be a big part of the next film!

After seemingly dying in the first Avatar film (when his human body was destroyed), Quaritch returns as a Na’vi avatar. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jake and Neytiri grieve the loss of their son, Neteyam, while facing a new danger: the Ash People, led by Varang. Varang teams up with Quaritch and develops a romantic connection with him.

In an interview with ScreenRant about Avatar: Fire and Ash, Lang explained how he believes the connection between the two villains strengthens their characters. He said, “I think their mutual attraction is a really positive thing for their development. It makes them more complex and believable as characters.”

“It’s always a pleasure,” Lang said, explaining that he doesn’t often get the chance to perform. He also recounted a memorable filming experience: “We recently shot a really interesting scene where my character, Varang, was teaching mine to withstand fire. It made me wonder, how long can you actually hold your hand in a flame? Not very long, it turns out!”

Varang rules the Mangkwan clan harshly, having rejected the goddess Eywa after a devastating disaster destroyed her home and took the lives of many in her clan. This loss led her to an uneasy alliance with Quaritch, even though he’s one of the “Sky People” who are slowly taking over their planet. Meanwhile, Quaritch is struggling to come to terms with being in a Na’vi body.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Chaplin shared her enthusiasm for the project and her deepened connection to her character. She explained, “I’m incredibly grateful and happy. Since filming, I’ve had time to reflect, and now I can truly understand her perspective and speak from her point of view.”

The new film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is expected to earn around $350 million worldwide when it opens. However, it faces high expectations, following two previous Avatar films that each made over $2 billion, and critics haven’t been as impressed this time. While some, like Todd Gilchrist, have found the story to be somewhat predictable and repetitive, the film features compelling villains that should keep audiences interested.

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2025-12-19 01:38