Stephen Lang explains how Quaritch is more dangerous in Avatar: The Way of Water as a Recombinant. In Avatar, Quaritch led the charge in the Na'vi vs. RDA war, continuously pushing for an attack against the native residents of Pandora. When RDA did eventually attack, he was on the front lines, both directing his soldiers and eventually fighting alongside them. In his final battle against Jake Sully and Neytiri, Quaritch was killed by two arrows to the chest.
In Avatar: The Way of Water, Lang returns as a new version of Quaritch, known as a Recombinant. Recombinants are a new breed of Na'vi Avatar who have had the memories and minds of a person implanted in them. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Lang explains what Quaritch learned from his last fight against the Na'vi. He recalls Quaritch's excitement about a Marine using a Na'vi body in Avatar and explains how Quaritch utilizes this in Avatar: The Way Oo Water.
Stephen Lang: We try to bring the essence of the Marine; the attitude. It's funny, and it's related to in the first film when the original Quaritch says, "Ohh, a Marine kind of attitude in a Na'vi body. That's potent; gives me the goosebumps." That's what he says, and that in fact is what happens in this, so it's wonderful in that sense.
I think that Quaritch realizes the important thing is that you've got to go native, because working the way we worked in the first film didn't bring about good results. It ended up with two big arrows in the chest. So rather than bring that world to me, I think it's time that we need to bring ourselves to that world and adapt. It's either adapt or perish, and that's what we do.
Quaritch's New Tactic To Defeat The Na'vi
Quaritch will be even more dangerous in Avatar: The Way Of Water than he was before. Quaritch's vendetta is now personal with his hatred for Na'vi, specifically Jake Sully and Neytiri, likely growing. Quaritch now embodies the "Marine kind of attitude in a Na'vi body," idea even more so than Jake in Avatar. He will no longer be at a disadvantage when fighting Jake and Neytiri because he will be in a Na'vi Avatar body, which may have been upgraded compared to the version Jake now inhabits.
James Cameron has found an interesting way to bring Quaritch back, which has the potential to make him dangerous not only physically but mentally as well. Quaritch had an almost unmatched fear, which he used to justify plans for an attack on the Na'vi, which quickly grew into hatred. Now, Quaritch will become a Na'vi, unable to jump between his Avatar and human body. This could either lead to Quaritch changing his ways as he connects with Pandora and understands the Na'vi, or it could lead to instability. Quaritch may be unable to fully embrace his new identity.
If this is the case, this internal struggle could prove deadly for those Quaritch blames for his death, the Sully family. Loyalty is part of Quaritch's DNA as a Marine, and Jake broke that code in Avatar when, as Quaritch points out, he chose a species other than his own in a war. With Quaritch resurrected in a Na'vi Avatar body, he will most likely seek vengeance on those who wronged him, which could explain why the Sullys flee their home in Avatar: The Way of Water.
