Stephen Lang's Quaritch is a Na'vi in Avatar: The Way of Water, raising questions about the character given that he tried to eliminate them in the original movie. Quaritch was the chief of security for RDA on Pandora, waging war on the local Na'vi tribes, assaulting their Tree of Souls, and eventually meeting his demise in battle with Jake Sully and Neytiri. It appeared that Quaritch was gone for good, but the character is back in the Avatar sequel. This time he's inside his own Na'vi body, called a Recombinant, which is an avatar that's been embedded with the memories of human soldiers. Quaritch is again working in a security role for RDA as they make their return to Pandora, now going after the planet's ocean resources.
After a strong set-up of Stephen Lang's Quaritch as a dastardly villain in James Cameron's first Avatar movie, it makes sense that the plot of Avatar: The Way of Water sees his return. Showing particular cruelty toward the Na'vi, Quaritch is ultimately the perfect one to lead the RDA's return to Pandora — and potentially get some revenge in the process — as no one else would be as ruthless or as experienced as him. His "death" in the original Avatar is easily explained away, seeing as it would be possible to get him transferred into a Na'vi body, making him as powerful as ever with the same mind, but in a larger and stronger body. The change puts him on an even playing field with his adversary on the physical front.
What Quaritch Returning As A Na'vi Means For Avatar 2
Quaritch's return is a massive threat to the Na'vi and a tremendous asset to the returning RDA in the story of Avatar: The Way of Water. Allowing him to have his own Na'vi body is the same as giving Quaritch a new weapon, which he will no doubt quickly harness and use as such. This makes Quaritch arguably the Na'vi's greatest threat going into the Avatar sequel, as he will surely prove to be every bit as vicious and relentless as before, but now with more resources, more power, and more mobility to blend into the situation on Pandora.
Another great thing about Quaritch returning to Avatar: The Way of Water is simply being able to see Stephen Lang back in the role. While he won't be in his "human form," Lang is still playing the Quaritch role via motion capture throughout the sequel, allowing the actor to once again portray the menacing and intense character, this time in the form of a villainous Na'vi in Avatar: The Way of Water. Just as Sam Worthington does for his avatar, Lang will have the ability to expand the role of Quaritch and explore his new form with his same ruthless mindset, setting up an exciting premise for the movie.
Sigourney Weaver Is Back In Avatar 2 - But Not Like Quaritch
One source of potential confusion regarding Quaritch's return is that Avatar: The Way of Water also brings back actress Sigourney Weaver, whose character Dr. Grace was also killed in the original. However, she is not also coming back as a Recombinant. Instead, Weaver plays Kiri, a teenage Na'vi adopted by Jake and Neytiri. Her resemblance to the earlier character may be explained in the movie by Kiri being a reincarnated Grace via the Tree of Souls.
Like Quaritch actor Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver will return to Avatar through motion capture, and she will also be playing a character very physically different from herself. Having two actors from the first movie back as different types of reincarnations could create confusion for Avatar: The Way of Water audiences, but it could also create interesting thematic parallels about reincarnation and revival.
