Spoilers Ahead for Avatar: Fire and Ash

Avatar: Fire and Ash is setting the box office ablaze, which may have already confirmed the fate of James Cameron’s sci-fi franchise. However, what still remains technically unclear is the future of one of the main characters of the series, Quartich, played by Stephen Lang. The colonel has been the main antagonist since the 2009 film, and while Fire and Ash kept things vague about his fate, it seems audiences are officially destined to see more of Quaritch in the planned sequels.

Thanks to a user on X (via GamesRadar), a clip was shared from the latest expansion for the video game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, aptly titled From the Ashes. The story for the recently added content takes place several weeks after the events of Fire and Ash, which ended with Quaritch falling to an unknown fate. However, during the credits for the DLC, Quaritch (seemingly voiced by Lang) is heard speaking about Varang and her people, as well as answering if the RDA will maintain their presence in the Western Frontier. Per GamesRadar:

“A little banshee told me we’re down four of Varang’s heavy hitters. Things are far from optimal all round. I need you back at Bridgehead. Pack your trash and get out of there zero dark early”. When asked if they’re withdrawing from the Western Frontier, Quaritch answers: “Hell no. You’ll keep running things remotely. Maintain pressure and let those insurgents simmer. It’s time we regroup and reassess.”

The From the Ashes DLC is the first official in-universe confirmation that Quaritch is still alive, but the cast has long teased that viewers will get to see the main cast again in the planned sequels. At least, Lang seemingly confirmed as much earlier this year, revealing that he had finished shooting his parts for Fire and Ash and Avatar 4, the latter of which has been partially filmed already. The fourth film will feature a time jump, so it may be some time until fans learn more about the highly anticipated sequel. While Cameron has been coy about the franchise’s fate, it certainly seems like the studio will still be interested in Avatar 4 once Fire and Ash finishes its bountiful theatrical run.

Stephen Lang Talks Quaritch’s Evolution in ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb, Avatar: Fire and Ash star Stephen Lang spoke about how his antagonist role has evolved in the latest sequel. While Quartich started out as a straight-up villain, his resurrection as a Na’vi has only complicated his stance on Pandora. In Fire and Ash, his newfound romance with Varang (Oona Chaplin) and evolving affection for Spider (Jack Champion) has made Quaritch very confused about his own feelings.

“Confusion is the primary thing that he’s feeling, and that’s an uncharacteristic feeling for the colonel. So he’s trying to sort that out. He’s being beset by feelings that are kind of what he has curtailed long ago, it seems to me, but he gets to explore them, certainly with a resentful way with Spider and also with Varang. It’s different, but it’s also something he’s not used to.”

Quaritch is even questioning his desire for revenge against arch nemesis Jake Sully (Sam Worthington). Though he keeps mentioning a “betrayal,” it has become clear that Quaritch is not the man his memories are based on, and perhaps his stance on Jake and his family will continue to evolve for the better in future installments.

“Then he probably even more intensely with Jake Sully, because there’s an ambivalence in that relationship that’s really getting more and more interesting. It’s not just betrayal and hatred. And actually, there’s a scene like this when Jake is in the cell, and I come in, and I say, This is personal. You betrayed me, in a way. It sounds like old news, you know, to Quaritch, who thinks that it’s not just that. So why am I? What’s this all about? The easiest thing to do is say, I’ll see you at 06:00 and leave. I don’t want to talk.”