Stephen Lang Rejects Alpha Male Image Despite Quaritch Role
The Avatar villain actor sets the record straight about his personal values and explains why his antagonistic character is more complex than typical masculine stereotypes suggest.
Throughout his acting career, Stephen Lang has become synonymous with tough-guy roles that showcase hyper-masculine traits. His portrayal of the antagonistic Quaritch in James Cameron's Avatar series certainly fits this pattern. However, the veteran actor wants to make one thing crystal clear: he doesn't embody the toxic masculinity that some of his characters display on screen.
Setting the Record Straight on Masculinity
In a recent interview, Lang made his position abundantly clear about where he stands on aggressive male behavior. "I left the man club some years ago. My sons are beautiful guys, and my daughters are extremely amazing humans, as is my wife. I have no interest in promoting some idea of masculinity that is either aggressive or more important than anyone else. I play it. I love playing it. I enjoy it. But I, I don't want to ever be thought of as some lunkhead male who's promoting some form of alpha masculinity 'cause that's not who I am and not what I want to do."
The distinction between his personal beliefs and professional roles is important to Lang, who emphasizes that enjoying these parts doesn't mean endorsing their worldview. His family life, centered around respect for the women in his household, stands in stark contrast to the characters he often portrays.
Quaritch: More Than Meets the Eye
Even within his villainous role in the Avatar franchise, Lang argues that Quaritch transcends simple stereotypes about toxic masculinity. The character's military background and aggressive tactics might suggest otherwise, but Lang sees deeper layers that complicate easy categorizations.
According to the actor, Quaritch actually demonstrates respect for female strength and capability. "He acknowledges the power of the women in his life, acknowledges Mrs. Sully as one tough cookie. His former partner, who is the mother of Spider, she was a tough cookie. If I'm getting typed in some way, I don't mind it because the roles are good. But as I'm, in a way, segueing into older roles, for obvious reasons — and I like that too! I don't mind getting old. I just want to stay old for a really long time."
The upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash reveals additional dimensions to Quaritch's personality, including moments of emotional vulnerability and an unexpected connection with Varang, who leads the Ash clan. These developments further distance the character from one-dimensional masculine archetypes.
Future Uncertainty for the Character
Regarding Quaritch's fate beyond the third film, Lang remains characteristically cryptic. The character appears to meet his end in Fire and Ash, though viewers never see definitive proof of death. Given Quaritch's previous resurrection in the franchise, speculation about his return continues among fans.
When pressed about potential future appearances, Lang offered only this: "The line that I don't say when I take that is 'F**k it' because that's really what it is. It's a 'F**k it' moment. This is too confusing and complex for me. I've done plenty. I really won't say more than that about it."
Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently playing in theaters nationwide.