[ATTENTION, cet article contient de légers spoilers !] For the release of the gigantic “Avatar : The Way of the Water”, we met actor Stephen Lang, back in the role of the cruel Miles Quaritch. The comedian spoke to us about the unexpected evolution of his character and the doubts he may have felt over the past thirteen years.
Avatar – The Way of the Water : James Cameron did it again
After making the biggest movie hit of all time, James Cameron is finally back with his sequel, Avatar : The Way of the Water. A gigantic second opus that surpasses its predecessor, both visually and by its more accomplished scenario (discover our review here). Above all, the film seems to give a real direction to the future of the saga, poignant family odyssey which takes the viewer to the far reaches of Pandora and perhaps soon to other planets.
The feature film takes place more than ten years after the events ofAvatar. Having founded a family and leading a peaceful life, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake (Sam Worthington) helplessly witness the return of men to the exomoon. Among them is their old enemy Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), alive and well and determined to get revenge.
For the output ofAvatar : The Way of the Waterwe met Stephen Lang, the interpreter of the ruthless soldier and ready to do anything to kill Jake Sully. The actor spoke about the evolution of his character, also touched by the family dimension that the franchise takes, but also the pressure felt during the thirteen years which separate the releases of the two films.
Meeting with Stephen Lang
13 years later, Avatar : The Way of the Water finally arrives at the cinema. Were you afraid that the film would not come out?
Stephen Lang: (laughter) Well, I’m an optimist. I always knew we would get there. I admit that there were times when I felt like the horizon kept receding because of the many postponements of the release date. But I got used to it and I understood the reasons why we took so long. They were always good reasons, in the service of the film we were making. So I have always kept the faith and this faith is today rewarded by the release of this marvelous film.
The family dimension of the film is very important in the film, especially for your character. Did you expect such an evolution for Miles Quaritch?
Stephen Lang: No, I could never have anticipated the journey, Quaritch’s particular trajectory. It’s surprising, it’s provocative, it’s intriguing and that creates real problems for him. He is a man who is not used to doubting, to not being sure of himself, to being assailed by emotions capable of causing uncertainty in him. For an actor to delve into the torments of a character like Quaritch is a brilliant opportunity. It’s very interesting.
Return after the success ofAvatar is a huge challenge. Did you feel any pressure during filming?
Stephen Lang: I always feel a certain pressure to do my best, to be as honest and authentic as possible. The success of the former actually created high expectations, which caused this pressure. But all we can do is put all that aside and do our best. And I would be dishonest if I said that we ourselves don’t have expectations on the reception and success ofAvatar : The Way of the Water. I don’t know how it’s going to work, but I’ve seen the movie and I know what it’s about. And we can be proud, because it’s a great moment in cinema.
How does it feel to have portrayed two of the biggest villains of recent years with Avatar and Don’t Breathe: The House of Darkness ?
Stephen Lang: If that’s what you think, I’m glad you’re a friend of mine. (laughter) I love these two characters. I love Quaritch obviously and the blind man is also a fascinating role for me. When we say “it’s good to be bad”, I think it’s true. (laughter)
Avatar : The Way of the Water is to be discovered in cinemas from December 14, 2022.
