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EXCLUSIVE: Even though Stephen Lang‘s Col. Miles Quaritch character seemed to have run his course in 20th Century Fox’s Avatar, director James Cameron has revealed that Lang is not only returning for the sequel, he’s going to be part of the next three films. It sounds like he’s the closest thing to a mix between Star Wars‘ Darth Vader and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator character. “Steven was so memorable in the first film, we’re privileged to have him back,” Cameron said. “I’m not going to say exactly how we’re bringing him back, but it’s a science fiction story, after all. His character will evolve into really unexpected places across the arc of our new three-film saga. I really look forward to working with such a gifted actor, who’s also become a good friend.”
Cameron has been working out brainy plot details throughout his career — how many times has the time travel concept from the original Terminator film been swiped over the years — so I’ll bet he’s come up with something thrilling. As for Lang, he’s been turning in memorable performances since going back to the Michael Mann TV series Crime Story and in character roles in films like White Irish Drinkers. Good on Lang, who’s repped by Innovative.
Related: ‘Avatar’ Sequels Upped To 3; Trio Of Writers Set To Spearhead
Deadline revealed that Cameron was going to shoot three movies one after the other, and that he had set War Of The Worlds scribe Josh Friedman to write one, Rise Of Planet Of The Apes’ Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver to write another and Salinger writer-director Shane Salerno to script the third in what is the most ambitious production schedule since Peter Jackson shot The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit trilogies in succession.
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Lang is who I always pictured as Jack Reacher.
So..the Planet Absorbed his conscious and he now inhabits a new form?
he transmitted his consciousness to something blue and nine feet tall. His duplicate cloned body is floating in space aboard a mother ship.
Cool concept, the bigot becomes the thing he most despises.
Yaaaaawn. As good as Lang was, I was hoping Cameron would take these sequels into completely new territory (I.e no Sully, no Neytiri, no unobtainium). Looks like he’s just going to do more of the same.
A day without unobtanium is like a day without high fructose corn syrup.
Mmmmmm, high fructose corn syrup.
so he is going to be brought back as an Avatar? Surprise!
It is still very discouraging to me that so many people consider Avatar a great film. It is pocahontas in space, with very very poor dialogue.
The only one who considers it great was Cameron & his accountants…
Love the guy but wish he’d stop doing his best Tim Burton impersonation and phoning in movies. He’s got a real chance to make some special films with his ability but he’s not.
I’ll take a True Lies, or, even a Piranha sequel over one new Avatar film.
That would make your new and inspired comment the Avatar 4 of the Pocahontas series.
Aww, Jeff, you made me tear up a little. Don’t be discouraged, little guy! Have some ice cream. Watch a Frank Capra movie. Everything’s going to be allllll-right!
Seriously, Jeff, everything’s going to be allright. There is still plenty of classic, indie and obscure art-house cinema out there for you to discover. The success of “Avatar,” or sundry superhero movies, or Random CGI Kiddie Flick Sequel of the Week doesn’t portend the end of cinema, Chicken Little.
When talking about “Avatar” with family and friends, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone refer to it as a “great” film. It didn’t inspire new perspectives on life or illuminate great Previously Unthunk Truths about Man’s place in the universe. It was, however, a fun ride that played to the crowd. At least we thought so. It was worth my $16.50 and did what I expected it to do. I don’t see the great tragedy in that. If you weren’t able to enjoy it, so be it, but the sad-sack hand-wringing is comical.
Here, here SloppyD… Cameron rises to his level of competence which is substantial and good news for the industry.
Who says it’s a great film? In 3D especially it’s a very entertaining one, and that’s all I expect. Stephen Lang is a hoot, I’d love to see him Vadered out.
Seriously? Three sequels? Or even one sequel? Are there honestly people out there who want more of this? Am I the only guy who was drawn in out of curiosity and walked away from the theater thinking, “Meh?”
Yes; how did “Avatar” sequels get the green light? What could possibly justify this? We know that all those tickets bought themselves and all the positive reviews were written by James Cameron himself.
I’m no a Hollywood insider or anything, but here goes nothing . . on the checklist studios use to evaluate potential sequels, the questions “Did ‘Book Guy’ or ‘Jeff’ (see above your post; the poor guy is discouraged) enjoy ‘Avatar’?” is very close to the bottom. I’m reasonably certain the $2.7 billion in WW box-office was a wee bit more compelling.
Not buying a ticket? OK; whatever. But the phony shock that these movies will exist despite your disinterest betrays either a tragic lack of thought or a massive ego.
Sloppy D is on fire. Hey maybe you should write?
From looking at the box office number, I guess you are.
Probably not, but there were several million people who had the opposite reaction, so yes to your original question. It’s still the best-looking 3D done to date, even several years after its release, which makes it a visual spectacle if nothing else.
WAS the best-looking 3D…until Gravity.
I disagree with your assessment that it’s the best 3D done to date. I think it was up until a few weeks ago, but Gravity just dethroned it.
I sort of agree. Gravity was great looking and will win the special effects Oscar with no competition. But Avatar is in a place of its own.I think they are both equal for different reasons- neither is better
You’re on an industry site asking if there are people who want to see more from the highest grossing film of all time? Please share your insight more often.
Yeah, I get that it did huge business and that’s why we’re getting 900 sequels. Duh. That doesn’t guarantee the sequels will perform. And given the costs any underperformance can be very expensive. Particularly since the principals will be taking even bigger cuts coming off the success of the first one.
And if Avatar 2 doesn’t perform? Spending a billion – risking a billion – to earn back your billion is just as dumb as spending a dollar to get back a dollar. Except that failure at these prices can break the bank. It’s a huge pile of money to risk on a movie that an awful lot of people have soured on. It was a Pet Rock of a movie, it was a big part of the early 3D thing. But the audience is growing tired of 3D.
Which brings you back to what sells an audience on sequels: characters you like. Which were, um. . . Were there characters in Avatar? Name two. Where’s the Tony Stark? The Jim Kirk? Where’s the actual human we give a damn about in Avatar? Walk through the successful sequels and ask yourself whether there are any with the same utter lack of compelling characters. Not many.
So, an extremely expensive movie that lots of people have turned against, that has no particular plot reason to exist, that has zero identifiable characters, that succeeded in large part due to fascination with a new technology that most people don’t care about anymore.
With the money Avatar made of course there would be sequels. And this isn’t even new news- its been talked bout for some time.As for your not buying 1 lousy ticket- well this won’t hurt Avatar box office at all. For all those who say they hated it. there are just as many that loved it and are willing to go for more of these films
So many haters. I’m very much looking forward to this and judging by the almost 3B in box office, I’m sure there are plenty of other people who are as well.
The fries are done, dude… don’t let em’ burn.
Yessss!!!! “I can’t wait to see Stephen Lang reprise his role in 3 Avatar sequels” said absolutely nobody.
And here come the Deadline defenders. Bring it, guys!
If there’s gonna be Avatar sequels I’m glad he’s in them as he was the best non-computer generated element in the first movie by a long stretch.
But what about Arnold as a new bad guy? Now that would be epic!
“how many times has the time travel concept from the original Terminator film been swiped over the years?”
Including the time Cameron swiped it from Harlan Ellison?
YES! BEST NEWS. LOVE QUARITCH. JUJUBES.
This announcement makes me totally lose interest in a sequel. When you just decide that people don’t die and everyone gets to come back to the next movie, you make a movie where the story doesn’t matter because there are no consequences. Plus, Pocahontas 2 was a terrible direct to video movie, so what will Cameron copy this time?
Hmm, good point. No consequences if he can reappear due to %technobabble% and be the bad guy again. It would be cool if he DID actually come back as Darth Vader. *That* I would be first in line for.
Avatar was meh. Ferngully on steroids. I guess I’m a hater. Glad to see it rake in the cash though – helps my bonus at the end of the year.
Are you guys kidding me….if you didn’t like the movie avatar than why are you even here posting stuff? I thought it was great, but I , for one see Stephan Lang as much more than Avatar, but you people wouldn’t have a clue of his other GREAT work! He is a wonderful actor and very talented! If you do not like the ideas of the other movies, than ignore all this and move on to the next post! I am THRILLED SLang will be back! I hope all the movies are as good as the Avatar movie!
[Are you guys kidding me….if you didn’t like the movie avatar than why are you even here posting stuff?]
Because we didn’t like “Avatar”.
There’s a cultural trend to call the Avatar films simply Pocahontas or Fern Gully in space – and it only seems to happen when you bring up how awesome Avatar is. It seems you can’t be too good at something because people will hate you. You really could pick any movie and say its just a metaphor of a different story that’s already been done, but people use these two examples (Pocahontas, fern gully) because they’re just rehashing what they’ve heard other people say – anyone else see the irony? No one ever says its just Romeo and Juliet in Space (even though it bares many thematic similarities) because that would require you thinking of your own analogy. I also never knew so many people were so precious about Pocahontas. I don’t really need to defend how great Avatar is, the only travesty is that it didn’t win Best Director or Best Picture.
well said.
It’s because the movie appealed to a lot of people with not very sophisticated taste and did very well, like Titanic. It’s hard to take seriously the dialogue and very crude, manipulative plot even if you think the movie was entertaining for what it was. Why do people look down on Walmart instead of accepting it as a brilliant business that is very popular with consumers? Because what it represents is how popularity can go hand in hand with mediocrity and trash culture.
well said indeed. One thing about the movie business is those that there is a lot of jealousy because they didn’t come up with it. and James has been at the top more than once so there are a lot of haters. instead of hating come up with something that isn’t the usual lame Hollywood film- they can’t
10 MILLION VIEWERS… 10 MILLION OPINIONS. IT NEVER CHANGES.
That said… It’s still an amazing hat trick to make a movie that draws as many viewers as Avatar and Cameron’s other movies do.
These days movies and popular entertainment are not only successful because of their content. They’re also successful because of the gravitational pull of the filmmakers, musicians, dancers and artists.
The fans follow their idols.
I don’t want to see Arnold in anymore movies…ever! So many more interesting actors to choose from. If he’s in it I don’t wanna see it
I hate when they try to have it both ways. Either you kill a character for dramatic effect or you don’t.
Happy for steven lang & class act & former agent rick jaffa….. I am very happy for his career change!
LOL @ motherfuckers acting like this is Jean-Luc Godard and shit.
A thousand times yes, so glad he’s back, he was terrific in the role.
Disagree on killing off characters… look at the Dune series… Duncan Idaho got killed off and reincarnated by the Tlaxu so many times he reached godlike status eventually. Anything is possible in sci-fi.