Over time, though, Lang has built a reputation for adding depth and variation to those characters. From Colonel Miles Quaritch in the Avatar franchise to the terrifying Blind Man in Don’t Breathe and recent turns in action-heavy films like Sisu, Lang has shown that even brutal characters can contain contradictions.
Speaking this week in New York, Lang made it clear that he does not personally identify with the “alpha male” image often associated with his roles.
“I left the man club some years ago,” he said. “I have no interest in promoting some idea of masculinity that’s aggressive or more important than anyone else.”
Lang explained that while he enjoys playing physically imposing characters, he does not want to be seen as someone who celebrates dominance or macho posturing. He said his real life — shaped by his family, including his wife, sons, and daughters — is built on respect and equality.
That philosophy, he believes, also applies to Quaritch, his long-running character in the Avatar series. Although Quaritch is ruthless and violent, Lang says the character recognizes strength in others, particularly women.
“He acknowledges the power of the women in his life,” Lang said, pointing to characters like Neytiri and other strong female figures connected to Quaritch’s past.
Now 73, Lang is selective about returning for sequels, but Quaritch remains one of the few characters he feels is far from finished. Avatar: Fire and Ash, currently in theaters, marks his third time playing the role under director James Cameron.
“For me, the question is always, ‘Is there more to say?’” Lang explained. “With Quaritch, there is.”
In the original Avatar, Quaritch died by the end of the film. He was later resurrected in Avatar: The Way of Water as a Na’vi-bodied version of himself, created from a digitized copy of his human consciousness. That transformation added new emotional layers, especially through his complicated relationship with Spider, the son he fathered before his death.
Lang says those internal conflicts are what make the character compelling.
“There are good qualities to Quaritch,” he said. “And yet there’s also brutality and cruelty. That contradiction is what makes him interesting.”
The actor applies the same thinking to all of his roles, even villains. He believes every character needs to be understood and, in some way, loved by the actor portraying them — otherwise the performance falls flat.
Lang also reflected on past roles he wished had continued, including characters from Public Enemies and Mortal Engines. Still, he says aging has opened new doors creatively, and he embraces it.
“I don’t mind getting old,” Lang said with a smile. “I just want to stay old for a really long time.”
For Lang, the appeal of acting lies in exploring human inconsistency — the idea that people can be cruel and compassionate, strong and vulnerable, often at the same time. That complexity, he says, is far more interesting than any one-dimensional version of masculinity.
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