Avatar 4 Has To Make This Villain Change To Fix The Franchise

Published Jul 26, 2026, 1:45 PM EDT Liz Declan is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant, primarily covering movies. She is a massive fan of Star Wars, the MCU, and Supernatural. In addition to writing, Liz loves attending and covering conventions and interviewing actors. Find her on TikTok and Instagram @va.va.vera The Avatar franchise is still marching on, with its next installment, Avatar 4, currently in the works, and Avatar 5 already confirmed as well. It goes without saying that these movies have proven to be massively popular over the years, with 2009's Avatar launching a very successful franchise that has not only resulted in many sequels but also has earned itself its own section of a park in Disney World. Clearly, then, the franchise is far from falling apart, yet it's simultaneously true that the movies have consistently declined in terms of quality over the years. While Avatar immediately captivated audiences, and that premise carried through to Avatar: The Way of Water and was even successfully updated with the focus on a new clan, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which was released just last year, felt like a fall from grace to a degree. Audiences remained mostly positive about it, that's true, but there were myriad issues with the movie (many of which critics picked up on), from the jumbled, overwrought plot to the fact that the story has begun to feel redundant and too reliant upon the stunning visuals that have always defined the movies. Among the biggest issues with redundancy was that Fire and Ash once again used the same villain. In Avatar, Colonel Miles Quaritch was a perfect villain, demonstrative of an unfeeling militant mindset, juxtaposed with that of the scientists who didn't intend harm to Pandora. In The Way of Water, he "returned," although it was actually an Avatar version of him. While that still mostly worked, it was frustrating that Fire and Ash brought him back yet again, this time because Spider had saved his life. This story is getting tired, which makes one Avatar 4 choice all the more critical. Avatar 4 Should Bring Varang Back—Not Colonel Miles Quaritch Although Quaritch was still the primary antagonist of Fire and Ash in many ways, the movie did actually introduce some new villains—and, despite the fact that they frustratingly didn't end up being the main antagonists, they were so much more compelling than bringing the colonel back yet again. Specifically, Fire and Ash introduced the Mangkwan Clan, also called the Ash People, along with their terrifying leader, Varang. This new clan felt incredibly different from anything that had been seen in the franchise before, and they were genuinely scary. At first, the implication was that they would be the core villains, and that was an exciting and promising update. Sadly, that proved not to be the case. They remained major adversaries, yes, but Quaritch managed to get the upper-hand yet again (which, honestly, just makes no sense; why would Quaritch have a leg up on Varang, who is clearly so powerful?). There's nothing that can be done when it comes to that choice in Fire and Ash, of course, but there is still hope for Avatar 4, which should absolutely avoid Quaritch as the main villain. Instead, it would be interesting to see Varang return and actually be the main antagonist. She did survive the conclusion of Fire and Ash—but, as has been proven, this franchise could find a way even if she had died—so it's very possible that she will return, still wanting to take down Jake and his family. Some might argue that this would still be redundant, but really, it could be redemptive, as Fire and Ash simply did not get the best use out of this fascinating character. The Avatar Franchise Needs An Update It isn't just the villain of Avatar 4 that will need a revamp. With Fire and Ash especially, it became clearer than ever that this story has started to feel cyclical, with very similar themes and issues emerging again and again. With both Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 on the horizon, this franchise needs to find a way forward that actually makes the new movies worth a watch. When Avatar was released, it was certainly ahead of the game in terms of visuals and effects, and it won many awards for that reason. Yet, other franchises have caught up, so Avatar now has to do more. Hopefully, that will include Avatar 4 focusing on a newer villain—possibly Varang, but another, more innovative villain would be welcome too, as long as it is executed well—and the story feeling like it has actually reached a new era. In part, that could be a focus on Jake and Neytiri's children, but there would also need to be some sort of shift wherein the stakes and threats feel raised and distinct from what's been seen before. Avatar 4 Release Date December 19, 2029 Director James Cameron Writers James Cameron, Josh Friedman Producers Jon Landau Prequel(s) Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash Franchise(s) Avatar Avatar 4 is the fourth installment of James Cameron's science fiction franchise, scheduled for release in December 2029. Avatar: Fire and Ash Release Date December 19, 2025 Runtime 197 Minutes Avatar: Fire and Ash is a 2025 science fiction film continuing the saga of Pandora. Jake Sully and Neytiri confront a formidable new enemy, the Ash People, led by Varang. Struggling with personal loss and external threats, they strive to protect their family and Pandora's future.