Stephen Lang discusses debating with James Cameron over Quaritch

Stephen Lang has explained that working with James Cameron on the Avatar franchise is a 'demanding' experience, but he gives his director as good as he gets.

The 70-year-old star returns to Pandora as evil military man Quaritch — despite the character's death first time around — in Avatar: The Way of Water.

Avatar: The Way of Water is in cinemas and IMAX from 16 December.

Video transcript

TOM BEASLEY: James Cameron is someone who has a reputation, I think, as being a hard taskmaster on set. Is that something you experienced? And I guess do you think that it's necessary the way he works to get what he gets out, which is so impressive?

STEPHEN LANG: Well, he's a hard taskmaster on himself, and I think he demands through the example he sets that you bring your A-game. And sure. And when Jim is hard on me-- I won't speak to how he is with anyone else at all-- I mean, but Jim can be-- he can be hard on me because he knows he can be hard on me because he knows it works for me. And I can be equally hard back. In the end, if we go nose to nose, I will lose every time. And that's the way it's supposed to be.

TOM BEASLEY: I guess that's interesting. Obviously, you know this character so well and so does he.

STEPHEN LANG: That's right. That's the big discussion. If we get into a debate and he'll say, well, I wrote it? And I say, well, I am it, you know? But we come to-- eventually, we come to terms. The truth of the matter is, we're in pretty much-- pretty good sync when it comes to who Quaritch is and where Quaritch is going. There may be times when we disagree on the particulars but--

TOM BEASLEY: But as he says, he writes it.

STEPHEN LANG: Exactly. Plus he's always got, I'm the director too. It's like, whatever you say.

TOM BEASLEY: What does it say on the back of my chair?

STEPHEN LANG: Exactly.