Avatar 3 Star Spoils Return of 1 Villain Who Many Thought Was Dead

An Avatar: The Way of Water actor just confirmed his character's surprising comeback in Avatar 3.

By Savannah Sanders Posted:
Avatar 3

An Avatar: The Way of Water star just confirmed his villain's return in 2025's Avatar 3 despite being believed to be dead in the sci-fi universe. 

In James Cameron's original Avatar and Avatar 2, the Resources Development Administration (RDA) and its military mercenaries, led by Stephen Lang's Colonel Miles Quaritch, filled the role of the franchise's villains. 

Despite losing to Jake Sully at the end of The Way of Water, Quaritch was left alive for a future comeback; and regardless of what fans first thought, he isn't the only one. 

[ Avatar 3: All 23 Characters Confirmed to Return ]

Avatar 2 Villain's Death Debunked Ahead of Avatar 3

Matt Gerald, who played Corporal Lyle Wainfleet in Avatar: The Way of Water, took to Instagram to confirm his character's Avatar 3 return. 

Gerald's post, which shows his character in Na'vi form, can be seen below:

Matt Gerald's Avatar 3 Instagram post
Instagram

Lyle Wainfleet's presence in the upcoming threequel is surprising since some believed he was dead. 

Toward the end of Avatar 2, he was thrown overboard and never shown again. 

Avatar: The Way of Water action sequence
Avatar: The Way of Water

Wainfleet first appeared in 2008's Avatar and worked for the RDA alongside Colonel Miles Quaritch. 

Matt Gerald's Lyle Wainfleet in Avatar: The Way Water
Avatar: The Way of Water

While his human body died during the Assault on the Tree of Souls, he was brought back in Na'vi Avatar form during The Way of Water alongside his commanding officer and fellow mercenaries.

[ Avatar 3: Disney Just Teased TWO New Species for Next Movie ]

The Sully Clan's Avatar 3 Problems

Matt Gerald's baddie isn't the only returning villain once believed to be dead.

Brendan Cowell's Mick Scoresby is also returning for Avatar 3, despite his character being outsmarted by the Tulkun in Avatar 2 and losing an arm.

However, Scoresby, Colonel Miles Quaritch, the RDA, and now Corporal Lyle Wainfleet aren't the only obstacles Jake and Neytiri's family will face in Avatar 3

The 2025 film is also set to introduce the Na'vi Fire Nation who have been described as "antagonistic" to the Sully Clan. 

Whether these antagonists will remain obstacles for the Sully Clan is unknown, especially after Avatar 2 established Quaritch and Spider's familial connection, a bond that's sure to be revisited in Avatar 3

How Spider's journey affects Quaritch and where that leaves Lyle Wainfleet will be interesting to see. 


Avatar 3 is expected to release on December 19, 2025. 

- In This Article: Avatar 3
Release Date
December 19, 2025
Platform
Theaters
Actors
Sam Worthington
Sigourney Weaver
- About The Author: Savannah Sanders
Savannah Sanders joined The Direct as a writer in 2020. In addition to writing for The Direct's Star Wars, Marvel, and DC teams, Savannah specializes in the relationship between Disney's blockbuster franchises and the Disney Parks.