‘Avatar: Fire & Ash’ Would Have Been Even Better if Marc Maron Was in It

Y’all, I absolutely loved Avatar: Fire & Ash. I’ve only seen the original Avatar once. However, I’ve seen its sequel several times and plan on seeing Fire & Ash again as well. The new film was a blockbuster of epic proportions with engrossing acting, complex emotional throughlines, and beautiful imagery. It ain’t easy for me to find three free hours these days (and the act of getting to and from the theater really made it closer to five), but I did, and sat there happily for the entire thing, but I couldn’t help but think one element was missing.

**There will be some Fire & Ash spoilers ahead**

You’re probably thinking, “Andrew! You got epic battles, Sigourney Weaver as a teenage Na’vi Jesus, and space coke! What more could you need?!” And, look, you aren’t wrong. Regardless, there’s one character I think is just okay in the world of Avatar, and that is Dr. Ian Garvin, played by Jermaine Clement. I like Jermaine a lot! And I like him in these films. That said, his character’s arc is pretty predictable in a way that is made more obvious by his performance.

Garvin is brought along to hunt the majestic Tulkun on Pandora, giant whale-like beings who contain a… goo that could heal all human diseases. He’s teamed with Captain Mick Scoresby, played by Brendan Cowell, a sea-savvy poacher who lost an arm lost film and is as much of a mustache-twirling villain as you could hope for. Garvin often seems hesitant to hurt the Tulkun, and that hesitancy turns into insubordination in this film, as the marine biologist ends up helping Jake Skully escape from a human prison.

It rules and is very satisfying, but was pretty obvious in the last film. Part of that is because Avatar two and three were originally supposed to be one movie. While I don’t mind storylines being supported by a character’s previous actions, a little more nuance would have been nice, and the franchise is more than capable of that. I also think that complexity would have been achieved had James Cameron managed to land his original choice for the role: Marc Maron.

The former podcast host revealed a few years ago that he had auditioned for the films, but hated the process and did not seem enthusiastic about the idea of getting the part. It felt similar to his complaints about Joker, in that they were valid, but I think he would have gone and done the movies. Still, he was not cast, received a box of cigars from Cameron for his trouble, and did not end up in the films. Seeing as how one of Maron’s complaints involved not wanting to be in New Zealand for four years, it makes sense to cast someone who calls the country home.

Still, Clement has an inherent softness to him. He has played plenty of villains, but it feels clear from the jump that he will take the side of the native residents. Maron has an edge and, shall we say, grumpiness that would have made audiences more unsure about where his allegiances lie. Additionally, there’s a scene in the new film where Garvin finally breaks and yells at his commanders that I think Maron would have played better. Hell, the character even gets the film’s only F-bomb! That has Maron written all over it!

Again, I loved the movie, and I’m excited to see what Clement does in future installments, which we better freaking get. I just couldn’t help but think that Maron was perfect for the part of Ian Garvin, even if Clement did a perfectly fine job. So many of the characters experience such detailed change and development in this film, and I think that could have been even stronger. But, again, no offense to Jermaine Clement, who gave me one of my biggest laughs of the film.