‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Netflix Series: Everything We Know So Far
Home › Netflix News › ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Netflix Series: Everything We Know So Far
All the latest updates and everything we know about Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Concept Art – Picture: Netflix
Netflix’s live-action adaptation series of Avatar: The Last Airbender has now officially wrapped principal photography in Vancouver, Canada. This is our big updated preview with everything we know so far about Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s live-action Netflix series including cast, production updates, what we can expect, and more.
Please note: this article is a preview that’s been updated over time to reflect changes in cast, production status, and more.
Co-created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the animated series was one of the most popular cartoons of the mid-2000s.
The series spawned an equally popular spin-off in 2012 known as The Legend of Korra (both of which are streaming on Netflix in most regions around the world but are expected to leave eventually).
There’s a lot to get to below but if you’re looking for just the headlines, here is the TL;DR:
- 10 hour-long episodes were expected, but it’s been reported that it’ll be 8.
- The series is using groundbreaking new LED technology while filming that’s gained it a Guinness World Record.
- It’s one of Netflix’s most expensive shows reportedly costing $15 million per episode for a total of $120 million for season 1 alone.
- Filming is expected to run until June 2022.
- The original creators of the Nickelodeon series are not involved in the production.
- The show will not feature at Netflix’s upcoming TUDUM event.
What is the plot of the live-action
Avatar: The Last Airbender?
The plot of the live-action remake will retread the same adventures as its animated counterpart.
In the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender civilization is divided into four separate nations. The four nations are named after the elements: the Air Nomads, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes. In each nation, only a select few people known as the “Benders” can use their nation’s element through the regional martial arts and telekinetic powers. The only user capable of using all four elements is the “Avatar.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series – Picture: Nickelodeon
Aang is the latest Avatar of the air nomads. After sleeping for 100 years in the ‘Avatar State’, Aang is awoken by Katara and Sokka of the Water Tribe. Learning of the war ravaging the world by the Fire Nation, Aang, with the help of his new friends, must master the abilities of the remaining elements so he can bring harmony to the nations.
Who is in the cast of
Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Main cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender on set – Picture: Netflix
We’ve had two main waves of cast announcements, with plenty of extra castings along the way.
We’ll cover the main cast below, but you’ll want to visit our expanded version of the Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender cast list here.
The first batch of castings came in August 2021, when we learned who will play the most important roles in the new series.
Here’s who will be playing the iconic roles:
- Gordon Cormier (Lost in Space) as Aang
- Kiawentiio Tarbell (Anne with an E) as Katara
- Ian Ousley (13 Reasons Why) as Sokka
- Dallas Liu (PEN15) as Zuko
Pictured: Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio Tarbell, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu
Alongside the cast announcements, Albert Kim had the following to say:
“We’ll be expanding and growing the world, and there will be surprises for existing fans and those new to the tale. But throughout this process, our byword has been “authenticity.” To the story. To the characters.
To the cultural influences. Authenticity is what keeps us going, both in front of the camera and behind it a live-action version would establish a new benchmark in representation and bring in a whole new generation of fans. This was a chance to showcase Asian and Indigenous characters as living, breathing people. Not just in a cartoon, but in a world that truly exists, very similar to the one we live in.”
Before their departure from the project, here’s what Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko had to say about casting the series:
“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast.”
Despite rumors, Dante Basco, who voiced Prince Zuko in the animated series, had been pegged for a role in the upcoming Netflix series but eventually confirmed he wouldn’t return as Prince Zuko.
In an interview with ComicBook.com in September 2021, Dallas Liu (playing Zuko) spoke about the pressure going into the first season, saying:
“… because it is such a beloved show I feel like there is some pressure to do a great job and not that I’m doubting anyone or the project at all, but this is the biggest project and the biggest role that I’ve been able to take part in now, especially leading with a character like Zuko, who’s so complex and one of, if not the favorite, one of the favorites of the show with his fire bending and his history. I mean, he’s such an incredible character and he has one of my favorite character developments in all of the animated series. So, I mean, I’m just as much of a fan of Zuko as everyone else is. So I mean, obviously I’m excited because this is like a dream, but at the same time, it gets a little nerve-wracking. You know? To do a good job, and I mean, at the end of the day I can only do what I’m capable of, but I hope that people enjoy my performance.
Netflix has also confirmed the casting of three important roles, with the roles of Uncle Iroh, Gyatso, and Commander Zhao occupied by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Lim Kay Siu, and Ken Leung, respectively.
In December 2021, four more roles were filled, including:
- Elizabeth Yu cast as Azula the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and sister to Zuko
- Maria Zhang as Suki the leader of an elite female fighting force known as the Kyoshi Warriors.
- Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi legendary warrior revered for her bravery.
- Casey Camp-Horinek as Gran Gran the compassionate matriarch of the Southern Water Tribe and Katara and Sokka’s grandmother.
AvatarNews.co has broken the news of a bunch of castings over the months too, including:
- François Chau as the Great Sage of the Fire Temple.
- Ryan Mah as Fire Navy officer Lieutenant Dang (an original character)
- Thalia Tran as Mai
- Irene Bedard as Yagoda
- Meegwun Fairbrother as Avatar Kuruk
- Joel Oulette as Hahn of the Northern Water Tribe
- Nathaniel Arcand as Chief Arnook
- Momona Tamada as Ty Lee
- Arden Cho as June
- Joel Montgrand as Hakoda
- Rainbow Dickerson as Kya (Sokka and Katar’s mother)
- James Sie as a cabbage merchant
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as King Bumi of Omashu
- Danny Pudi as Mechanist
- A Martinez as Master Pakku
- Amber Midthunder as Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe.
We’ve also received a first look at the cast of the show at the new state-of-the-art set that Avatar: The Last Airbender will be filmed on courtesy of Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast & Crew – Picture: Netflix / Noah Asanias
Who is involved with
Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix?
The most exciting news early on in the project was that the original creators of the Nickelodeon series would be involved.
That’s unlike the previous live adaption of Avatar: The Last Airbender, released in 2010 by Nickelodeon and largely panned.
Unfortunetely, the original creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who would serve as the executive producers and showrunners, departed the project in mid-2020.
Composer Jeremy Zuckerman was also believed to be returning to compose the music for the live-action remake, however, in an interview, he says he’s not officially signed on for the project, saying:
“No, there was never a contract.
It was just like “obviously you’re doing the music”, you know, but now that they’re not there, I don’t know what they’re gonna want. I’m not super pumped that they’re not gonna be there, so I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know what the future holds for that, it’s a big question mark. Yeah, sorry to not have a happier, more straightforward answer.”
Dan Lin is listed as an executive producer alongside his company, Rideback. Rideback is responsible for some huge movies (predominantly for Warner Brothers), including the Sherlock Holmes movies, the Lego Movies, and IT films.
Albert Kim has taken over the showrunning duties for Avatar: The Last Airbender. Kim is known for working on TNT’s Leverage and Nikita. In addition, Ryan Halprin and Lindsey Liberatore are listed as producers, with Rideback Productions being the primary production company behind the project./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19921093/mgidarccontentnick.comc008fa9d_d.png)
Rideback recently sold off another project to Netflix in the form of Parallel.
Jang Chol Lee will serve as a concept designer on the series, according to IMDBPro, with his previous credits including Big Hero 6, Tangled, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Beowulf.
Marc David Alpert was at one point producing the series too. Marc’s impressive credits span decades, with him working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lethal Weapon, and Nikita.
Our friends at AvatarNews.co revealed on July 1st that Michael Wylie would be on board as a production designer. His impressive resume includes Pushing Daisies which was released on Disney+.
Michael Goi
In June 2021, we’ve learned that Michael Goi is set to direct in the new Netflix series. Although yet to be officially confirmed, the accomplished cinematographer has worked previously on projects such as American Horror Story, Swamp Thing, Mary and Megan is Missing.
Alongside the cast announcement, two more directors were announced for Avatar: The Last Airbender series, including Roseanne Liang and Jabbar Haisani. In addition, Jet Wilkinson will direct two episodes.
Roseanne Liang and Jabbar Haisani
In October 2021, AvatarNews caught wind of a huge recruitment process looking for “Asian & Indigenous performers with martial arts or dance backgrounds,” citing that the first book features many key battles with heavy choreography.
Why did the original creators leave Netflix’s
Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Returning back to the original creators now. As you may recall back in August 2020, we learned that the two original creators had departed the project over what is thought to be creative differences.
In an open letter, Michael Dante DiMartino penned his thoughts on their departure from the project.
The co-creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender Michael DiMartino (left) and Bryan Konietzko (right)
The key paragraph is as follows (although the whole letter is worth reading):
“When Bryan and I signed on to the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners.
In a joint announcement for the series, Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating the series. And we expressed how excited we were for the opportunity to be at the helm. Unfortunately, things did not go as we had hoped.”
Bryan Konietzko also posted a statement on Instagram. Here are some of the key highlights from the statement we’d like to touch upon:
“Though I got to work with some great individuals, both on Netflix’s side and on our own small development team, the general handling of the project created what I felt was a negative and unsupportive environment. “
Since their departure, the duo has announced they would be helming new animated projects over at Paramount+ within the Avatar universe under a new studio called Avatar Studios.
Since the departing creators, more criticism of Netflix’s vision for the series has materialized. As Winter is Coming reports, Dee Bradley Baker (who voiced Appa and Momo) didn’t mince his words about Netflix’s vision to recreate the Nickelodeon series saying: essentially
“I just don’t know how you fulfill that any better than this show did.
I’m open to whatever they do with the live-action series, which I know nothing about, but it’s like, ‘Well, how do you do this better than the way that it was rendered on this show?’ I don’t know how you do that! I hope you can.”
Where is production up to for
Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1?
It was originally reported in late 2018 that full production would begin in 2019. However, two years later, that didn’t happen for various reasons (one being the departure of the original creators and the second being COVID-19).
The first release production update for the series came in late May 2019. Bryan Konietzko shared an update on the production of the show, saying:
“We’re moving into a new office space, transitioning into the next phase of production. Our core team is growing. We’re writing, planning, and testing. Though there’s plenty that’s new for us in this live action process, we’ve been on this long rollercoaster ride twice before and a lot of the climbs and twists and turns feel familiar.
Right now, everything seems slow, and we’re itching to speed up; before we know it, everything will be moving too fast and happening all at once. For those who are eager to see this new series and are asking if we have a trailer yet: thank you for your enthusiasm, sincerely, but you wouldn’t want to see a version of this series that was made within 9 months. Too much Hollywood fare is fast-tracked and the results speak for themselves. Thankfully for us and this series, Netflix is committed to doing it right.”
In September 2019, Bryan Konietzko shared some old storyboard pictures which are from the original animated series but maybe going through them for inspiration for the upcoming series.
Storyboard picture for Avatar: The Last Airbender – Picture: bryankonietzko/Instagram
Among the other announced crew members include Jan Chol Lee who is working as a concept designer on the series. His previous roles have included working on Disney’s Big Hero 6, 2006’s Beowulf, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
In October 2019, ProductionWeekly stated that the show was still in active development, and production is scheduled to start in 2020 (it’s unclear as of January 2021 whether this is still the case).
In March 2020, Bryan shared a small (and rather empty) update regarding the live-action series, saying:
“In other news, sorry for the lack of updates on the live action adaptation of ATLA. It’s been a slow process, slower than expected. But VERY exciting things are in the works on the project… Hang in there. We’ll share some info as soon as we can. 💙⬇️💙 But there are more important things going on in the world… It is surely going to be a rough ride for the next few months, at least. 💙 So, again, let’s all try to take care.”
Of course, in August 2020 (see above) the original creators departed the series so production is still up in the air which we can assume means the production is still early on.
Production will go ahead in Vancouver, Canada.
Although it has been listed to get underway multiple times, it’s now believed through multiple sources that production is set to get underway in November 2021 and run through April 2022.
The show is being filmed under the working title of ‘Trade Winds’.
As of the 16th of November, the production of Avatar: The Last Airbender is underway. The confirmation that production underway also comes with further casting news which sees the roles of Gyatso, Uncle Iroh, and Commander Zhao now filled.
In January 2022, journalist Caleb Williams stated that production is currently now set to run through to May 2022 and that they’re seeking extras “for the 2-part finale”.
Filming on the series officially wrapped on June 17th, 2022 meaning the series was in production for seven months and one day.
The cast had a “wrap party” on June 18th, 2022, where the animated ATLA played on the bar screens.
When is the release date for
Avatar: The Last Airbender?
No word on this.
Given the fact the show has only just wrapped production as of June 2022, we’re not likely going to see the series until at least 2023, given all the post-production work that will now go into the series.
Will the Animated
Avatar Movies come to Netflix?
In case you weren’t aware, the newly created Avatar Studios are working on not one but three animated feature films that are set to release in 2024, 2025, and 2026 respectively.
Paramount is distributing these and therefore will end up on Paramount+. We have heard rumors that Netflix may distribute the movies internationally where Paramount+ is not available, but we have yet to have those rumors confirmed.
Paramount and Avatar Studios’ first three animated Avatar movies coming to theaters:
⛰️ Kyoshi (2024)
🔥 Zuko (2025)
🌊 Korra (2026)All the info: https://t.co/buXe34W2qE pic.twitter.com/mXVkTVi40u
— Avatar News (@AvatarNews_) June 18, 2022
Before we leave you, we’d highly recommend following AvatarNews on Twitter and its website.
They remain one of the best resources for news surrounding all things Avatar and even created this incredible concept poster art for the Netflix series.
Are you looking forward to the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender? Let us know in the comments below!
Can Netflix’s shockingly expensive live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series succeed where the movie failed?
Netflix are banking a metric ton of cash on their new live-action adaptation of the Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Though the last attempt to adapt the cartoon to live-action can only be described as an unceremonious flop, the streamer clearly thinks they have a winner on their hands, pouring a reported $15 million into each of the series’ eight episodes. That’s late-stage Game of Thrones money. It’s more than The Last of Us money. It’s almost as much as other-Avatar money (but don’t get them mixed up, water n’all).
There’s reason to be cheerful if you’re a Last Airbender fan.
Asked about the series by Variety, Netflix’s head of scripted series in the US, Peter Friedlander, called the currently-in-production show “stunning spectacle,” telling the outlet that the streamer’s adaptation both “honours the original and celebrates its new iteration.» He compared their approach to “special IP” a la Last Airbender to that of The Sandman, the wildly successful TV version of Neil Gaiman’s classic graphic novels which hit Netflix last year. Sounds like it’s in good hands, assuming it isn’t cancelled out of the gates.
Here’s everything you need to know about Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.
What is Avatar: The Last Airbender about?
The original cartoon centred on a 12-year-old called Aang, who lives in a world in which certain individuals have the power to telekinetically manipulate one of the four elements — air, earth, fire or water — at will, a process known as “bending.
” With the world in turmoil amid a war waged by the Fire Nation, Aang is the last of his own nation, the Air Nomads. The series ran for three seasons in the mid-2000s, and was heavily inspired by Chinese martial arts, and the nation’s broader cultural iconography.
Original series co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are no longer involved with the adaptation, having departed a showrunners in mid-2020, but it’s expected to follow the same story as its animated predecessor. New showrunner Albert Kim, who joined the series in August 2021, says that their creative watchword on the series is “authenticity… To the story. To the characters. To the cultural influences. Authenticity is what keeps us going, both in front of the camera and behind it.»
The series is being filmed using the same VFX technology as seen on The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi, a virtual production stage which uses LED backdrops in lieu of greenscreens.
Who will star in Avatar: The Last Airbender?
After Shyalaman’s Avatar film was denounced by some critics and fans for alleged white-washing, the creators of the new series have emphasised their commitment to “culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed casting.
» For Kim, “this was a chance to showcase Asian and Indigenous characters as living, breathing people. Not just in a cartoon, but in a world that truly exists, very similar to the one we live in.” The Stand actor Gordon Cormier will star as Aang, with Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as General Iroh.
The expansive ensemble features the likes of George Takei and Industry‘s Ken Leung in supporting roles, while Daniel Dae Kim, known for voicing General Fong in the animated series, will portray Fire Lord Ozai.
When is Avatar: The Last Airbender set to release?
With production on the series finishing around June last year, Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to hit Netflix in the summer.
TV series release date, trailer, photo, video
16+
| Release date | 2023 |
| Country | US |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Fantasy |
| Number of series | 8 |
| Studios/TV stations | Netflix |
| Director | Goi Michael |
| Scenario | Kim Albert |
| Actors | Cormier Gordon, Tarbell Chiaventio, Owsley Yang, Liu Dallas |
In contact with
Telegram
OK
In contact with
Telegram
OK
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 1 is a Netflix live-action series based on the animated show Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The world is inhabited by four nations named after the elements. Some people are able to control their element, and only an avatar, the guardian of the world order, is able to master everything. Once the Lord of Fire decided to work the rest of the nations. Only one person can stop the destructive war: 12-year-old Aang, the new incarnation of the avatar. He has to go on a dangerous journey, master the remaining elements and restore balance in the world.
In September 2018, the streaming service Netflix announced a new project: a game series based on the popular amerime Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was promised that the creators of the original project Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko will act as executive producers and showrunners. However, in June 2020, they left the series due to creative differences.
Albert Kim is the new showrunner. Netflix produced the series in collaboration with Nickelodeon, which released the animated series. Starring Gordon Cormier (Aang), Chiaventio Tarbell (Katara), Ian Owsley (Sokka), Dallas Liu (Zuko), Paul Sung-Hyun Lee (Iroh), Elizabeth Yu (Azula) and Daniel Dae Kim (Ozai).
Also joining the cast are Sebastian Amoruso as Jet, the leader of a gang of children from the Earth Kingdom, and Momon Tamada as Ty Lee, Princess Azula’s childhood friend.
The exact release date for Avatar: The Last Airbender is unknown. It is expected to release in 2023 on Netflix.
Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko’s participation in the series
Amerime writers Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko contributed to the series but left their position as showrunners. In an open letter, they attributed their departure to differences in their approach to the show compared to Netflix’s vision, and also complained about the «negative and unsupportive» environment during their time at the studio.
“When Brian and I signed on to the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners.
In the joint announcement of the series, Netflix stated that it is committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and supporting us in the production of the series. And we expressed our admiration for the opportunity to be at the helm. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as we hoped,» , Dimartino wrote.
Facts about the series
- The original animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender aired in 2004-2008. It also has a spin-off The Legend of Korra.
- Based on the first season of the animated series, the feature film by M. Night Shyamalan «The Last Airbender» was released, but it failed at the box office.
- Filming of the series started on November 16, 2021. Each episode cost over $15 million to create.
- Paramount plans to create a trilogy of animated films based on the Avatar universe.
In contact with
Telegram
OK
The Last Airbender by Netflix — Movies and Series on DTF
Everything we know so far about the TV adaptation of The Last Airbender.
32,874
views
Created by friends Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko, Avatar: The Last Airbender began airing in 2005. The series was played on Nickelodeon until 2008. The show quickly gained popularity and gained success both among ordinary viewers and critics with their positive ratings. Now the series already has a cult status.
As many people know, in the animated series the story takes place in a fictional world where the four nations — the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, the Water Tribes and the Air Nomads — live in relative peace and harmony. But due to the great ambitions of the Fire Lord Sozin, the world was subjected to the horrors of war. The main story takes place one hundred years after the start of the war around the faithful and brave friends of the young Avatar Aang in an attempt to prevent the current ruler of the land of Fire, Ozai, from completely taking over the world.
Drawing from the official artbook «Avatar: The Last Airbender»
The series has gained popularity due to a large number of advantages and pluses.
This includes well-written characters, an interesting world, good and relevant jokes, beautiful rendering of action scenes, and much more. But the main advantage of the TV show is the philosophical conversation of the creators with the audience — the difficulties of accepting oneself and one’s destiny, choosing one’s own path, searching for spiritual balance, and so on. Even if animated works are usually aimed at young audiences, the depth of complex issues and a great story have contributed to the expansion of the audience and the series is still popular.
I am not a great expert on the analysis and reviews of works, since a large number of all sorts of analyzes and analyzes of this animated series from other specialists have already come out. Here I want to talk more about the upcoming series and the chosen actors for the lead roles.
Series
preview
The first and only official concept art from Netflix
In September 2018, it became known that the Netflix streaming service ordered a series based on the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender with the participation of the original creators Brian Konietzko and Michael DiMartino.
It was announced that the duo would become producers and showrunners of the future project. But in 2020, after two years of working on the project, the friends decided to leave their current positions due to creative differences with the studio. Exactly one year later, Netflix introduced a new showrunner in the person of the little-known Albert Kim and at the same time showed the main cast of the series. Gordon Cormier, Chiaventio, Ian Owsley and Dallas Liu play Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko, respectively. Further, after a series of pineapples and announcements, the entire main cast became known.
Filming process
The series was filmed in Vancouver from November 2021 to June 2022 under the strictest secrecy in studios using practical and computer-generated effects. Video scenes, large LED panels were used for shooting, where real-life locations are displayed. The same ones were used in the creation of the recent «Mandalorian». The stage, created especially for the filming of The Legend of Aang, recently entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest LED stage in the world!
Filming of The Mandalorian with
LED Panels
Visual effects for the series are being produced by DNEG (Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects for Dune).
The studio recently announced a multi-year deal with Netflix, with the Avatar series as one of its first projects.
Fictional creatures like Appa the bison and Momo the lemur will be a combination of practical on-set effects and post-production CGI. Something similar was done with Baby Yoda/Grog for Disney+.
Set photo
The first season will consist of eight hour-long episodes with a budget of $15 million per episode. In total, more than $120 million will be spent.
The show’s costume designer, Farnaz Khaki-Sadih, recently announced on her Instagram that 131 costumes have been prepared for the show, not counting extras and stuntmen.
World Map
Despite Netflix’s great love for all sorts of varieties and denigrations of already known characters, the cast of the future series consists mainly of Asians and indigenous peoples of America. This choice of the creators of the show is explained by the fact that when creating the original series, Konietzko and Dimartino were inspired by real-life peoples and countries to display the world of Avatar.
For the most part, this was Asian culture. Thus, the tribes of the remote northern places of Canada and the USA became the prototype for the representatives of the Water Tribes, the Air Nomads became an adaptation of the Tibetan monks, the inhabitants of the Earth Kingdom are inspired by China, and the Fire Nation is inspired by Japan.
Cast
Air Nomads
The main protagonist of the series, a young and good-natured lover of fun and riding penguins Avatar Aang will play 12-year-old Canadian of Filipino origin Gordon Cormier. The actor managed to be noted in several series, including Lost in Space from the same Netflix.
Aang in the adaptation will be the same as in the animated series 12 years old.
Gordon Cormier / Avatar Aang
Monk Giatso will be another representative of the Airbenders. He will be played by Singaporean actor Lim Kai Siu. He has small roles in several Asian films and TV series.
Lim Kay Siu / Monk Giatso
Water Tribe
16-year-old Qatar will be adapted by Chiaventiio Tarbell, a representative of the North American Mohoki Indian tribes. Chiaventiio is now 16 and has managed to win critical acclaim in the 2020 film Beans, where she plays the title role. She also made a cameo appearance in the Netflix series Anne of Green Gables.
Katara was 14 years old in the animated series.
Kiawentiio / Qatar
Warrior and strategist of the Southern Water Tribe Sokku will be represented by 20-year-old Ian Owsley. He appeared in seasons 3 and 4 of 13 Reasons Why from the same studio.
In the series he will be 14 years old, in the cartoon he was 15. It turns out that in the adaptation Sokka will be younger than Katara than in the original (but this is not yet certain).
Ian Ousley / Sokka
Northern Water Tribe member and Sokka’s first love interest Princess Yui will be played by Amber Midthunder.
Amber, 25, is from the North American Sioux Indian tribe. She has appeared in many films and TV shows, including the Marvel series Legion. She will also be seen starring in the upcoming Prey movie.
Amber Midthunder / Princess Yui
Hey Martinez will show Qatar how real masters fight. He will play Master Pakku, a teacher of water magic. The actor is best known for playing in the TV series Santa Barbara. The actor also has distant Indian roots.
A Martinez / Master Pakku
Earth Kingdom
As you know, in the original, the main representatives of the Earth People appear only in the second book, as presumably in the upcoming series. Of the well-known roles, the most interesting are the actresses who played the roles of Avatar Kyoshi and Suyuki.
Aang’s distant predecessor Avatar Kyoshi is played by Yvonne Chapman, a Chinese-Canadian actress. And the charming leader of the warriors of the island, Kyoshi Suyuki, is played by Maria Jan.
The actress is originally from Hong Kong and, judging by the film search, she is already 32! of the year.
Yvonne Chapman / Avatar Kyoshi
Maria Zhang / Suyuki
Land of Fire
Ken Leung, an actor of Chinese origin, will teach Prince Zuko good manners in the Agni Kai fire duel in the person of Commander Zhao. Ken has acted in many films and series of different genres, including the third «X-Men» and in the TV series «Lost».
Ken Leung / Commander Zhao
The exiled prince and master hunter of Aang Zuko will be played by 20-year-old Dallas Liu, an actor of Chinese-Indonesian origin. Dallas appeared in Marvel’s Chinese action movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Dallas Liu / Prince Zuko
General Iroh, a great lover of jasmine tea and just a sincere person, will be presented by Paul Sung-Hyun Lee, a Canadian actor of Korean origin.
A multiple Canadian film award winner, Lee has been acting in North American films for more than twenty years. He also appeared in episodes of the series of the stellar universe — in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee / General Iroh
Elizabeth Yu will play the scheming and arrogant Princess Azula, Zuko’s sister and daughter of Fire Master Ozai. For the Chinese-born actress, this will be a debut of sorts in her acting career, except for the film Somewhere in Queens, which has not yet been released, in which she plays a small role.
Elizabeth Yu / Princess Azula
Aang of the Fire Nation’s predecessor, Avatar Roku will be Charlie Lee, a South Korean actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as criminologist Vince Masuki in the drama series Dexter.
Charles Seung-hee Lee / Avatar Roku
Master of Fire Ozai, master of fire magic, grandson of Sozin, lover of cruelly punishing underage children and concurrently the main antagonist of the series is played by Daniel Dae Kim.
The Korean-American actor Kim has appeared in small roles in a variety of works, including the recent Hellboy with David Harbour. He is best known for playing Jin Kwon in Lost.
Daniel Dae Kim / Fire Lord Ozai
So far, that’s all we know about the leading and supporting actors in the streaming giant’s upcoming live-action adaptation of the acclaimed 2000s animated series.
Additional roles include Indonesian-American Rui Iskandar, who will play Lieutenant Gee and Casey Camp-Horinek as Pra-Pra, Sokka and Katara’s great-grandmother.
Ruy Iskandar / Lieutenant Gee, Casey Camp-Horinek / Pra-Pra
The names of three actors are also known without mentioning the characters they play — Korean Arden Cho, young Japanese Momona Tamada and Simon Chin.
Arden Cho, Momona Tamada, Simon Chin
Seven more characters are confirmed for the first season, but it is not yet known which actors play them — Azula’s assistants Mae and Ty Lee (originally appeared only in the second book), the King of the city Omashu Bumi, the leader of the Jet gang, one of the predecessors of Aang Avatar Kuruk, chief of the Northern Water Tribe Arnuk and the waterbender Yugoda.
