Netflix has announced the casting of the four main leads for its live-action series adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Joining the series are Gordon Cormier (Gabby Duran and the Unsittables), Kiawentiio (Beans), Ian Ousley (Physical) and Dallas Liu (PEN15) as Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko respectively.
The live-action series being developed by Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow), who will serve as showrunner, writer and executive produce alongside Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore of Rideback and Michael Goi. Directing the series is Roseanne Liang and Jabbar Raisani with Liang also serving as an executive producer.
Cormier will portray Aang, “a fearless and fun-loving twelve-year-old who just happens to be the Avatar, master of all four elements and the keeper of balance and peace in the world. An airbending prodigy, Aang is a reluctant hero, struggling to deal with the burden of his duties while still holding on to his adventurous and playful nature.”
Kiawentiio is Katara, “a determined and hopeful waterbender, the last in her small village. Though only fourteen, she’s already endured great personal tragedy, which has held her back from rising to her true potential, though it’s never dimmed her warm and caring spirit.”
Oulsey plays Sokka, “Katara’s sardonic and resourceful 16-year-old brother. Outwardly confident, even brash, he takes his responsibility as the leader of his tribe seriously, despite his inner doubts over his warrior skills… doubts that he masks with his wit and deadpan sense of humor.”
Liu is Zuko, “a skilled firebender and the intense and guarded Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. Currently roaming the world in exile, he’s on an obsessive quest to capture the Avatar because he believes that is the only way to reclaim his life and live up to the demands of his cruel and controlling father, the Fire Lord.”
“A live-action version would establish a new benchmark in representation and bring in a whole new generation of fans,” Kim wrote on his blog. “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.”
Showrunner and writer of the upcoming live action, Albert Kim, shared his thoughts on the upcoming series. pic.twitter.com/sLkursuAAF
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) August 12, 2021
Avatar: The Last Airbender was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The two had been working on the live-action series, but left production due to creative differences with Netflix. The original series ran on Nickelodeon from 2006 – 2008 and even earned a sequel series The Legend of Korra. Avatar: The Last Airbender followed Aang, Katara and Sokka on a mission to stop Fire Lord Ozai from taking over the world as Aang had to learn how to master all four elements of air, water, earth and fire.
What do you think of the cast? Let us know on our social channels at @flickeringmyth…
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
