Netflix‘s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series is preparing to climb atop a flying bison and soar through the sky! The entire cast for the anticipated adaptation is finally revealed, including several notable names added to the roster. The live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender cast rounds out with Amber Midthunder (Prey, Ice Road), Arden Cho, Danny Pudi (Community, Mythic Quest), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts, Free Guy), George Takei (Mulan, Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club, Secret Headquarters), Thalia Tran (Council of Dads, Raya and the Last Dragon), and James Sie (Jackie Chan Adventures, Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll). They join the previously announced cast, including Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Zuko, Elizabeth Yu as Azula, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh, and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai.
The world of Avatar is divided into four nations: the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. In addition to the Four Nations, some characters can visit a parallel dimension called the Spirit World.
Netflix was kind enough to provide news jockeys with a complete cast list, including character affiliations with the Avatar: The Last Airbender world. The cast is massive, so prepare yourselves for a ride:
Water Tribe
Amber Midthunder is Princess Yue, the compassionate spiritual leader of the Northern Water Tribe.
A Martinez is Pakku, the veteran waterbending master of the Northern Water Tribe and a fierce defender of their traditions.
Irene Bedard is Yagoda, an empathetic healer who is a role model for her tribe’s female waterbenders.
Joel Oulette is Hahn, a strong and skilled warrior with unwavering loyalty to his tribe.
Nathaniel Arcand is Chief Arnook, father to Princess Yue, and the respected leader of their tribe.
Meegwun Fairbrother is Avatar Kuruk, a previous Avatar with a haunted past.
Earth Kingdom
Arden Cho is June, a tough and persistent bounty hunter known for her ruthless efficiency.
Utkarsh Ambudkar is King Bumi, the ancient and mercurial ruler of the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu.
Danny Pudi is The Mechanist, an eccentric inventor and engineer who’s doing his best to raise his son in a war-torn world.
Lucian-River Chauhan is Teo, the idealistic and high-flying son of The Mechanist.
James Sie is the Cabbage Merchant, a long-suffering vegetable vendor in Omashu.
Fire Nation
Momona Tamada will play Ty Lee, an energetic and upbeat teen and one of Princess Azula’s best friends.
Thalia Tran is Mai, an unflappable and deadpan teen who, along with Ty Lee, is one of Princess Azula’s closest allies.
Ruy Iskandar is Lt. Jee, the first officer of Prince Zuko’s ship.
Hiro Kanagawa is Fire Lord Sozin, the ruthless and ambitious previous ruler of the Fire Nation and grandfather to Fire Lord Ozai.
C.S. Lee is Avatar Roku, a wise and benevolent past Avatar from the Fire Nation.
François Chau will play The Great Sage, the venerated spiritual leader of the Fire Nation and guardian of Avatar Roku’s shrine.
Ryan Mah is Lt. Dang, Commander Zhao’s second-in-command.
Spirit World
George Takei will voice Koh, an ancient, predatory spirit.
Randall Duk Kim will voice Wan Shi Tong, who appears in the form of a giant owl and is also known as the Spirit of Knowledge.
Filming for the series will take place in a new, custom-built facility using some of the same cutting-edge technology used for Netflix’s The Midnight Sky, 1899 and Disney’s The Mandalorian. The state-of-the-art stage, designed and operated by Pixomondo (“PXO”) Virtual Production, is 84 feet across and 28 feet high with 23,000 square feet of stage space and more than 3000 LED Panels, making it one of the biggest virtual production volumes in North America. The virtual production stage, which allows for visual effects to be done in real-time in-camera, combining multiple environments on a single stage, will set a new standard for immersive storytelling.
The series will be an authentic adaptation of the award-winning and beloved Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender reimagined as a live-action adventure. Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita) serves as showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Alongside Kim, Rideback’s Dan Lin (The Lego Movie, Aladdin) and Lindsey Liberatore (Walker) serve as executive producers, as well as Michael Goi (Swamp Thing, American Horror Story). Goi, Roseanne Liang (also a co-executive producer), Jabbar Raisani, and Jet Wilkinson direct.
Despite my reservations, I can’t help but be excited about Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series. I need something to wash the taste of M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 adaptation out of my mouth, even though it’s been years since the film’s release. The new additions to the cast are fantastic, and I hope everyone involved gets a chance to shine.
What do you think of the entire cast for Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender? Let us know in the comments. Yip yip!