Avatar: The Last Airbender: Netflix sets main cast for live-action adaptation

Netflix has put in place its main cast and creative team for their live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The core cast includes Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu.

Serving as showrunner, executive producer, and writer of the series is Albert Kim, with Rideback’s Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore executive producing, along with Michael Goi. Also on board, the creative team is Roseanne Liang as a co-executive producer while Goi, Liang, and Jabbar Raisani will serve as directors on the project.

Breaking down the core cast, Cormier will portray Aang, described as “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 set to play Katara, described as ” 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.”

Ousley is set to play 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 will be playing Zuko, described as “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.”

In a recent blog post, showrunner Albert Kim spoke of the importance of authenticity for the project between himself and the creative team. Avatar: The Last Airbender breaks some ground for live-action adaptations with a cast of Asian or Indigenous backgrounds:

“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.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender aired on Nickelodeon for three seasons and it follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends who are tasked with saving the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation. A follow-up series, The Legend of Korra, debuted on Nickelodeon in 2012 and ran for four seasons.

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