The animated Nickelodeon series [1] "Avatar: The Last Airbender" garnered critical acclaim during its original run from 2005 to 2008. The show is about nations where inhabitants called "benders" can manipulate earth's elements — and Aang, the titular Avatar who can manipulate all four elements. Now, the classic show is getting a fresh take via a Netflix live-action series. Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzsko, the show's original creators, had been in talks with Netflix about the new series since 2018 but ultimately left the production due to conflicting visions and creative differences [2].
While the show's original creators are no longer involved with the live-action production, it still seeks to bring their original vision to life in a new way while staying true to the source material. In a statement on Netflix [3], new showrunner and executive producer Albert Kim said, "[T]hroughout this process, our byword has been 'authenticity.' To the story. To the characters. To the cultural influences."
Since the live-action series was announced, fans of the original show have been eager to learn details about it, including its cast and premiere date. Read on to find out more about Netflix's "Avatar: The Last Airbender" live-action series!
What Is "Avatar: The Last Airbender" About?
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" will have the same storyline and characters as the original series. The series takes place in a world where four nations — the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads — lived in peace before the Fire Nation started a war against the other nations. Within this world, "benders" can manipulate one of four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. One special bender, 12-year-old Aang, has the ability to manipulate all four elements. Revealed to be the Avatar, Aang must use his powers to restore balance to the world.
Who Is in the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Cast?
The cast of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" features both fresh and familiar faces. Gordon Cormier will play Aang, Kiawentiio Tarbell will play Katara, Ian Ousley will play Sokka, and Dallas Liu will play Zuko. Additional cast members include [4] Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh, Lim Kay Siu as Gyatso, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao, Elizabeth Yu as Azula, Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi, Tamlyn Tomita as Yukari, Casey Camp-Horinek as Gran Gran, and Maria Zhang as Suki.
Unlike the 2010 film adaptation, which was panned for whitewashing characters, the creators of the Netflix adaptation prioritised casting actors of Asian and Indigenous backgrounds to stay true to the original story.
When Will "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Premiere?
"Avatar The Last Airbender" doesn't yet have a premiere date. According to Variety, production started in November 2021 [5]. Taking this into consideration, we can expect the series to air in late 2022 or early 2023.
How Many Episodes Will "Avatar: The Last Airbender" Have?
The original series spanned three seasons, with each season consisting of about 20 episodes. The live-action "Avatar: The Last Airbender" series will likely have fewer episodes, with some outlets reporting that the series will consist of 10 episodes [6].
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Trailer
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" is still in production and doesn't yet have a trailer yet. Check back here for updates when one drops!