Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, based on the well-loved animated television series first aired from 2005 to 2008, has been released to mixed reviews on February 22, 2024, after being first revealed in September 2018.
The show is helmed by showrunner Albert Kim and features a talented ensemble cast of Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ken Leung, and Daniel Dae Kim.
Every character in Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar Aang (played by Gordon Cormier)
Filipino-Canadian actor Gordon Cormier portrays the free-spirited twelve-year-old airbender who got frozen in ice for a hundred years just as the Fire Nation wiped the entire airbender community. As the new Avatar, he begins his quest of ending the war as the only one who can master all four elements.
Gordon’s past works include an episode in Get Short (2019), Lost in Space (2019), and Two Sentence Horror Story (2021). He was previously a recurring star in Paramount+ miniseries The Stand, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name.
Katara (played by Kiawentiio)
Portrayed by First Nations (Mohawk) actress and singer-songwriter Kiawentiio, Katara is the fourteen-year-old last waterbender of her tribe who saves Aang when the ice melted, alongside her borther Sokka. Katara sees the threat of the Fire Nation to their village so she joins Aang’s journey.
Kiawentiio made her acting debut in the third season of Anne with an E in 2019. She was also part of Rutherford Falls (2021) and the movie Beans.
Sokka (played by Ian Ousley)
American actor Ian Ousley plays Sokka, Katara’s sixteen-year-old brother who beomes the leader of their tribe after the death of their parents. Although he initially doesn’t want to help Aang, he later joins him and his sister in their journey. Sokka makes up for his lack of waterbending skills by using his intelligence and resourcefulness.
Before bagging the role, Ian first appeared in the series Sorry for Your Loss, 13 Reasons Why, Young Sheldon, Big Shot, and Physical.
Prince Zuko (played by Dallas Liu)
American actor Dallas Liu portrays the antihero of the series, Prince Zuko, the exiled seventeen-year-old crown prince of the Fire Nation whose only goal was to capture the Avatar to end his banishment and regain his honor.
Dallas made his acting debut at just eight years old when he portrayed six-year-old Jim Kazama in the 2009 movie Tekken. Dallas also appeared in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Disney Channel Original Movie The Slumber Party.
Uncle Iroh (played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee)
South Korean-Canadian acotr Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays Uncle Iroh, the retired Fired Nation general who is also Fire Lord Ozai’s older brother. Uncle Iroh becomes Prince Zuko’s nurturing guardian and mentor as he accompanies him in his journey to catch Aang to redeem his glory.
Before Avatar: The Legend of Aang, Paul became famous when he starred in the play Kim’s Convenience and its television adaptation where he portrayed the family patriarch Appa.
Commander Zhao (played by Ken Leung)
American actor Ken Leung plays Commander Zhao, Prince Zuko’s main rival in the pursuit of Avatar who is also an ambitious, arrogant, ruthless, and dishonorable naval officer of the Fire Nation.
Ken was part of several films and movies such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, NBC’s The Night Shift, and HBO’s Industry. Ken is also part of the upcoming movie Joker: Folie a Deux.
Fire Lord Ozai (played by Daniel Day Kim)
Portrayed by Daniel Day Kim, Fire Lord Ozai is the tyrannical and sadistic ruler of the Fire Nation, who is also Iroh’s younger brother and Zuko’s father. Before playing the role of Fire Lord Ozai, Daniel had already worked in the Avatar franchise when he voiced two characters in the animated series – General Fong in the Book 2 of the Last Airbender, and Hiroshi Sato in The Legend of Korra.
Daniel was part of the TV series Lost, Hawaii Five-0, and The Good Doctor. He also voiced Benja in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon.
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Conclusion
When Netflix first announced Avatar: The Legend of Aang in 2018, fans expressed their hope for a much better live-action adaptation of the well-loved animated series after The Last Airbender film in 2009 became one of the worst films of all time.
The actors gave justice to their characters but the fate of the new live-action adaptation is still in limbo as critics indicate a mixed or average reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Avatar: The Last Airbender end?
Avatar: The Last Airbender ends as Aang, Katara, and Sokka successfully defend the Northern Water Tribe from the hands of Commander Zhao and the Fire Nation. Aang has also mastered water bending as the Fire Nation moves to the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu.
How many seasons of Last Airbender are there?
In the original animated series, there are three seasons (or books) of Avatar: The Last Airbender, each one following Aang’s journey in mastering the three other elements (Water, Earth, and Fire). Since Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender covers just the first season of the animated series, it is safe to there would be three seasons at most when Netflix greenlight the sequels.
What happened after Avatar ended?
In the original animated series, Aang and Katara have three children together before Aang dies at the age of 66. After the Aang died, the Avatar reincarnates as the waterbender Korra, who is the subject of the animated series The Legends of Korra.
