Avatar: The Last Airbender is a fan favorite series and one of the many animated series that Netflix is adapting into live action. Fans have been hoping for more information about the series after learning that Netflix castthe four leads for the new Avatar: The Last Airbender’s adaptation. Gordon Cormier will star as Aang along with Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, and Dallas Liu as Zuko.
NEW CASTING DETAILS FOR NETFLIX’S AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER
We at The Illuminerdi have managed to uncover some exciting new casting details that seem to point to Netflix casting more key players for the live-action reimagining of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The first series regular that Avatar: The Last Airbender is looking to cast is an East Asian man in his 50s-60s. We believe this is Iroh, although his character description describes him as a now retired, but once top athletics coach in the country. Known for his tough coaching and winning record he’s calmed since his retirement and takes the time to smell the roses and taste the pleasures in life.
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He’s taken on a 16-year-old athletic prodigy, who feels he has something to prove, to mentor and his teaching style is now focused less on athletics and more on life lessons. If one changes coach and athletics to military terminology this fits Zuko’s uncle Iroh to a “T” with Zuko himself as the young protégé.
The next character we believe they are casting for is the Firelord himself, Ozai. The series is looking to cast an East Asian man in his 40s as a series regular. The character is described as the intense and steadfast CEO of a major corporation with perfectionist standards that he believes everyone around him should live up to. Infamously willing to sacrifice everything to gain power including his marriage. He sees it as his duty to groom his teenage children to see the world as he does and to be just as ruthless.
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If the leader of the Fire Nation is substituted for CEO this sounds exactly like Ozai. This would be an interesting change if the Firelord is going to be a series regular in the first season as he only appeared as a silhouette or in flash backs until the third season in the animated series.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is also looking to cast a 15 to 16-year-old actress of East Asian heritage who we think could be Azula. The character has been training her entire life to live up to the legacy of her father. She inherited his single-mindedness and ambition and like her father has developed a ruthlessness that she exerts toward anyone she sees as competition, including her own family.
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Although she is confident in her abilities, her social skills have suffered due to her determination, making it hard for her to relate to her peers. Secretly she wishes for the freedom to explore other interests and relationships. This description is very reminiscent of Azula, especially her relationship to her father, power and her social ineptitude.
Netflix is also looking to cast a recurring guest star, an East Asian man in his 60s who we believe is Gyatso. He is described as a youth counselor and minister who balances the wisdom of a scholar with a playful sensibility and humor. He is also extremely protective of those he is charged with caring for, notably a sensitive 12-year-old boy that he has become a sort of surrogate father for. When he learns the young boy has been sent away he agonizes over his inability to continue to be a fatherly and caring presence in his life. Change “minister” and “youth counselor” to Air Nomad monk and this sounds like Gyatso with the 12-year-old sounding like Aang.
We have also learned of one more series regular and one other recurring guest star that Netflix is casting for Avatar: The Last Airbender, but these two are a bit harder to figure out. They are looking to cast an East Asian man in his 40s to portray a recurring guest star. The character is described as an enterprising yet frustrated executive who has been unable to move past middle management, a role he feels is beneath him. An unexpected encounter with the son of his company’s CEO presents an unforeseen opportunity for promotion which he takes full advantage of. He is rewarded with a new position of power for his scheme which brings out his inherent egotism and narcissism.
For the series regular Netflix is looking to cast a man in his 30s of East Asian heritage. The character is described as haiving first enlisted in the Navy when he was a teenager. Over the years he managed to work his way up the ranks, but has also spent those years watching younger and less skilled men be handed promotions to outrank him due to their privileged upbringing. He now longs for home and life away from the petulant ungracious young officers.
Either of these roles could be Zhao, but the recurring guest star seems more reminiscent of the Fire Nation Navy officer. Given the Navy background in the series regular’s description this could indicate that Zhao’s character has been split into two different characters. However, it is also possible this is a different character in the world Avatar: The Last Airbender. Given that the character is a series regular it also seems like this could possibly be a new character created for the live action Avatar: The Last Airbender reimagining. This could be a member, perhaps a leader, among Zuko’s crew while he is first chasing the Avatar.
Although the descriptions are not an exact match the heart of them fits many of the Avatar: The Last Airbender characters. With Firelord Ozai possibly coming into play earlier in the live-action reimagining this could point to either more flashbacks from Zuko or fans will get to see the dictator’s perspective. It’ll be exciting to see who Netflix casts in these important Avatar: The Last Airbender roles.
What do you think of these character descriptions for Avatar: The Last Airbender? Who do you think these characters will be? Are you looking forward to the live action reimagining of Avatar: The Last Airbender? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and check back with The Illuminerdi for more Netflix and Avatar: The Last Airbender news.
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