‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Netflix Live-Action Series: Everything We Know So Far

A new live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender is officially coming to Netflix, with production finally happening this year with the original creators of the show Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, returning as executive producers and showrunners. It will be an adaptation of the animated series that won our hearts a few years ago. Here's everything we know about it so far.

When Will The 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Netflix Live-Action Series Be Available On Netflix?

The Live-Action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to hit Netflix sometime in 2024. As per sources, the filming officially wrapped in June 2022.

'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Netflix Live-Action Series was first announced in 2018, with production set to begin the following year. Sadly, due to numerous reasons, production did not push through until late 2021. 

Konietzko spoke about production in late May last year, saying:

We’re moving into a new office space, transitioning into the next phase of production. Our core team is growing. We’re writing, planning, and testing. Though there’s plenty that’s new for us in this live action process, we’ve been on this long rollercoaster ride twice before and a lot of the climbs and twists and turns feel familiar. Right now, everything seems slow, and we’re itching to speed up; before we know it, everything will be moving too fast and happening all at once. For those who are eager to see this new series and are asking if we have a trailer yet: thank you for your enthusiasm, sincerely, but you wouldn’t want to see a version of this series that was made within 9 months. Too much Hollywood fare is fast-tracked and the results speak for themselves. Thankfully for us and this series, Netflix is committed to doing it right.

In January 2022, journalist Caleb Williams revealed that production is now scheduled to run through to May 2022 and that they are looking for extras “for the 2-part finale”. 

What Is The Production Status Of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Netflix Live-Action Series?

After years of waiting, filming for the 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Netflix live-action series began in mid-November 2021 in Vancouver.

"We're thrilled to start production on this incredible project, and we're especially excited to work with the technology-benders at PXO to create the wondrous world of Avatar: The Last Airbender using the most advanced techniques available to filmmakers anywhere in the world," Showrunner, executive producer and writer Albert Kim said in a statement via ComicBook.  

The production took place in an incredibly new, custom-built facility that measures 84 feet across and 28 feet high. The facility also has 23,000 square feet of stage space and more than 3000 LED Panels. 

What Is The Plot Of The 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Netflix Live-Action Series?

The plot of the live-action series will be much like that of the animated one. It will be about a civilization divided into four nations; Air Nomads, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes. In each of these nations, there are a select few among them with the ability to bend their nation's elements using martial arts and telekinesis. The only one capable of bending all four elements is called the Avatar. The story of the series follows Aang, who is an Avatar among the Air Nomads. He is awoken after 100 years and finds out that the fire nation is ravaging the world. With his powers and the help of his friends Katara and Sokka, Aang fights to bring peace to the world.

However, recently added cast member Paul Sun-hyung Lee claims that Netflix version will be much more mature than the original cartoon series.

Who Is In The Cast Of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Netflix Live-Action Series?

Netflix has unveiled the cast for the upcoming remake on August 12. Gordon Cormier (Lost In Space, The Stand) will play the lead role of Aang. Kiawentiio Tarbell (Anne with an E) will play Katara, while Ian Ousley (13 Reasons Why, Young Sheldon) will star as her brother Sokka. Dallas Liu (Marvel's Shang Chi and the Legend Of The Ten Rings) will play Prince Zuko. On November 3, it was announced that Daniel Dae Kim (The Good Doctor, Hawaii Five-O, Raya And The Last Dragon) will play the villainous Firelord Ozai – ruler of the Fire Nation. Kim voiced the character of Hiroshi Sato in the 'Legend Of Korra' series. He also voiced General Fong in an episode of the original 'The Last Airbender' series in 2006.

Netflix made an effort not to repeat the mistakes of M. Night Shyamalan's highly-criticized 2010 live-action film, which portrayed notably white actors. The upcoming Netflix live-action features actors from Asian or Indigenous backgrounds.

"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," Albert Kim, Showrunner and executive producer for the Netflix live-action series, said in a statement.

Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko spoke about casting, saying:

We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast.

Additional casting was also confirmed during production. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian) will star as Uncle Iroh, the kindly old man who will mentor his hot-headed nephew, Prince Zuko. Lim Kay Siu (Anna and the King, Nightwatch) will play Gyatso, an Air Nomad monk and father figure to Aang. Ken Leung (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Industry) will play Commander Zhao, a scheming and ambitious Fire Nation military officer. He wants to leverage an unexpected encounter with a desperate Prince Zuko to advance his greedy goals.

In December 2021, four more cast members were confirmed to join the series. 

Elizabeth Yu stars as Azula, the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and sister to Zuko.

Maria Zhang will play Suki the leader of Kyoshi Warriors, a high-profile female fighting force.

Yvonne Chapman stars as Avatar Kyosh, the legendary warrior respected for her bravery.

Casey Camp-Horinek plays Gran Gran, the matriarch of the Southern Water Tribe and Katara and Sokka’s grandmother.

In addition to this, some other actors have joined the cast lineup as well. François Chau will play the Great Sage of the Fire Temple, Ryan Mah will play Fire Navy officer Lieutenant Dang (an original character), Thalia Tran will star as Mai, Irene Bedard as Yagoda, Meegwun Fairbrother as Avatar Kuruk, Joel Oulette as Hahn of the Northern Water Tribe, Nathaniel Arcand as Chief Arnook, Momona Tamada as Ty Lee, Arden Cho as June, Joel Montgrand as Hakoda, Rainbow Dickerson as Kya (Sokka and Katar’s mother), James Sie as a cabbage merchant, Utkarsh Ambudkar as King Bumi of Omashu, Danny Pudi as Mechanist, A Martinez as Master Pakku, and Amber Midthunder as Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe.

This article was reviewed and is up to date as of September 5th, 2023.