Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender series is expanding its cast with the addition of Daniel Dae Kim as the live-action Fire Lord Ozai. Originally co-created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the animated fantasy series revolved around Aang, a 12-year-old with the ability of airbending and known as the Avatar, a heroic figure capable of bending all four elements in the world of fire, air, earth and water. Aang sets out across the Asiatic world divided into four nations based on each element with friends Katara Sokka and Toph to end the Fire Nation's destructive search for power.
First premiering on Nickelodeon in 2005, Avatar: The Last Airbender was a critical and ratings hit for the network, leading to a franchise expanding to a sequel series and live-action film from M. Night Shyamalan in 2010. With the latter taking a lashing in reviews and at the box office, another attempt at a live-action adaptation of the series wouldn't be attempted until 2018 when Netflix partnered with DiMartino and Konietzko for a reimagined remake. While the two would depart a couple years later, Avatar: The Last Airbender would get back on track earlier this year with Sleepy Hollow alum Albert Kim brought on as showrunner and the cast has begun to grow in the months since.
A few months after revealing the central cast for the series, Netflix has taken to Twitter to reveal that Avatar: The Last Airbender has brought Daniel Dae Kim on as the live-action Fire Lord. Kim's antagonist is described as the "ruthlessly-driven leader of the Fire Nation" and will be a series regular on the adaptation. Check out the announcement below:
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Kim's casting as a live-action Ozai for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender series marks another positive development in the upcoming adaptation. The Hawaii Five-0 alum joins a cast that already includes Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley and Dallas Liu as Aang, Sokka, Katara and Zuko, not just fresh faces for the show but also racially appropriate performers for the primarily East Asian-influenced characters. Kim's portrayal of Ozai also marks a nice change of pace for the actor, giving him the opportunity to play against-type with a more villainous character in comparison to his typical protagonist work.
Daniel Dae Kim joining Avatar: The Last Airbender also offers further proof of showrunner Albert Kim's desire to avoid the whitewashing fiasco of Shyamalan's movie. It also marks a reunion for Kim with the animated series, having previously voiced General Fong in an episode of the source show and the recurring role of Hiroshi Sato in sequel show The Legend of Korra. With production reportedly set to begin this month, fans should look forward to more casting news for the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender soon.
Source: Netflix/Twitter