Avatar: The Last Airbender is getting another shot at a live-action adaptation, with Netflix creating a new TV show based on the beloved Nickelodeon fantasy series. Of the many things that M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 film was criticized for, casting was high on the list, with white actors cast in the roles of main characters Aang, Katara, and Sokka.
Built around the fictional Four Nations - representing Earth, Wind, Fire and Water - Avatar: The Last Airbender's world is heavily inspired by Asian culture and philosophy. Aang, the titular Avatar and last airbender, practices Buddhism and grew up in the Air Temples, which are based on Buddhist monasteries. The conquering Fire Nation is largely based on Imperial Japan, while the steadfast Earth Kingdom draws particular influence from China. Meanwhile, the Northern and Southern Water Tribes are based on Inuit societies and culture.
Avatar: The Last Airbender's casting will come with a number of challenges. For example, there are a lot of Water Tribes roles to cast and a limited number of Inuit actors in the film industry. The main characters are also likely to be aged up from their early teens to late teens, to avoid the limitations placed on child actors' working hours and the practical issue of very young actors noticeably ageing between seasons. With all that in mind, here are our suggestions for some of the actors who could play the biggest roles in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Aang
If any character is to be kept to a similar age as the animated series, it should probably be Aang. The young airbender ran away from the responsibilities of the Avatar due to his young age, accidentally leaving the world vulnerable to the conquest of the Air Nation. Aang's childlike enthusiasm and optimism are key to his character, and his journey to complete his Avatar training is a quinetessential coming-of-age story. With ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat recently having had its series finale, the timing is perfect for young star Ian Chen to move on to a new series. Chen played Evan Huang, the "baby" of the Huang family, and also appeared in DC movie Shazam! as Billy Batson's foster brother, Eugene Choi.
Katara
Katara is the only remaining waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe, and leaves the only home she's ever known to travel the world with Aang. Inuk actress Anna Lambe, who stars in the upcoming sports drama The Grizzlies, could be ideal if Netflix is seeking to cast a newcomer in the role. Auli'i Cravalho, who made her debut as the voice of the titular character in Disney's Moana, showed her skills as a live-action performer in the NBC musical drama Rise. And Isabela Moner, who played Dora the Explorer in the recent live-action movie and Izabella in Transformers: The Last Knight, has a proven talent for playing brave female characters in action-adventure roles.
Sokka
Sokka is Katara's older brother: a boomerang-flinging Water Tribe warrior who's often used for comic relief, but is also brave and scrappy in a fight - despite his lack of bending abilities. Forrest Goodluck, who played Hawk in the Oscar-winning drama The Revenant could be a good fit for the role. If Netflix looks to cast a little younger with its Avatar: The Last Airbender series, The Letter For the King star Amir Wilson could play the role. Alternatively, an older Sokka could be played by Booboo Stewart, who is known for his roles in the Twilight movies and for playing Warpath in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Toph
There's an opportunity to keep things in the Avatar family with Toph's casting. Ella Jay Basco, who recently played Cassandra Cain in Birds of Prey, is the niece of Dante Basco, who voiced Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender. She demonstrated a talent for both comedy and action, and could be great in the role of fearless Earthbender Toph. Another possibility is Lana Condor, the star of Netflix's To All The Boys movies, who could have a lot of fun pulling off both Toph's toughness and her "helpless blind girl" act. And Shioli Kutsuna stole audiences' hearts with just a few bubbly greetings of "Hi, Wade!" as Yukio in Deadpool 2, but also demonstrated her darker side in 2018 yakuza movie The Outsider.
Zuko
Perhaps the most crucial bit of casting in Avatar: The Last Airbender, besides Aang himself, is Aang's nemesis-turned ally - Prince Zuko. This brooding, scar-faced Byronic hero is the son of Fire Lord Ozai, who is determined to capture the Avatar at any cost, and so whoever plays him will need to deliver intensity. Justin H. Min, who recently starred in Netflix series The Umbrella Academy as the ghostly Ben Hargreeves, could be great in the role of the Fire Nation's angry exiled prince. Netflix could also turn to another one of its recent releases, Never Have I Ever, whose romantic lead Darren Barnet stole hearts as school jock Paxton Hall-Yoshida. Another possibility is Ryan Potter, who voiced Hiro Hamada in Big Hero 6 and more recently played Beast Boy in DC Universe's Titans.
Uncle Iroh
Zuko's actual father in Avatar: The Last Airbender is pretty terrible, but he does have a close father figure in the form of his Uncle Iroh. Once a general who conquered cities, Iroh was devastated by the loss of his only son and gave up the throne in favor of a quieter life as Zuko's guardian and adviser. Martial arts movie legend Sammo Hung, who helped define Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s and more recently co-starred in the Ip Man movies, would be a great get for this role. Actor and director Jiang Wen, best known to Western audiences for playing Baze Malbus in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, would also be a good fit for wise Uncle Iroh. And while Hiroyuki Sanada typically plays more serious characters, like Lord Shingen in The Wolverine and Musashi in Westworld, it could be interesting to see him taking on a more light-hearted role.