Prey star Amber Midthunder reacts to being cast as Princess Yue in Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Announced in September 2018, Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender will serve as a live-action adaptation of the critically acclaimed animated show of the same name. After one previous live-action adaptation attempt in the form of a film in 2010 which was panned by critics and audiences alike, the pressure is high on Netflix to deliver a satisfying adaption of the beloved animated fantasy show. As such, the public has followed the many casting announcements and speculations for Avatar: The Last Airbender closely.
One such report saw the rumor that Midthunder had been cast as Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe. Midthunder's star has been rising since her highly praised role in Predator franchise film Prey, in which she played Comanche warrior Naru. Prior to Prey, the Indigenous Sioux actor starred in Marvel’s Legion, The CW's Roswell, New Mexico, and 2016 film Hell or High Water. Midthunder previously refused to comment on the rumors of her casting in Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it has since been confirmed.
While speaking with Empire, Midthunder reacts to the exciting news of her casting as Yue, revealing her enthusiasm about the part. The actor expresses an appreciation for both the show and the character she has been tapped to play. See her response below:
“I’m geeking out! I loved Avatar as a kid. I rewatched it recently and I love that character [Princess Yue]. I’m very excited.”
Midthunder's Excitement Bodes Well For Netflix's Avatar
The gentle and strong Princess Yue is a bit of a tragic figure in Avatar: The Last Airbender, with the character striking up a brief and powerful romantic relationship with Katara's brother Sokka. During her short time on the show, she played a pivotal role by sacrificing her life in order to preserve the Moon Spirit and help Avatar Aang succeed. It remains to be seen whether Netflix will alter her story in any way, but with Midthunder in the role, it will be exciting to see her flex her range as she portrays a very different character from the fierce warrior Naru. Additionally, since Midthunder is a fan of the animated show, her excitement means that Netflix is hopefully doing right by the material and creating a live-action adaptation that Avatar: The Last Airbender fans will stand behind.
Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender has made an effort to cast Asian and Indigenous actors in the series in keeping with the Asiatic influences from the animated series; this is in contrast to the film, which was criticized for whitewashing. Previously, Filipino-Canadian actor Gordon Cormier was announced as Aang, with Mohawk actor Kiawentiio as Katara and Dallas Liu, who is of Chinese and Indonesian descent, as Zuko. Midthunder's casting continues that trend, offering more representation for Indigenous actors and showing Netflix's commitment to correcting the mistakes of the live-action movie. Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender seems to be following the same basic plot as the animated show with a structure of eight hour-long episodes. With a premiere set for 2023, Avatar: The Last Airbender fans will soon be able to see for themselves whether Netflix has succeeded in adapting the beloved cartoon.
Source: Empire