Avatar: The Last Airbenderlive-action series is more than ready to take over, and, to everyone’s delight, it won’t be long now until fans finally get to see the highly anticipated project on their screens. The series will be based on the original animation, in which Avatar Aang, who can control the four elements of water, earth, fire, and air, and his friends are determined to end the war waged by the Fire Nation on all the other nations. Fetch your calendar and mark down the series' release date of August 02, 2025, because this day will potentially bring a lot of joy to die-hardAvatarfans. That is if the producers manage to keep their promise of delivering a true-to-the-original series.
The excitement for the live-action remake was met with some doubts since the first live-action adaptation of the series by M. Night Shyamalan ended in a flop, with the planned trilogy being canceled. However, it seems as though fans are finally warming up to what is already in the waiting lines, and one of the biggest reasons for that is Netflix’s choice of cast. Let’s dive into the most loved characters and the actors who were chosen to portray them and find out why fans are excited about them.
Update July 08, 2025: This article has been updated following the release of the trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender and more details about why fans are excited about the upcoming cast.
Gordon Cormier (Avatar Aang)
Kicking it off with the most important character, it is needless to say that finding an actor who could accurately portray Aang was met with significant worries among the fandom. The reason for this is that Aang has a very distinctive appearance, reaching from his dark eyebrows to his Air nomad tattoos and, of course, his ability to make funny faces. The character’s appearance is burned into fans' head and hearts, and bringing such an iconic role to life requires attention to detail. Luckily, Netflix has done just that and relieved the fandom, when it was announced thatGordon Cormierwould step into the role of the widely loved bundle of energy, Aang.
WhyAvatar: The Last Airbenderfans are excited about Gordon Cormier joining the cast:
Arguably, the most important factor when it comes to the cast ofAvatar: The Last Airbenderis its cultural and racial accuracy, which had fans worried for the longest time. Whitewashing is, unfortunately, nothing unusual in the world of film and TV, and even theAvatarfandom has seen it before in the first live-action adaptation turned flop. Keeping this huge failure in mind, Netflix had an immense responsibility to ensure that, this time around, the Asian and Indigenous characters are accurately portrayed.
Gordon Cormier is a Canadian actor with French and Filipino roots whose cast announcement has brought a huge wave of relief to fans. Casting Cormier as Aang, appearance- and also age-wise (the actor is only 14 years old) was a wonderful call on Netflix’s side, proving right away thatcultural accuracy and staying true to the original source is of utmost importanceto them.
Despite his young age, Cormier also brings experience to the table. Having started acting at a very young age, Cormier has soaked up knowledge in theater, film, and television as well as new skills for many years already. The actor does not only have experience in the genre of comedy and animation but has also proven his talent in the drama filmThe Stand. His commitment to work in different fields offers a great foundation for his portrayal of such an eclectic character as Aang. Cormier’s big smile and his goofiness, which are also some of Aang’s most loved features, as well as his kind attitude, will certainly help him inAvatar: The Last Airbender.
Kiawentiio Tarbell (Katara)
Katara, one of Aang’s best friends and askilled waterbenderfrom the Southern Tribes, has conquered the hearts of fans (and Aang) in an instant. Regardless of who is joining Aang, Katara, and her brother Sokka’s group, the fierce bender always steps up and takes on the role of a mother and occasional leader. Katara has become a role model to many and has been positively impacting viewers all around the world since the original animation first aired. The headstrong girl with an enormous heart deserves an accurate portrayal in the live-action remake, and luckily, Netflix has found the perfect actress for this role,Kiawentiio Tarbell.
WhyAvatar: The Last Airbenderfans are excited about Kiawentiio Tarbell joining the cast:
The American-Canadian actress Kiawentiio Tarbell is arguably the most invested and dedicated actress of her generation regarding cultural backgrounds. Many might know her from her role in the widely loved TV seriesAnne with an E, in which she stepped into the role of a young girl named Ka’kwet, who is a member of the Mi’kmaq people. Tarbell herself was born and raised in the Mohawk nation, Akwesasne, and is closely connected to her indigenous roots, which leads her to be especially aware of the role she takes on.
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Tarbell herself seems to embody everything that Katara also is. From her utter dedication to her passions to her genuine kindness and her ability to light up any room, Kiawentiio, even though she is still a rather new actress in the business, has already shown that she is here to stay. The actress never fails to deliver an outstanding performance, which can also be seen in the 2020 movieBeans, in which she portrays a young Mohawk girl who finds herself amid rising differences between two Mohawk communities. Considering that Tarbell has successfully stepped into such culturally important roles,Avatar: The Last Airbenderfans have no doubt that she is the perfect actress to portray Katara and bring her to life in an accurate way.
Ian Ousley (Sokka)
Next to Aang and Katara, Sokka is the third member of the original Avatar trio (apart from Momo and Appa, of course). There is no doubt that he is just as important, even though Sokka himself is known for occasionally feeling like a burden, considering that he isn’t a waterbender but rather learned how to fight with weapons. Sokka, however, adds value to the group by being his sometimes overly strict yet hilariously funny self, being a classic big brother not only to his sister but also to Aang and every one else who joins them along the way. Stepping into the role of Sokka, who is certainly a fan-favorite, is actorIan Ousley.
WhyAvatar: The Last Airbenderfans are excited about Dallas James Liu joining the cast:
When it was announced that Ousley was added to theAvatarcast, the actor let his fans know that he is part Native American, more specifically Cherokee. Doubts about his heritage arose, and neither Netflix nor Ian himself has clarified the situation, but the actor’s participation in the live-action remake is still very much happening. While there was some controversy regarding Ousley’s ancestry, it is needless to say that fans are excited to see one of their favorite, often clumsy, characters come to life.
Looking at Sokka and Ian, there are definitely similarities, reaching from their classic smirk to their goofy impressions. As an actor who is not as established in the industry yet, although he did appear in the famous TV series13 Reasons Why, the hopes are high that this series will garner him lots of praise and expand his fan base as well as boost his acting career. It remains to be seen whether Ousley’s acting skills can erase any dissatisfaction caused by this past controversy, but it is most likely thatfans will be blessed with a proper portrayal of the characters, including Sokka.
Dallas James Liu (Zuko)
Zuko is known as Aang’s ultimate opponent, the antagonist of the animation, the exiled son of the Fire Lord. For the majority of the animation, Zuko’s one and only goal is to catch Avatar Aang and deliver him to the Fire Lord to gain back his place in the Fire nation. His journey is a strenuous one, constantly being full of hatred and chasing after Aang and his friends, but even his destiny takes a turn, when an unexpected union is formed. Chosen to bring Zuko to life is the American actorDallas James Liu, who has ancestors from China and Indonesia.
Dallas James Liu is already well-established in the film industry, and has successfully proven his skills in various series and movies. In 2021, Liu even joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he was cast as Ruihuia, Katy’s brother inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Recently, he appeared in the comedy movieThe Slumber Party, in which he portrayed the role of Mikey, and some people might still recognize him from the 2010 live-action movieTekken. Back then, his skills in martial arts landed him the role in the film, but even to this day, they come in handy.
For his portrayal of Zuko, bending fire is an absolutely essential, and his training in Shotokan karate will undoubtedly allow him todeliver an impressive performance during fire-bending scenes. Apart from his skills, Dallas also brings along a physical appearance that simply matches the character of Zuko. In particular, the sharp edge features of Liu’s face, which are very similar to his role’s, reflect the essence of Zuko’s characteristics. Netflix apparently means to keep their word regarding a racially accurate cast, and fans are more than happy to see an actor with Chinese-Indonesian roots in such a big project.
Paul Sun-hyung Lee (Uncle Iroh)
Uncle Iroh might be one of the older characters, but don’t be fooled because this Uncle really has it in him. One second, he sits on the ground, enjoying his tea and playing Pai Sho, and the next, he is up and bending fire like a true master, fighting off enemies or protecting his loved ones. Uncle Iroh plays a significant role in his nephew Zuko’s life and his plans regarding the Avatar and certainly has a positive influence on him. Uncle Iroh’s wisdom and kindness does not only make him one of the most loved characters but also one of the most important. He smoothly offers tips and guidelines throughout the entire show and forms deep connections with different people he meets along the way. A special character like Uncle Iroh asks for a special actor, and Netflix chosePaul Sun-hyung Leeto take on the task.
WhyAvatar: The Last Airbenderfans are excited about Paul Sun-hyung Lee joining the cast:
One glance at the actor is enough to realize that the South Korean-American actor Paul Sun-hyung is the perfect fit for the portrayal of Uncle Iroh. Both the animation’s character and the actor radiate a feeling of overall teddy bear kindness while still being capable of showing some tough love. His beard immediately reminds of the widely lovedAvatarcharacter, and fans have high hopes that, apart from his already perfectly matching appearance, the actor will deliver a great performance.
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It is safe to say that he is established in the industry, considering that he appeared in numerous well-known series, such asThe Mandalorian,AshokaorKim’s Convenience. In the latter, Paul Sun-hyung stepped into the role of the main character Appa, which also happens to be the name of Avatar Aang’s sky bison. Fate? Probably.
Amber Midthunder (Princess Yue)
Princess Yue was introduced in the first season of the Nickelodeon series as the daughter of the Northern Water Tribe chief. Yue joins Aang and his friends to help the Avatar master his water-bending skills. She then goes on to become Sokka’s love interest, but her time on the series is quite short.Prey’s Amber Midthunder is set to play Princess Yue in the Avatar series.
WhyAvatar: The Last Airbenderfans are excited about Amber Midthunder joining the cast:
Amber Midthunder being cast as the selfless Princess Yue has gained fans' approval. Part of the approval comes from many viewers feeling that Netflix has stayed true to its culturally appropriate representation efforts in choosing Midthunder to play Princess Yue. Given the fact that Midthunder is a part of the indigenous Fort Peck Sioux Tribe, many viewers believe that her casting as the Princess is more appropriate than the casting choices made in the failed M. Night Shyamalan film. Also, given the actress’s diverse experience in film, having had roles in the Oscar-nominatedHell or High Water, Legion,and her role inPrey,fans are optimistic about the contribution Midthunder could make.
Other Cast Members in Netflix’s Avatar
The mentioned cast members are joined by Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai, Tamlyn Tomita as Yukari, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao, Elizabeth Yu as Azula, Yvonne Chapman as Kyoshi, and Maria Zhang as Suki. Netflix’s casting decision has won the approval of fans, but nowthe expectations for this upcoming series are higher than ever. Although many have previously had quite a few reservations regarding the actors and actresses who would be cast for the series, Netflix’s choice to be racially appropriate in its casting and refrain from whitewashing and being racially insensitive has meant that fans have grown fonder and more excited for Netflix’s live-action adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbender.
While fans sincerely hope the series is as good as the casting decisions, only time will tell, but luckily, the wait will be over soon. If you are already excited about the upcoming live-action remake and want to dive into the original animation as mental preparation, then check out this video about fun facts inAvatar: The Last Airbender:
