If you’re an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, you probably know that everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. But when it comes to this franchise, everything really changed when Netflix announced it would be making a live-action series adaptation of the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. A live-action version of Avatar was attempted once before, but it did not go too well. Hopefully, though, this time around, we’ll all see better results. We’re crossing our fingers that this live-action outing will go well for Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and the rest of the Gaang. It’s what the characters and the fans deserve.
Here’s everything we know about Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Title
Like the original animated series, Netflix’s adaptation will also be called Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series’ Plot
It seems likely, given casting choices and other teases, that the plot of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s first season will follow the animated series’ Book One: Water, otherwise known as its first season. That means we’ll see Katara and Sokka discover Aang frozen in ice and follow their journey together as Aang learns water-bending and everyone learns about friendship. Prince Zuko will, of course, be grumpily chasing the trio down. The season will most likely culminate with an epic battle at the North Pole.
Officially, the synopsis for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender only shares the broad strokes of what we’d expect from this live-action adaptation. It reads:
The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope.
But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.
Behind the Scenes
Albert Kim acts as showrunner, executive producer, and writer on Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jabbar Raisani and Jet Wilkinson are set to direct.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series’ Cast
Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation is slated to have quite the cast. Leading the series are, of course, our heroes (and anti-hero) Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. Gordon Cormier will play the Avatar, Aang. Kiawentiio will take on the occasionally bossy, though always kind, Katara. Ian Ousley will play the goofy yet good-hearted and heroic Sokka. And Dallas Liu will star as Prince Zuko, the exiled prince of the Fire Nation who has an obsession with honor and also a lot to learn.
Joining the core four are Daniel Dae Kim as the villain of our tale, Fire Lord Ozai, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as the wise Uncle Iroh, and Elizabeth Yu as the devlish Princess Azula.
Of course, many other castings have been announced because the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is brimming with incredibly cool characters. Learn about them all by checking out our article on the full Avatar: The Last Airbender cast.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Live-Action Series’ Release Date
Netflix has not yet shared the exact release date for its Avatar: The Last Airbender series. However, we know this adaptation will arrive in 2024. In the meantime, you can get ready for this new adventure by rewatching the original version of the series on Netflix.