Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender: release date, trailer, confirmed cast, plot synopsis and more
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Important information
– Launching at the end of February on Netflix
– Created by Albert Kim
– Based on the iconic Nickelodeon anime of the same name
– First teaser released during Netflix Geeked Week 2023
– Official plot synopsis revealed
– Expanded cast list confirmed
– No word on if a second season is in the works
The one from Netflix Avatar: The last airbender gets ready to blow away the competition. Nickelodeon’s beloved anime series is the latest to get the live-action remake treatment from the streaming giant, and with its release fast approaching, now’s a great time to learn more about it.
So, what do you need to know? Avatarthe upcoming launch on the world’s best streaming service? In the live-action remake, fans can once again enjoy the world created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, albeit with a larger movie-sized budget (NB: we don’t talk about it The last airbender‘s 2010 film adaptation, get it?). Then expect Netflix’s version – one of the ten exciting shows we can’t wait to see in early 2024 – to be much closer to the original.
But we digress. Here’s everything we know so far Avatar: The last airbenderincluding the release date, teaser trailer, plot speculation, confirmed cast details and more. Potential spoilers follow for the original series, one of the best anime of all time.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Release Date
The one from Netflix Avatar: The last airbender will debut worldwide February 22. All eight episodes will also be released at once (per Variety). Touchingly, the launch date is also a special nod to the original series, which premiered on February 21, 2005.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Trailer
The epic first teaser trailer for Avatar: The last airbender was revealed during Netflix’s Geeked Week 2023 – and when we say epic, we mean it.
In just two minutes, we get an awe-inspiring look at how faithful Netflix is to the original show. There are shots of key characters including Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko in action, as well as many other individuals (which we’ll discuss below) who are central to the plot. Of course, Netflix couldn’t pass up the opportunity to show us Aang’s cuddly animal friends Appa and Momo, who also make a welcome appearance in the teaser. Fingers crossed that we get another spectacular look at the series in the run-up to its release.
Avatar: The Last Airbender cast confirmed
Here is the confirmed one Avatar: The last airbender cast list (fair warning, it’s a Real a long!):
- Gordon Cormier as Aang
- Dallus Liu as Prine Zuko
- Kiawentiio as Katara
- Ian Ousley as Sokka
- Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh
- Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula
- Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai
- Ken Leung as Commander Zhao
- Maria Zhang as Suki
- Lim Kay Siu as Gyatso
- A Martinez like Pakku
- Amber Midthunder as Princess Yue
- Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi
- Tamlyn Tomia as Yukari
- Casey Camp-Horinek as Gran-Gran
- CS Lee as Avatar Roku
- Danny Pudi as the mechanic
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as King Bumi
- James Sie as the cabbage merchant
- Rainbow Dickerson as Kya
- Joe Montgrand as Hakoda
- Arden Cho in June
- Momona Tamada as Ty Lee
- Thalia Tran as Mai
- Joel Oulette as Hahn
- Nathaniel Arcand as Chief Arnook
- Meegwun Fairbrother as Avatar Kuruk
- Irene Bedard as Yagoda
- Ryan Mah as Lieutenant Dang
- François Chau as the Great Sage
- Sébastien Amoruso as Jet
- Hiro Kanagawa as Fire Lord Sozin
- George Takei as the voice of Koh from Face Stealer
- Randall Duk Kim as the voice of Wan Shi Toing
- Lucian River Chauhan as Teo
- Ruy Iskander as Lieutenant Jee
- Taylor Lam Wright as the Duke
- Wes Valarao as Smellerbee
- Nathaniel Kong as Longshot
- Jeff Yung as Monk Tsutop
There are certainly A-listers and other notable actors you’ll recognize from the official list, such as Community‘s Danny Pudi of Community, and legendary actors George Takei and Daniel Dae Kim. However, when it comes to the core quartet of Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian and Dallas, their work is rather unknown and Avatar: The last airbender will mark their breakthrough roles.
Avatar: The Last Airbender story
There is quite a bit to say about the Avatar: The last airbender plot, but Netflix’s official synopsis is the best place to start.
“Water. Earth. Fire air,” begins the long reveal of the plot. ‘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 firebenders’ first step toward conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to appear, the world has lost hope.
But like a light in the darkness, hope arises when Aang, a young Air Nomad – and the last of his kind – awakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Joined by his new friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastic, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against Fire Lord Ozai’s terrifying attack. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, that won’t work. An easy task. They need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they encounter along the way.’
While the adaptation remains true to the show, anyone familiar with it can enjoy it The last airbender will notice a few differences. First, the departure of the original show’s creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who left in 2020 after working on the live-action remake for two years.
Albert Kim then took on sole showrunning duties. Speak with Entertainment weekly (EW), Kim said of the duo’s departure: “You’d have to be an idiot not to be a little intimidated. My first reaction (to being offered the job) after ‘hell yeah’ was ‘holy shit ‘. “Do I really want to do this? Is there a way to improve on the original?” Every time you tackle something that’s already loved by millions of fans, you have to ask yourself those questions.”
In answering those questions, Kim also confirmed that Netflix’s adaptation won’t be a beat-for-beat retelling of the original, telling EW, “We’re not starting the show the way the animated series starts. That was a conscious decision.” to show people that this is not the animated series. We sometimes had to unravel storylines and remix them in new ways to make them meaningful for a serialized drama. So I’m very curious to see what will happen in terms of response to that. “
However, he tried to calm any early angry reactions from long-time fans, saying Netflix’s Avatar series will also honor what came before. “It ranged from a range of really nerdy little things that no one but diehard fans could possibly wonder about – questions about Katara’s mother or Aang’s origins – to bigger things about how to translate what made the original so special into a live-action version. he added. “This is Avatar: The last airbenderbut it’s our version of it Avatar: The last airbender.”
Thanks to the teaser trailer and cast list, we also know that Fire Lord Ozai and Princess Azula will be introduced much earlier than in the original Nickelodeon show. Hopefully this will build on the characters and storylines from the original series and deliver The last airbender fanatics something new to engage with in this adaptation’s debut season.
When it comes to episodes to watch out for, Kiawentiio teased Netflix’s Tudum website that episode 5 is one of her personal favorites. “As soon as I read it, I couldn’t wait to film it,” she said. “The characters are going through a lot of different things, and they’re seeing their situations from different perspectives, and I just can’t wait for you to see that.”
Elsewhere, in one official Netflix statement posted in August 2021, Kim revealed how this live-action adaptation is “an opportunity to show Asian and indigenous characters as living, breathing people. Not just in a cartoon, but in a world that actually exists, very similar to the world we live in”. So expect a lot of authenticity and realism from what amounts to a fantasy-based series.
Where can you watch Avatar: The Last Airbender?
If you plan on watching Avatar: The last airbender‘s live-action remake, make sure you have a Netflix account. It’s the only place you can stream it, so a Netflix subscription is necessary.
However, we have better news for anyone looking to stream the original animated series. In the US, you can thankfully watch all three seasons of the anime via Netflix and Paramount Plus. One season is also available on Prime Video.
Internationally, UK fans can stream all three seasons on Netflix, Paramount Plus, Prime Video and Sky. Finally, Australian audiences can watch the entire show on Paramount Plus, although one can also be viewed on Foxtel.
Will there be an Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2?
There’s no official word on it Avatar: The last airbender season 2, with Netflix likely waiting for its critical and commercial success. If it proves popular enough, you can expect it to appear on our list of the best Netflix shows upon release.
Taking a quick look at the streaming giant’s success with live-action anime adaptations, Cowboy Bebop was canceled after one season – it wasn’t very good – but Kakegurui And A piece received season 2 renewals. In short: everything depends on the reception The last airbender will benefit from Netflix’s significant user base.
With three seasons of the original Nickelodeon show to draw from, there’s a lot more story to tell Avatar: The last airbender wins the hearts of the audience on Netflix. I hope it’s as good as it looks so we can return to it Avatar‘s fascinating world after the first season is released.