Principal photography for Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation series has already been completed in Vancouver, Canada. This comprehensive updated overview includes everything the information we currently know about the live-action Netflix series of Avatar: The Last Airbender, including the cast, development updates, what to look forward to, and more.
The animated series, which was co-created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, was among the top animated shows of the mid-2000s. The Legend of Korra, a similarly well-liked spin-off series from the original series, debuted in 2012. (both of which are streaming on Netflix in the majority of regions around the world but are expected to leave eventually).
There is a lot to cover below, but if you just want the highlights, here is the TL;DR:
Ten one-hour episodes were anticipated, but it has been said that there would only be 8.
While filming, the series is utilising ground-breaking new LED technology.
One of the most costly Netflix shows, it reportedly costs $15 million per episode, or $120 million, for the whole first season.
Up until June 2022, shooting is anticipated.
The Nickelodeon series’ original creators are not participating in the production.
As of April 2022, 13 cast members have been officially announced.
What is the plot of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender?
The cartoon version’s exploits will be repeated in the live-action remake’s plot.
Four distinct nations make up civilisation in the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The four countries are called the Air Nomads, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Water Tribes, and they are named after the four elements. Only a small number of people in each country, known as the “Benders,” are able to use their country’s element through the use of local martial arts and their telekinetic abilities. The “Avatar” is the only person who has access to all four elements.
The most recent air nomad Avatar is Aang. Aang is awakened by Katara and Sokka of the Water Tribe after sleeping for 100 years in the “Avatar State.” Aang must learn the skills of the other elements with the aid of his new allies in order to promote peace among the nations after learning of the conflict being caused by the Fire Nation.
The Last Airbender’s cast members?
There have been numerous additional castings since the first two major rounds of cast announcements. The core cast is covered below, but you can view our updated Netflix Avatar: The Last Airbender cast list here.
We first learnt who would be portraying the most significant characters in the upcoming series when the first round of casting announcements arrived in August 2021. Who will perform the recognisable parts is listed below:
- Gordon Cormier (Lost in Space) as Aang
- Kiawentiio Tarbell (Anne with an E) as Katara
- Ian Ousley (13 Reasons Why) as Sokka
- Dallas Liu (PEN15) as Zuko
Prince Zuko’s voice actor, Dante Basco, had been linked to a position in the upcoming Netflix series despite speculations up until the official cast announcement, but he eventually announced he wouldn’t be reprising the role.
The casting of three significant parts has also been confirmed by Netflix, with Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Lim Kay Siu, and Ken Leung playing the roles of Uncle Iroh, Gyatso, and Commander Zhao, respectively. Four further positions were filled in December 2021, including:
Elizabeth Yu was cast as Azula, the sister of Zuko Maria Zhang and the Fire Lord Ozai’s daughter, and as Suki, the commander of the Kyoshi Warriors, an elite group of female warriors.
As the renowned warrior Kyoshi from the Avatar, Yvonne Chapman is admired for her bravery.
Grandma of the Southern Water Tribe and grandmother to Katara and Sokka, Gran Gran is played by Casey Camp-Horinek.
Additionally, thanks to Netflix, we were able to see the cast on the brand-new, cutting-edge set where Avatar: The Last Airbender will be shot.
Where is season one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s production at this point?
Full production would start in 2019, according to an earlier report from late in 2018. However, for a variety of reasons, it didn’t occur two years later (one being the departure of the original creators and the second being COVID-19).
Bryan Konietzko revealed some old storyboard images from the first animated series in September 2019, possibly looking over them for ideas for the future season.
Jan Chol Lee, a concept designer for the series, is one of the additional disclosed staff members. He has previously worked on films like Beowulf from 2006, Big Hero 6 from Disney, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
In the first few days of September 2019, some images featuring concepts and early production photos circulated, although those have since been refuted.
Production on the show is expected to begin in 2020, according to a report from ProductionWeekly in October 2019 (although it’s unclear as of January 2021 whether this is still the case).
Of course, the original creators of the series left in August 2020 (see above), thus production is still in limbo, which we can infer that it is still in the early stages.
Although it has been listed to start many times, it is now believed through multiple sources that production is slated to begin in November 2021 and run through April 2022. Production will take place in Vancouver, Canada.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is currently in production as of November 16. Along with the confirmation that filming is in progress, new casting information reveals that the characters of Gyatso, Uncle Iroh, and Commander Zhao have now been cast.
Journalist Caleb Williams reported in January 2022 that extras are needed “for the 2-part finale” and that production will now continue into May 2022.
The series was in production for seven months and one day before filming was officially completed on June 17th, 2022. On June 18, 2022, the cast held a “wrap party” as the animated ATLA was playing on the bar screens.
When will Avatar: The Last Airbender be released?
There is no word on this. Given that the show has only just finished production as of June 2022, we won’t see it until at least 2023, given all of the post-production work that will now go into it.
In case you didn’t know, the newly formed Avatar Studios is working on three animated feature films, which will be released in 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively.
These are being distributed by Paramount and will thus appear on Paramount+. We have heard rumours that Netflix may distribute the films in countries where Paramount+ is not available, but we have yet to confirm those rumours.