Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender: Cast, Release Date, and Everything to Know

I hope you're ready to enter the Avatar State, because after a very, very long wait, Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender is premiering this week. When showrunner Albert Kim was first approached about the adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon series, his first thought was, Why? But here's where he landed:" A live-action version would establish a new benchmark in representation and bring in a whole new generation of fans," Kim said in a press release from August 2021. "This was a chance to showcase Asian and Indigenous characters as living, breathing people. Not just in a cartoon, but in a world that truly exists, very similar to the one we live in." 

The original Avatar: The Last Airbender, which spanned three seasons and first premiered in 2005, is set in a world where "benders" have the ability to manipulate one of the four elements: water, earth, fire, or air. They belong, respectively, to the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads, which existed harmoniously until the Fire Nation launched an attack that started a century-long war. The Avatar, the only person capable of mastering all four elements, is the last hope for stopping the Fire Nation. The show kicks off when Aang, the latest Avatar, emerges from an iceberg — where he lay dormant for the last hundred years — and sets out to end the war. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender has been celebrated by children and adults alike, and it's often praised for introducing grown-up themes in a kid-friendly way and thoughtfully drawing from Asian and Indigenous cultures. Here's everything to know about Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender latest news

Netflix dropped the final trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender on Feb. 20, and it shows more of Aang's bending skills than before — as well as him entering the Avatar State. Check it out below.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender trailer

Just before the premiere of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Netflix released the final trailer for the new series. It opens with Aang (Gordon Cormier) being told that he must master the Avatar State — the place from which he can channel the powers of past Avatars. The video also shows Aang grappling with the responsibility to save the world against the Fire Nation. He is only a kid, after all!

The first official trailer for Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender launched on Jan. 23. The video shows the primary conflict in the story: The Fire Nation is on a rampage, and the only hope for stopping them is Aang. Thankfully, he is joined on this mission by new friends Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley), plus "a flying ball of fur," aka Appa. There's plenty of flashy element-bending in the video, and we also get a closer look at fan-favorite character Zuko (Dallas Liu).

At Geeked Week '23 in November 2023, Netflix dropped the teaser video for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

When is Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender coming out?

Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender first look

Netflix dropped the first look images for Avatar: The Last Airbender at Tudum: A Global Fan Event on June 17, 2023. The photos were an introduction to the lead actors in character.

On Oct. 17, 2023, Netflix shared photos of the feisty Fire Nation characters. They show Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai, Paul Sun-hyung as Uncle Iroh, Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula, and Ken Leung as Commander Zhao. 

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender cast

Gordon Cormier stars as Aang, the 12-year-old Avatar who is an expert airbender and the one destined to master the other three elements to restore peace. Aang is joined on his journey by Water Tribe siblings Katara and Sokka, who will be played by Kiawentiio and Ian Ousley, respectively. Katara is a waterbender eager to sharpen her skills, while Sokka is her older brother, who's determined to become a fierce warrior. Dallas Liu will star as Zuko, the banished prince of the Fire Nation who believes the only way to reclaim his honor is to capture the Avatar.

Daniel Dae Kim joins the cast as Fire Lord Ozai, father of Zuko and leader of the Fire Nation driven by his thirst to conquer all nations. Paul Sun-Hyung stars as Uncle Iroh, a retired general of the Fire Nation and the mentor who trains his nephew Zuko in firebending. Another firebender is seasoned military officer Commander Zhao, who will be played by Ken Leung. Netflix also announced Lim Kay Siu as Gyatso, a powerful force in the Air Nomads who is a father figure to Aang. 

The live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender also features Elizabeth Yu as Azula, a princess in the Fire Nation hungry to become heir to the throne. Maria Zhang will play Suki, who leads a formidable organization of female fighters called Kyoshi Warriors. The group is named after the legendary Avatar Kyoshi, played by Yvonne Chapman. Tamlyn Tomita stars as Yukari, Suki's mother and the mayor of their village on Kyoshi Island. And Casey Camp-Horinek stars as Gran Gran, Katara and Sokka's grandmother and the matriarch of the Southern Water Tribe.

The cast also includes Amber Midthunder as Princess Yue, A Martinez as Pakku, Irene Bedard as Yagoda, Joel Oulette as Hahn, Nathaniel Arcand as Chief Arnook, and Meegwun Fairbrother as Avatar Kuruk. These are all characters belonging to the Water Tribe. Over at the Earth Kingdom, Arden Cho will play June, Utkarsh Ambudkar will play King Bumi, Danny Pudi will play the Mechanist, Lucian-River Chauhan will play Teo, and James Sie will play the Cabbage Merchant. 

The Fire Nation will include Momona Tamada as Ty Lee, Thalia Tran as Mai, Ruy Iskandar as Lt. Jee, Hiro Kanagawa as Fire Lord Sozin, C.S. Lee as Avatar Roku, François Chau as The Great Sage, and Ryan Mah as Lt Dang. Finally, in the Spirit World, George Takei has been cast as the voice of Koh and Randall Duk Kim as the voice of Wan Shi Tong.

Behind the scenes

In Aug. 2020, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko — co-creators of the original animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel The Legend of Korra — announced they were stepping away from the production of Netflix's live-action adaptation. The pair were first brought on board in 2018 and said they were leaving due to differences in the vision for the show. 

In addition to Albert Kim leading the project, Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore, and Michael Goi have joined as executive producers. Roseanne Liang is an executive producer and director. Goi will also direct, along with Jabbar Raisini. 

On Aug. 22, Netflix released images of Avatar: The Last Airbender's music being recorded. "Open a new chapter... Synchron Stage Orchestra and Choir bringing Avatar: The Last Airbender's score to life," the caption reads. It looks like a major production, and we can't wait to hear the music.

Where to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender

The live-action remake premieres Thursday, Feb. 22 on Netflix. 

Nickelodeon's original animated series is available on Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount+.