Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast Guide
Getting to Know the Real People Behind the Real-Life Performances Zuko, Aang, Katara, and Sokka
For those who have been waiting patiently since the 2010 film “Last Airbender” to witness their beloved characters faithfully brought to life, the live-action version of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” will debut on Thursday, Feb. 22, on Netflix.
Beginning in 2005 and concluding in 2008, Nickelodeon hosted the first “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series. The story unfolds in a fantastical realm where some individuals possess innate magical powers that allow them to telekinetically manipulate one of the four elements—earth, water, fire, or air—a phenomenon known as bending. A unique individual known as the Avatar is born into each generation with the ability to control all four elements.
By entering the powerful Avatar state, the Avatar is able to channel their prior incarnations, keep peace across the land, and communicate with the spirit realm. When an Avatar dies, a new one is born; however, the reincarnation cycle terminates if the Avatar is killed while in the Avatar stage.
Until the Fire Nation strikes, the benders live in peace and use their diverse martial arts abilities to fight one another. The mighty Fire Nation’s leader, Fire Lord Sozin, attacks the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, and Air Nomads just before the main plot of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” begins. Sisters Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe find the frozen Aang in a glacier a century after he was meant to intercede.
To vanquish the wicked Fire Nation and bring peace to the world, they must assist Aang in mastering all four elements. They encounter both friends and foes on their journey, one of which is Prince Zuko, whose father, Fire Lord Ozai, has ordered him to capture Aang.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast Guide : Watch at Netflix
Aang
Gordon Cormier (of “Lost in Space”) portrays the titular 12-year-old Avatar and last airbender, Aang. For the past hundred years, Aang has been trapped on an iceberg, but his destiny is to free himself and save the planet by mastering the four elements. Even though he’s reluctant, this carefree young man must learn to be a hero.
Katara
“Anne With an E” Kiawentiio plays the role of the last remaining waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe. She has a lot of empathy and fights against injustice and violence. Katara and her brother Sokka accompany Aang on his mission to destroy the Fire Nation, a journey during which Katara honed her waterbending skills.
The Sokka
Ian Ousley plays Sokka, a brazen and reserved warrior from the Southern Water Tribe in “13 Reasons Why.” Sokka, who cannot bend, is an excellent boomerang thrower and a frequent comic relief. He develops romantic feelings for both Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe and the Kyoshi Warriors’ Suki.
General Zhao
Commander Zhao, played by Ken Leung (“Industry,” “Lost”), of the Fire Nation, follows Aang and runs into Zuko as the prince pursues him. The crafty firebender can’t wait to show Fire Lord Ozai how much he’s worth and advance in the ranks.
Bumi King
Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts, “Never Have I Ever”) plays the elderly and eccentric Bumi, ruler of the enormous earth-shattering metropolis Omashu. Even though he is an old and strong monarch, he was once friends with Aang when they were kids.
Iroh
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian,” “Kim’s Convenience”) plays Iroh, Zuko’s uncle and a retired Fire Nation general. He’s a master firebender, a tea drinker, a fan of the game pai sho, and a serene and wise guide.
Lord of Fire, Ozai
“Lost” and “Hawaii Five-O” star Daniel Dae Kim portrays the ruthless Fire Nation monarch, Fire Lord Ozai, who banished Prince Zuko. Ozai, the series’ principal adversary, is a formidable firebender and a merciless leader.
Appa
The enormous flying beast Appa is Aang’s faithful companion, transporting him, Katara, and Sokka all across the globe. Like Aang, he possesses shaggy fur, horns that look like buffalo, and tattoos that resemble arrows.
Zuko
Prince Zuko, portrayed by Dallas Liu (“PEN15,” “Shang-Chi”), is the offspring of Fire Lord Ozai, Princess Azula’s brother, and General Iroh’s nephew. Zuko, a skilled firebender, has been exiled from the Fire Nation and given the mission to find the Avatar at any cost.
Momo
One of Aang’s animal companions is Momo, a wingless lemur. After meeting Aang, Katara, and Sokka at the Southern Air Temple, he discovers he has the ability to fly.
Suki
Maria Zhang plays Suki, the captain of the Kyoshi Warriors, in “All I Ever Wanted.” She encounters Aang, Katara, and Sokka. Avatar Kyoshi is her hero; she had a short romance with Sokka, and she’s good with hand fans.
Jet
Sebastian Amoruso plays Jet, a rebel leader in Omashu (“I Know What Yo Did Last Summer”). He sees Katara and tries to win her over.
Azula
Elizabeth Yu plays Princess Azula, Zuko’s younger sister and a formidable firebending genius who aims to usurp her brother’s succession to the Fire Nation (“May December”). Ty Lee and Mai, two of her buddies, are usually by her side.
Gran Gran
Casey Camp-Horinek (“Reservation Dogs,” “Rutherford Falls”) plays Gran Gran, the grandma of Katara and Sokka. She urges her grandkids to accompany Aang on his adventure as the tribal elder of the Southern Water Tribe.
June
June, played by Arden Cho (“Teen Wolf”), is a bounty hunter whose job it is to track down Aang. She travels with her blind mount, Nyla, which locates food by smelling it and then using its long tongue, which is packed with neurotoxins.
The Mechanist
An eccentric inventor named Danny Pudi (“Community,” “Mythic Quest”) resides in Omashu with his son Teo and plays the role of the mechanist. After befriending the warrior Sokka, he discovers the engineer’s hidden abilities.
