Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action cast – Full list of characters
The world needs the Avatar.
Netflix's new live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender has come to an explosive end, setting up a second season.
The Netflix show, based on the original Nickelodeon cartoon, features an all-new cast led by Gordon Cormier, who takes on the role of Aang, the young airbender who comes to discover he's the Avatar – the one person capable of mastering all four elements.
Meanwhile, Daniel Dae Kim plays Fire Lord Ozai, ruler of the Fire Nation, while Elizabeth Yu portrays Azula, and Kiawentiio appears as Katara.
Fans of the original cartoon will likely be wondering how the live-action cast compares to their cartoon counterparts – and there have certainly been some changes made to the characters we know and love.
Here's everything you need to know about the cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender's incredible live-action cast as the Netflix series arrives.
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Alternatively, why not read more about that ending, as we break it down with the help of some of the incredible cast, or check out our review to find out what we thought and how the new series compares with the original.
Avatar: The Last Airbender cast - Who stars in the live-action series?
- Gordon Cormier as Aang
- Kiawentiio as Katara
- Ian Ousley as Sokka
- Dallas Liu as Zuko
- Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai
- Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh
- Elizabeth Yu as Azula
- Ken Leung as Commander Zhao
- Amber Midthunder as Princess Yue
- Lim Kay Siu as Gyatso
- Arden Cho as June
- Maria Zhang as Suki
- Danny Pudi as The Mechanist
- Ruy Iskander as Lt Jee
- Tamlyn Tomita as Yukari
- Casey Camp-Horinek as Gran Gran
- George Takei as Koh
- A Martinez as Pakku
- Irene Bedard as Yagoda
- Joel Oulette as Hahn
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as King Bumi
- Nathaniel Arcand as Chief Arnook
- Meegwun Fairbrother as Avatar Kuruk
- Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi
- CS Lee as Avatar Roku
- Lucian-River Chauhan as Teo
- Momona Tamada as Ty Lee
- Thalia Tran as Mai
- Ryan Mah as Lt Dang
- Hiro Kanagawa as Fire Lord Sozin
- François Chau as The Great Sage
- Randall Duk Kim as Wan Shi Tong
Gordon Cormier plays Aang
Who is Aang? Aang is none other than the titular Last Airbender, who was frozen in a big old block of ice until Katara and Sokka come across him, thawing him out and setting in motion some pretty epic and near cataclysmic events (though that's not Aang's fault).
It's quite a culture shock for Aang to discover that he is the last of his tribe and that the Fire Nation now rule supreme, and he sets out with the help of Sokka and Katara to end the war, and restore the balance once and for all.
Recently opening up to RadioTimes.com about taking on the character, Cormier said: "I definitely wanted to keep Aang's energy and I think the show is very dedicated to the cartoon and that's basically what our script was made out of."
However, he added that there are limitations when it comes to playing Aang in live-action.
He said: "I feel like Aang has changed in the sense that his face can't do all these crazy things. I remember in the Ember Islands, all the characters, when they see it, their faces go wild. In live-action form, you can't really do that."
Where have I seen Gordon Cormier before? You probably don't know Gordon from much at all - outside of the 2020 TV adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand, Avatar: The Last Airbender looks poised to be Cormier's big worldwide debut onto everyone's screens.
Daniel Dae Kim plays Fire Lord Ozai
Who is Fire Lord Ozai? Ozai is the MVP of the Fire Nation, ruling over the destructive tribe as their sole, tyrannical leader. He's also the father to Zuko and Azula, and of course, Iroh's younger brother. It's clear that the Fire Nation is something of a dysfunctional family, but you don't want to cross Fire Lord Ozai as it's made clear many times in the animated series - and in the new live-action show.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Kim said of his approach to Fire Lord Ozai: "What was really interesting to me about Ozai was a couple of things.
"One was his role as a father. As one myself, and as someone who has tried to guide two children – two boys, in fact – the choices that Ozai made were the start for me in exploring the character. What were his intentions? Where did they go wrong? What does he want for this character? What, in the end, does he really want from Zuko?"
Kim added: "I started there and I also explored his own sense of ambition – why does he want to throw this world out of harmony? Why does he want to throw it out of balance so much? What is the source of this desire to conquer the entire world?
"I looked to our politicians and our political situation to start that exploration."
Where have I seen Daniel Dae Kim before? Kim has actually been involved in The Last Airbender before, having voiced the role of General Fong in Book 2 of the anime, alongside The Legend of Korra where he voiced Hiroshi Sato. Outside of the Airbender universe, he's appeared in David Harbour's Hellboy reboot, portrayed Johnny Gat in the Saints Row videogame series, starred as Jin-Soo Kwan in Lost, and of course, squared off against Freddie Highmore in The Good Doctor.
Kiawentiio plays Katara
Who is Katara? Katara, alongside her brother, is one of the few remaining water benders adrift and in search of a new home after the fall out from a vicious Fire Nation attack, which left the pair without a mother. While Aang is the most physically powerful, it's undeniable that Katara is the emotional powerhouse of the troupe, keeping the trio anchored and making sure that above all else, they're getting what they need to done.
Chatting to RadioTimes.com about how Katara and Sokka's characters develop, Kiawentiio said: "I remember that we wanted to touch on the conflicts of siblings.
"I remember Albert [Kim, showrunner] wanting that to be included a lot. They're on this path growing together but they have such different identities, they're going through their own things, they're bumping heads. It's almost like they're trying to out-leader each other."
Where have I seen Kiawentiio before? Similar to her co-star Cormier, Kiawentiio is another upcoming actress, best known for her role in season 3 of Anne with an E before this. She was one of 200 indigenous Canadian actresses to audition for that role, making it clear that she's someone to watch as she steps into the role of Katara.
Ian Ousley plays Sokka
Who is Sokka? Sokka is the slightly headstrong older brother of Katara who tries to protect her whenever he can. At one point, he attempted to become the pseudo-leader of their tribe after their father went off to war, but was unsuccessful in becoming the full leader. While he lacks the emotional intelligence of his sister, he more than makes up for it in his courage and willingness to do what is right for others.
Previously chatting about how his character will differ, Ousley and co-star Kiawentiio suggested Sokka is less "sexist" in the new series.
Kiawentiio told Entertainment Weekly: "I feel like we also took out the element of how sexist [Sokka] was. I feel like there were a lot of moments in the original show that were iffy. There are things that were redirected just because it might play a little differently [in live-action]."
Co-star Ousley concurred: "There's more weight with realism in every way."
Where have I seen Ian Ousley before? Before being cast as Sokka, Ousley had stints on Apple TV+'s Physical, Disney+'s Big Shot, 13 Reasons Why and Young Sheldon. Much like his co-stars, this appears to be his big worldwide break.
Dallas Liu plays Zuko
Who is Zuko? A former member of the Fire Nation tribe, actually the Crown Prince and the son of Fire Lord Ozai and temporarily exiled, Zuko is something of a hot-head (pun intended) who is set out on a quest to capture the one thing that threatens the Fire Nation's dominance - the Avatar. Accompanied by his Uncle Iroh, Zukko plays a pivotal role in Aang, Sokka and Katara's journey, firstly as a clear and present danger to their quest - but as the world evolves, some enemies becomes friends, and some friends may even become foes.
Chatting to RadioTimes.com about the complexity of his character, Liu said: "I think as far as Zuko's father, I wanted to show the relationship - even though they don't really interact in our series, except during a flashback - I wanted to show how much he really does admire and trust his father. He's obviously so unaware that his father is this terrible person.
"It shows how blinded he is in his journey that you see with Uncle Iroh."
Where have I seen Dallas Liu before? Liu is no stranger to adaptations, with his first ever acting role in the film adaptation of Tekken, after being referred to the audition process by one of his martial arts teachers. From there, he's played roles in Hulu comedy PEN15 as well as hit Marvel Cinematic Universe entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, as Katy's younger brother, Ruihua.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays Uncle Iroh
Who is Uncle Iroh? Uncle Iroh is a bit of an outlier within the Fire Nation, and especially within Zuko's family, being the older brother of Fire Lord Ozai.
Unlike the rest of the fiery family, he keeps a constant level head, and is often understand as Zuko's guiding light, like an emotional safety net keeping him from falling into the eternal hellfire of anger and evil that has consumed his father.
Iroh plays a very important role as the series develops, especially as it begins to reach the endgame of the ultimate showdown between the Avatar and Fire Nation - but to say how would be too big a spoiler.
Chatting to RadioTimes.com, Lee said he would have liked to see Ozai and Iroh's brotherhood explored slightly more.
He said: "It's a very interesting relationship that isn't really mentioned in the animated series as well. You know the history - that Iroh was next in line to be the Fire Lord and he suffers a tremendous loss when his son is killed, Iroh completely withdraws, lets his younger brother usurp him and take the crown so to speak, and he goes on a different path, he's labelled a coward by the members of the Fire Nation and he's really happy to just get out of the spotlight.
In that moment there's a certain amount of introspect where he figures out who he is and what he wants. He sees the errors in the way he used to believe.
"He was very much the Dragon of the West... When he suffers that loss, that gives him a pause and that shift in perspective leads him to his joint exile with the crown prince Zuko as a replacement for the son that he lost.
"He prioritises these relationships, family, compassion, kindness, as things he thinks can only bring balance and peace back to the world."
Where have I seen Paul Sun-Hyung Lee before? You likely recognise Lee from the television adaptation of Kim's Convenience, where he plays family patriarch Appa - this was the role in which he rose to fame, winning multiple Canadian Screen Awards for his heartwarming-but-hilarious portrayal. He's also appeared in Disney's The Mandalorian and Ahsoka as Captain Carson Teva, as well as the reboot of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Elizabeth Yu plays Azula
Who is Azula? If Zuko is closer to Iroh, then Azula is definitely closer to Ozai. An incredible mastermind of not only firebending, but war tactics, psychological torment, and much more, Azula is set upon by her father to retrieve Zuko and Iroh from their own quest to capture Aang.
There's an inherent deceptiveness and evil to Azula that constantly lurks just beneath her every sentence or every action - as her own brother says, she always lie. Fans of the anime know just how true this is - live-action fans, you've got a lot to learn.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Yu explained: "I think it was really important for me to be able to showcase the amazing writing of her origin story that we have in this first season and all these new layers that we're able to add onto her story.
"I think being able to see her dynamic with her dad while Zuko is out trying to find the Avatar and also her friends and that vulnerability that she has with these people specifically before she gets released out into the world, that was the most fun part."
Where have I seen Elizabeth Yu before? Yu recently starred in May December alongside Charles Melton and Julianne Moore as one of their children, Mary Artherton-Yoo. Apart from that, she's almost completely brand-new onto the scene of acting, making her debut as Azula something that could cause her to explode onto the scene with a fiery brilliance.
Ken Leung plays Commander Zhao
Who is Commander Zhao? Zuko isn't the only person chasing after Aang, there's also Commander Zhao. Another contingency plan put into place by Ozai, Commander Zhao is your classic evil soldier - he's ambitious, ruthless, confident to the point of arrogance and willing to annihilate anyone in his way in order to achieve his goals.
Sound familiar to another well-placed official in the Fire Nation? Zuko and Zhao butt heads multiple times over the course of the series, both in their pursuit for Aang and their bitter hatred for one another, proving that while the Fire Nation as a whole is a powerful, dominant force, there's more than a little dissent in the ranks.
Where have I seen Ken Leung before? Leung's recent film work includes M Night Shyamalan's beach-based horror Old and screenlife thriller Missing, but he's much more known for his work on the small screen including bullish businessman Eric Tao on Industry (above), The Blacklist, The Night Shift, and lending his voice to HBO Max's Velma.
Amber Midthunder plays Princess Yue
Who is Princess Yue? Princess Yue is the princess of the Northern Water Tribe, and ends up entangled with Sokka. Their connection grows after Zhao arrives in the area, and she plays a vital role throughout the first major storyline of The Last Airbender series.
Where have I seen Amber Midthunder before? Most people probably know Midthunder as the incredibly striking Naru in Dan Trachtenberg's Prey, and prior to that, she featured in Roswell, New Mexico as well as FX's Legion. She's on a roll when it comes to bigger, more fantastic parts - as is clear with the live-action adaptation of The Last Airbender.
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Lim Kay Siu plays Gyatso
Who is Gyatso? Gyatso is Aang's guardian and mentor during his childhood and a member of the Council of Elders. He's also one of the greatest airbenders. Aang constantly calls on his wisdom during his journey as the Avatar.
Where have I seen Lim Kay Siu before? Lim is best known for his role in the movie Night Watch alongside Pierce Brosnan and Alexandra Paul. He's also appeared in Anna and the King and is well known for his roles in several Singaporean films.
Danny Pudi plays The Mechanist
Who is The Mechanist? The Mechanist is an inventor who Aang, Sokka and Katara meet at a crucial time. But is there more to him than meets the eye?
Where have I seen Danny Pudi before? Pudi is best known for his role as Abed Nadir in Community, as well as roles in Mythic Quest and DuckTales.
Arden Cho plays June
Who is June? June is a bounty hunter who travels the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation.
Where have I seen Arden Cho before? Cho is best known for playing Kira Yukimura in Teen Wolf and Ingrid Yun in Netflix's Partner Track.
Utkarsh Ambudkar plays King Bumi
Who is King Bumi? King Bumi is the elderly king of Omashu – and someone Aang knows very well.
Where have I seen Utkarsh Ambudkar before? Ambudkar is known for roles in Pitch Perfect, Blindspotting, Brittany Runs a Marathon and Tick, Tick...Boom!
Meegwun Fairbrother plays Avatar Kuruk
Who is Avatar Kuruk? Kurk is one of the past Avatars, who Aang meets in the Spirit World. He is after advice from his predecessor – but just how helpful he'll be is another matter.
Where have I seen Meegwun Fairbrother before? Canadian actor Fairbrother is known for roles in series like Skymed, D dot H, Helix, and Hemlock Grove.
Yvonne Chapman plays Avatar Kyoshi
Who is Avatar Kyoshi? Kyoshi is another of the past Avatars that Aang asks for advice.
Where have I seen Yvonne Chapman before? Chapman is also known for the series Street Legal, Kung Fu, and Family Law.
CS Lee plays Avatar Roku
Who is Avatar Roku? Roku is also a past Avatar who Aang goes to for help.
Where have I seen CS Lee before? Lee is known for roles including Dr Ba in The Sopranos, and Vince Masuka in Dexter. He'll also appear in season 6 of Cobra Kai.
Lucian-River Chauhan plays Teo
Who is Teo? The mechanist's high-flying son.
Where have I seen Lucian-River Chauhan before? He has previously appeared in a handful of TV series, including Jane and Heartland.
Momona Tamada plays Ty Lee
Who is Ty Lee? An energetic teenager. She is one of Princess Azula's best friends.
Where have I seen Monona Tamada before? Fans will likely recognise Tamada from her breakout role as Claudia Kishi in season two of Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club.
Thalia Tran plays Mai
Who is Mai? Another one of Princess Azura's closest friends.
Where have I seen Thalia Tran before? Tran has previously appeared in Station 19 and Council of Dads.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is available to stream on Netflix now. You can check out the best series on Netflix, best movies on Netflix or visit out TV Guide for more to watch.
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