The live-action version of the much-loved animated series Avatar: One of the most awaited releases of 2025 is The Last Airbender. The original series that aired on Nickelodeon back in 2005 has caused a huge viewership because of its excellent world-building, complicated characters, and spectacular visuals.
Now, Netflix is launching this world to the live-action one, and the fans are already dying to find out how the iconic characters are going to be depicted by a new cast.
Here in this blog, we are going to deep dive into the cast and characters of Netflix’s live-action Avatar. The Last Airbender series, giving you every detail that you must know about the actors, their roles, and what you should expect from the upcoming show. So, let’s get started!
1. The Lead Characters of the Avatar on Netflix The Last Airbender
Aang, the main character of the series, is the Last Airbender and the Avatar, the only person that can bend all four elements. air, water, earth, and fire. Aang is a childlike spirit with enormous power and a vexing weight on his shoulders in that he needs to balance a world on the verge of war.
Actor: Here we have a young Canadian actor, Gordon Cormier, to bring this iconic character to life. Playing on Aang’s innocence, humor, and heroism, as seen in TV shows such as “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” Cormier is expected to give Aang a form.
Key Traits of Aang
– Airbender
- Kind-hearted and adventurous
- Fun-loving but burdened with responsibility
- Masters all four elements
What to Expect: Gordon’s depiction of Aang holds out to intrigue the character’s playfulness and mature characteristics, as well as portray his development on the show.
Katara—played by Kiawentiio
Katara, a talented waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe, becomes Aang’s best friend and his ally. She is gutsy, kind, and works as the emotional focal point of the group quite often.
Katara’s travel will show how she develops into a waterbender and her relationship with Aang.
Actor: Kiawentiio, an emerging actress from Canada, would be playing Katara. Born to fame with her roles in “Beans” and other indie flicks, her performances are rich in emotions, capable of balancing between Katara’s toughness and weakness.
Key Traits of Katara
– Waterbender
- Willful, caring, and older than her age.
- Feeling protective about Aang and her brother, Sokka
- A fierce fighter and healer
What to Expect: Kiawentiio’s portrayal will create the warmth, determination, and motherhood that Katara possesses on the screen and make her a good role model for viewers.
Ian Ousley—Sokka
Katara’s older brother, Sokka, is the comic relief in the series, but don’t let his comic relief deceive you—he is a skilled fighter and a tactician.
Even though he cannot bend any elements, his bravery and creativity, as well as his leadership, determine him to be an important member of Team Avatar.
Actor Ian Ousley, who is popularly known for his role in “13 Reasons Why,” will play Sokka. Ian has demonstrated his knack for combining humor and emotional depth, and it is also the very quality that makes him right for the job.
Key Traits of Sokka
- Non-bender (has a boomerang and a sword)
- Comic relief of the group
- A natural strategist and warrior
- Guardian of Katara and a loyal follower of Aang
What to Expect: Ian’s portrayal is likely to highlight the sarcasm and humor of Sokka but at the same time focus on his development as a leader.
2. Supporting Characters of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender
Zuko—Dallas Liu plays this role.
Zuko is a very complex character in the original series. The banished prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko’s first intention is to capture the Avatar so as to regain his honor back. But his life turns into a path of self-discovery, battling his inner turmoil and relations with the family.
Actor: Zuko will be played by an actor, Dallas Liu, who rose to prominence in such movies as “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “PEN15.”
Dallas has been commended for his ability to express internal conflict and unguardedness, which will come in handy in taking up this legendary role.
Key Traits of Zuko
– Firebender
- Good sense of honor but is torn by his past.
- Fragile and loving even if he is angry
- Highly skilled fighter and tactician
What to Expect: Fans can be excited to see how Dallas Liu brings Zuko’s inner struggle and his eventual redemption arc, which is the main premise of the series.
Iroh—Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays him.
Iroh is Zuko’s uncle; he is a wise and strong firebender, a kind person with a sense of humor and a love for tea. He acts as a mentor to Zuko, where he assists him in handling his individual challenges and discovering his inner path.
Actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, famous for playing a role in “Kim’s Convenience,” will play Uncle Iroh. The sensibility of Paul as a balancer between humor and depth of feeling will be a fantastic fit with Iroh’s gentle wisdom.
Key Traits of Iroh
- Firebender (Master Level)
- Kind, wise, and spiritual
- Close association with tea culture and food culture.
- A mentor and a surrogate parent to Zuko
What to Expect: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, as the actor, will portray the warmth, the sense of humor, and the wisdom of Iroh, and this character will become a highlight of the series.
Azula—Played by Elizabeth Yu
Azula is Zuko’s younger sister, a prodigal daughter of firebending, and a real villain of the series. Contrary to Zuko, Azula is cold, calculative, and ruthlessly powerful, thus a very challenging adversary for Aang and his friends.
Actor: Azula will be played by Elizabeth Yu, who is an emerging star of Hollywood. Famous for her work in “The Last O.G.” and “The Green Knight,” Elizabeth enters the new project with an edge that has made her the most suitable for the wicked Azula.
Key Traits of Azula
– Firebender (master level, has blue flames)
- Calculating, ruthless, and highly intelligent
- Fierce rival to Team Avatar
– Coupled with the need for power and control
What to Expect: Elizabeth Yu’s treatment of Azula will be based on her psychological complication and her icy personality, which will make her one of the best villains of anime.
3. Expectation from the chemistry of the cast.
What makes this live-action adaptation very exciting is how the cast has chemistry with each other. The original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series was well-liked for having strong relationships between the characters. From Aang and Katara’s burgeoning romance to Sokka’s humor, which counteracted the gravitating seriousness of the other characters, and Iroh’s redemption arc with Zuko, these relationships were the core of any emotional content in the story.
When powerhouses like the cast are onboard, the chemistry therein can also be seen to be brought to life in a more dynamic and greater impactful manner among the fans.
The actors are off to a great start for showing that they are much more ready and able to bring the magic of the animated series back, with rich emotional range and fierce performances.
4. Conclusion
The upcoming live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender is said to be one of the most awaited releases on Netflix in 2025. Having a cast of amazing people to adapt the characters and bring the beloved world of Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and so on, fans can have an exciting and loyal adaptation to look forward to.
Excitedly anticipating its release, it is obvious that the series will not only honor the originality of the series but also familiarize the new generation of viewers with the Avatar universe’s magic.
Stay up to date, and prepare yourself for the excitement of the real-life 3D images of the characters that you love!
FAQs:
When will the Netflix live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series be released?
The series is scheduled to air in 2025, and there is no official air date issued for it.
Who is playing the role of Aang in the live-action series?
The live-action version of the show has a young Canadian actor named Gordon Cormier as Aang, while an old man is selected for the role of Uncle Iroh.
Is there going to be a live-action series that will remain loyal to the original animated series?
Yes, Netflix has promised an authentic adaptation, where the actors are also similar to the characters of the animated series, and the essence of the themes is not lost.
Who is the actor who plays Azula in Netflix’s Avatar series?
Elizabeth Yu takes the character of Azula, the strong and cruel sister of Zuko.
With an awareness of such a talented cast and the incredible character dynamics, the fans can prepare for an unforgettable viewing when Netflix’s Avatar comes out.
The Last Airbender finds its way onto the screen at last. If you are a new person to the series or a longtime follower, this show is sure to be one you’re not going to forget.