Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender has revealed new images of some notable characters, and two of them bode well for the live-action series’ success. With Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s cast already making up for some of the criticisms about the live-action film, there’s high expectations for Netflix’s serialized attempt. Additionally, the live-action series’ creator has confirmed the show will not be a direct copy of the animated series, but rather a reworked story in order to keep it new.
What this suggests is that Avatar: The Last Airbender will potentially have new characters or explore existing characters in more detail. Similarly, the series could expand on storylines that were only briefly addressed in the original show. If this is the case, two of the confirmed characters for the live-action remake are even more exciting. Not only do the confirmed characters hint at which story beats will be included in the series, but they suggest how the show will approach its storytelling.
How Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Live-Action Cast Looks Compared To Animated Characters
Since Netflix announced the show, fans have wondered how Avatar: The Last Airbender’s live-action cast looks compared to their animated counterparts.
Jet And June Are Confirmed To Be In Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Live-Action Show
Aside from the crucial confirmation of Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko, Netflix has confirmed other important characters like Azula, Ozai, Iroh, Zhao, and Suki. Additionally, most of the smaller roles have been announced too. Two characters that fit under this are June and Jet, who are portrayed by Arden Cho and Sebastian Amoruso, respectively. Confirmed supporting characters suggest the live-action Avatar can explore unanswered questions, such as Jet’s choice to leave his initial mission.
In the animated series, Jet is introduced first in Book One in an episode named after him. Initially, he is a teenage Earth Kingdom refugee who heads a vigilante group called the Freedom Fighters. June, also introduced in Book One, is a wandering bounty hunter with a blind shirshu, her mount that can track prey by scent and has a tongue that can release paralyzing toxins to stun enemies or prey. Both characters are similar in the sense that they start out involved in more dangerous scenarios, indicating their willingness to be in harm’s way if required to achieve their goals.
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Adds A Major Scene The Animated Show Never Got To
The trailer for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender proves that the adaptation will add a crucial scene that the original animation did not have.
Jet And June Suggest Avatar: The Last Airbender Will Focus On Characterization
Although Jet’s character development is much more drastic than June’s, they both exhibit a willingness to help Team Avatar. Jet completely reforms from his destructive Freedom Fighter days and helps the team find Appa by leading them to the Dai Li headquarters, which ultimately leads to his unfortunate demise. His backstory adds to how complex his character is, since he witnessed his family dying at the hands of firebenders, which sparked his desire to rid the world of firebenders even if innocent lives are lost.
June helps Team Avatar in Book Three after Zuko hires her to try and find Aang so they can save the world. While she leaves them after, her willingness to help without payment highlights her loyalty and kinder side. Both Jet and June display how important characterization is in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Although they have smaller roles, their impact on Team Avatar’s story is evident and suggests that the series’ storytelling will focus on character-driven narrative arcs. This allows the space to explore ignored relationships from the animated series and weave crucial plot points, even with the confirmation that the story is reimagined.
10 Most Exciting Things To Expect From Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender
Netflix’s live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender offers plenty to be excited about, from thrilling CGI bending to deep characterizations.
Jet And June Indicate Other Iconic Characters Could Have Cameos Too
With Jet and June come a whole host of other Avatar: The Last Airbender supporting characters that left a memorable mark, and some of them are reportedly confirmed for the live-action series. For instance, Jet’s crew includes Smellerbee, Longshot, and Pipsqueak. While their roles are even smaller than Jet’s, they play an integral part in telling his and Aang’s story, as they represent Jet’s journey from a rebellious vigilante to a reformed Ba Sing Se resident and help Team Avatar progress. By extension, Smellerbee and Longshot, in particular, are Jet’s surrogate family and act as reminders of their search for better lives.
Moreover, The Mechanist connects to Freedom Fighters such as Pipsqueak, as well as could link to June. In Book Three, a cut concept from the animated series involves June recruiting The Mechanist to help her find Aang. In his first appearance, his inventions set him apart as they play a large role in Aang’s struggle with the extinction of Air Nomad culture, as well as in later helping Team Avatar infiltrate the Fire Nation. With June and Jet, Avatar: The Last Airbender can bring in interesting supporting characters to help elevate the reimagined story with entertaining familiarity, making for a stronger character-driven approach.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action)
- Release Date
- February 22, 2024
- Cast
- Gordon Cormier , Dallas Liu , Kiawentiio , Ian Ousley , Daniel Dae Kim , Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
- Genres
- Action , Adventure , Fantasy
- Rating
- Not Yet Rated
- Seasons
- 1
- Season List
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action) – Season 1 , Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action) – Season 2 , Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action) – Season 3
- Story By
- Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
- Writers
- Albert Kim , michael dante dimartino , bryan konietzko
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Franchise(s)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Showrunner
- Albert Kim
