The first trailer for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender has been released, begging the question of how old the cast members are in comparison to their characters. The trailer for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation highlights many different aspects of the reimagining of the beloved Nickelodeon animation. From the iconic locations of the original show to the first look at the new live-action Bending moves, a trailer breakdown of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender brings to light the many ways in which the 2024 project will bring the world of the Four Nations to life.
Another way in which the trailer does this is by providing first looks at The Last Airbender‘s core characters. As one installment in the long list of upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender shows and movies, Netflix’s live-action adaptation is bringing to life a different version of the beloved characters made popular by the Nickelodeon show. Upon the first looks at these characters, the question has been raised over how closely the actors responsible for bringing them to life match up to the ages of the characters in the original show.
Gordon Cormier as Avatar Aang
Formerly Voiced By Zach Tyler Eisen In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
Starring as the titular Last Airbender and leading the Netflix adaptation is Gordon Cormier as Avatar Aang. In the original show, Aang’s age is somewhat interesting. Despite looking and acting like a 12-year-old kid, Aang is technically 112 years old. This comes from the fact that he was frozen in an iceberg for 100 years, awakening as the Last Airbender. While little is known about Cormier’s personal life given his limited acting experience prior to Netflix’s The Last Airbender, the actor was born in 2009 placing him as 12 years old – the same as Aang – when filming on the project began in 2021.
Kiawentiio as Katara
Formerly Voiced By Mae Whitman In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
Another member of the core trio in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is Katara, the sole waterbender left in the Southern Water Tribe and the younger sister of Sokka. In Netflix’s upcoming live-action show, Katara will be played by Canadian-American actress Kiawentiio from Akwesasne. In the original show, Katara is a few years older than Aang at the onset of the series, beginning the story at 14 years of age. Kiawentiio was born in April 2006 meaning the actress was 15 when filming began.
Ian Ousley as Sokka
Formerly Voiced By Jack DeSena In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
The third and final character as part of The Last Airbender‘s core trio is Sokka, the older brother of Katara. At the onset of the original series, Sokka is the oldest male member left in the Southern Water Tribe after his father and the other men left to fight the Fire Nation. Despite this resulting in a role of responsibility Sokka assumes both for his tribe and younger sister, the character is only 15 at the beginning of the show. Ian Ousley was born in 2002, making him 19 when Netflix’s The Last Airbender began filming and the biggest discrepancy between cast and character thus far.
Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko
Formerly Voiced By Dante Basco In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
The primary antagonist of Netflix’s The Last Airbender season 1 will be Zuko, the exiled Prince of the Fire Nation who must find the Avatar to regain his honor and be welcomed home. Zuko is slightly older than the trio of main characters at the beginning of the story at 16 years of age. Zuko’s actor, Dallas Liu, was born in 2001 meaning he was 20 when filming on the project began.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as General Iroh
Formerly Voiced By Mako & Greg Baldwin In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
The caring, respectful uncle of Zuko in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is Iroh. Iroh accompanies Zuko on his quest to find the Avatar as a means of looking out for his nephew. Despite playing a role in the main cast of The Last Airbender, it is never made clear how old Iroh is. However, it is safe to assume he is between 50 and 60 years of age. This matches up with Iroh’s live-action actor, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who was 49 when Netflix’s The Last Airbender began filming in 2021.
Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai
Formerly Voiced By Mark Hamill In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
The primary antagonist of the entire The Last Airbender series is Fire Lord Ozai, the ruthless dictator of the Fire Nation who is looking to conquer the world and destroy the Avatar. Much like his older brother Iroh, the age of Ozai is left open to interpretation in the original story. As such, it is logical to assume Ozai is between 40 and 50 years of age. The actor bringing Ozai to life for Netflix’s The Last Airbender is Daniel Dae Kim who was 53 when the project began filming. Interestingly, Kim is older than Lee despite the latter playing his older brother in the show.
Ken Leung as Commander Zhao
Formerly Voiced By Jason Isaacs In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
Another minor antagonist of Netflix’s The Last Airbender season 1 will be Commander Zhao. Zhao is a rival of Zuko while also an enemy of the Avatar, hellbent on capturing the latter to gain favor with the Fire Lord. Like Ozai and Iroh, Zhao’s age is never divulged in The Last Airbender though context clues mean he can be placed at around 35–40 years of age. Ken Leung, the actor who will play Zhao in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender was 51 when production began. This discrepancy may seem extreme yet Leung’s youthful appearance allows him to adequately bring Zhao to life.
Maria Zhang as Suki
Formerly Voiced By Jennie Kwan In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
One of the side characters in Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 is Suki, a warrior from Kyoshi Island who strikes up a close friendship with Sokka. Given the close bond that forms between Suki and Sokka, the two are presented as the same age: 15 years old. Maria Zhang will portray Suki in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender and was 22 years old when filming began. Given the similar ages of Zhang and Ousley and their respective characters, it could be the case that Netflix’s adaptation ages up Sokka and Suki to better match their performers.
Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula
Formerly Voiced By Grey DeLisle In The Original Avatar: The Last Airbender
Rounding out the main cast of Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 is Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula. Azula is the narcissistic, manipulative younger sister of Zuko and is the same age as Katara: 14 years old. Azula will be portrayed by Elizabeth Yu in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Yu was 19 when filming began on the show, placing her around five years older than her character counterpart.
