Audiences aren’t the only ones to confuse the two properties, as Avatar: The Last Airbender star Ken Leung admits that he believed he was auditioning for the James Cameron franchise. The Netflix show is a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed 2005 animated show of the same name, and marks the third in the franchise. The franchise has trodden the path of live-action before, with M. Night Shyamalan’s much-derided 2010 movie The Last Airbender, but hope is much higher for the Netflix show, which has already garnered mixed to positive critical reviews.
During a recent red carpet premiere for the show, Ken Leung reflected on the casting process for the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender show to Deadline. The Commander Zhao actor admitted that he “hadn’t heard of the original [show] at all…” before his audition, and that the secrecy of the project meant that it was billed under a different name, stating “When I first heard it was for Avatar, I thought that I was going to be blue.” Check out Leung’s comments in the video below:
How Will Avatar: The Last Airbender Fare For Netflix?
There is no question that Avatar: The Last Airbender is a hugely popular franchise, but due to the epic, sprawling scope of the narrative, it is a show that feels more suited to animation, so Netflix are taking a risk with a live-action remake. There is plenty of pressure for its success following the critically and commercially panned movie, but also for Netflix, who are in need of another successful franchise as Stranger Things draws to a close, and as they look to continue competition with Prime Video and Disney+ for streaming dominance.
Live-action adaptations of beloved animated shows are always a risk, and things don’t often work out as planned, with a great example of this being when 2021’s live-action Cowboy Bebop reboot was canceled after one season. But, hopes will be high that the committed fanbase, 8-episode length, and the recent unexpected success of One Piece, whose acclaim led to a season 2 renewal, will help to fuel a successful run for Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it might even run for multiple seasons too.
With it still early in its streaming life, it’s tough to tell what the future holds for Avatar: The Last Airbender at Netflix. If there are indications that viewership is strong, then Netflix could greenlight a season 2 pretty quickly, as has been the pattern in the past. As for Leung, he will be hoping for another successful show, following regular appearances in Lost and The Night Shift. As a franchise with pedigree, Avatar: The Last Airbender could well be the perfect vehicle to continue Leung’s success, and fans of both him and the franchise will certainly be hoping so.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action)
Based on the acclaimed animated Nickelodeon television series, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an action-adventure fantasy series developed by Albert Kim. The series follows Aang, a young man training to harness the four elements to live up to the title of Avatar – the one who will restore balance to the world.
- Cast
- Gordon Cormier , Dallas Liu , Kiawentiio , Ian Ousley , Daniel Dae Kim , Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
- Release Date
- February 22, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Franchise(s)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Writers
- Albert Kim , michael dante dimartino , bryan konietzko
- Directors
- Michael Goi , Roseanne Liang , Jabbar Raisani , Jet Wilkinson
- Creator(s)
- Albert Kim
- Where To Watch
- Netflix
