Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ announces Azula, Gran Gran, Kyoshi actors
By Grace Kim
Netflix is slowly pulling together the cast of its upcoming live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” The production announced five new additions, including the iconic roles of Princess Azula and Suki as well as a brand new character.
Adding fuel to the fire: Elizabeth Yu (“All My Love”) has been cast as Azula, princess of the Fire Nation and sister to firebending master Zuko, according to Deadline.
- A skilled firebender and expert manipulator, Azula fearlessly takes on whoever or whatever stands in her way of the throne.
Making waves: The role of Gran Gran from the Southern Water Tribe will be taken on by Casey Camp-Horinek (“Reservation Dogs”).
- Grandmother to Katara and Sokka, she played a pivotal role in the original series in guiding the two in their journey to help the Avatar.
Breaking new ground: Kyoshi, one of the past lives of the Avatar who was born to the Earth Kingdom, will be played by Yvonne Chapman (“Kung Fu”).
- Meanwhile the role of Suki, the leader of the female warrior group named after Kyoshi, has been taken on by Maria Zhang.
- The casting announcement of Tamlyn Tomita (“Cobra Kai”) has revealed a newcomer to the Earth Kingdom who was not part of the original series — Suki’s mother Yukari.
- Yukari is described as “the fiercely protective mayor of her small village on Kyoshi Island.”
More info: Fans have been keeping a close eye on the casting decisions for the Netflix remake particularly because of the white-washing of the characters in the critically panned and commercially disastrous 2010 film adaptation helmed by M. Night Shyamalan.
- Hope for a worthwhile series diminished when the original show’s creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko announced in August 2020 that they were leaving their positions as executive producers for the Netflix adaptation.
- So far, however, most of the cast has been well received by fans on social media.
- Actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee was announced last month to play Uncle Iroh, along with Ken Leung as Commander Zhao and Lim Kay Siu as Gyatso. Shortly before then, Daniel Dae Kim was revealed as the villainous Fire Lord Ozai.
- The casting of Zuko along with the rest of the main characters was leaked earlier in August before official sources confirmed the news.
Featured Image via “Avatar: The Last Airbender”
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