Netflix's Live-Action ATLA Series Overview

This post is an overview of relevant information we know about the series so far. It will be updated when more news comes out. Much of the information below comes from this official Netflix blog page from 8/12/21, anything not there will have the source listed alongside the information.

I) Summary

Netflix is producing a live-action tv series which will be a remake of the original ATLA animated series. The show, simply called "Avatar: The Last Airbender", will faithfully adapt the show while adding surprises for fans. The showrunner is Albert Kim and S1 filmed from November 2021 to June 2022. No specific official release date or window has been stated.

II) Cast

Main

• Gordon Cormier (12, Filipino) plays Aang (12). He is known for The Stand and Lost in Space.
• Kiawentiio (15, Mohawk) plays Katara (14). She is known for her work in Anne with an E and Beans.
• Ian Ousley (19, Mixed Race, part Cherokee) plays Sokka (16). He is known for his work on 13 Reasons Why. Also Ian is a black belt in Taekwndo and won a world championship for creative weapons.
• Dallas Liu (20, Chinese & Indonesian) plays Zuko (17). He is known for Pen15 and Shang-Chi. Additionally he is skilled in Japanese Shotokan Karate, and was a top contender in the North American Karate circuit.
• Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (49, Korean) plays Uncle Iroh. He is known for his roles in Kim's Convenience and The Mandalorian.

Supporting/Minor

• Elizabeth Yu, (19, half Korean) plays Azula. Her only other acting credit is an unreleased Ray Ramano movie.
• Maria Zhang (22, Part Chinese) plays Suki.
• Tamlyn Tomita (55, Japanese and Filipino), plays Yukari: a new character who is the mother of Suki and mayor of Kyoshi Island. She is known for The Good Doctor and Cobra Kai.
• Daniel Dae Kim (53, Korean) plays Fire Lord Ozai. He is known for his roles in Lost and Hawaii Five-0. Additionally he voiced General Fong in ATLA and Hirsohi Sato in LoK.
• Lim Kay Siu (61, Chinese) plays Monk Gyatso. He is known for his role in Anna and The King.
• Ken Leung (51, Chinese) plays Commander Zhao. He is known for his roles on Lost and Inhumans.
• Yvonne Chapman plays Avatar Kyoshi. She is known for Kung Fu and Family Law.
• Casey Camp-Horineck plays Gran-Gran/Kanna.
• Ruy Iskandar plays Lt. Jee
• C.S. Lee plays Avatar Roku
• Amber Midthunder (24, Sioux) plays Yue. She is known for Legion and the upcoming film Prey.
• A. Martinez (73, Apache and Blackfoot) plays Pakku. He is best known for Longmire.

Other Casting News

• Teo, Mai, and TyLee are being cast for S1.
• Arden Cho, Momona Tamada, and Simon Chin have been cast in undisclosed roles.

III) Crew

• Showrunner / Executive Producer / Writer: Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita)
• Executive Producers: Dan Lin (The Lego Movie, Aladdin) and Lindsey Liberatore (Walker) for Rideback and Michael Goi (Swamp Thing, American Horror Story)
• Co-Executive Producer: Roseanne Liang (Shadow in the Cloud)
• Directors: Michael Goi, Roseanne Liang, Jabbar Raisani (Lost in Space) and Jet Wilkinson (Daredevil).
• Production Designer: Michael Wylie (Agent Carter)
• Blair Fetter (Queen's Gambit) has also joined the production.
• Cinematographer: Michael Balfry
• Costume Designer: Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh

IV) General Direction of The Show / Other Production Info

• Filming for S1 has begun as of November 16th, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. It will last until at least Mid-June.
• Netflix is utilizing edge technology featured in The Mandalorian.
• S1 will be 8 episodes of about an hour length each, with a budget around $100 Million.
• Showrunner Albert Kim clarified that while there will be some changes in adaptation, that it absolutely will not be modernized or twisted to fit current trends.
• Jet Wilkinson is directing the S1 finale.
• Kim said "Netflix’s format meant we had an opportunity to reimagine a story that had originally been told in self-contained half-hour episodes as an ongoing serialized narrative."
• He also expressed the importance of representation and being authentic to the cultures that inspired the world of Avatar.

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Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time it was shared but some aspects are subject to change. Additionally the actor ages are as of November 2021 when filming on S1 began.