The Cast of ‘The Last Airbender’ Selected
Entertainment Weekly has announced the cast for M. Night Shyamalan’s live-action adaptation of The Last Airbender.
The youthful cast includes Karate star Noah Ringer will play Aang, the Avatar (the spirit of the planet manifested in human form), the last surviving Airbender and a monk of the Air Nomads, a race of people with the unique ability to manipulate the air around them. He is assigned with the task of keeping the Four Nations at peace.
Jackson Rathbone (Twilight) will play Aang’s friend Sokka, a warrior of the South Pole’s Southern Water Tribe, a race of people who can control and manipulate water.
Nicola Peltz (Deck the Halls) will play Sokka’s fourteen-year-old sister Katara, the last remaining Waterbender of her entire Tribe.
Pop/R&B singer Jesse McCartney will play the Fire Nation’s evil prince Zuko. Exiled from the Fire Nation by his father, Zuko is sent to capture the Avatar in order to restore his honor and right to the throne.
The Last Airbender, based on Nickelodeon’s Avatar anime, will be released July 2, 2010.
With all due respect.Not. Anime.
With all due respect, it doesnt matter. Anime hasnt been any good in years anyways. I would even go so far as to say Avatar is the best animated television show of all time. Prove me wrong.
NOOOOOO! Please tell me this is not true. Jesse McCartney as Zuko. I was worried Knight was going to screw this up and it looks like he's on track to do just that.
Uhm, what's wrong with Jesse McCartney? Is he too dreamy to play Zuko?
Personally I'm absolutely fine with McCartney playing Zuko.He's got experience in anime-type work (Kingdom hearts) and if you listen to his voice it's rather similar to Zuko's original voice actor.Personally I'm rather excited to see how he does.
Dude. Can you imagine J.M bald, except for a ponytail, and a huge scar on his left eye?? He did a fair job with Roxas for KH but that's just voice acting. This is real time acting. I just can't see him playing Zuko. A guy like Jesse will just ruin it. Take it from an Avatar fan.
Being a voice over is different from acting out as a character…for oice over you don't get to see the voice actor's face..so they can play anything they want..like a black man…or a inuit…but acting is different because you get to see the actor and Jesse McCartney is not Asian looking…so it's a bit wacko for him to be doing Zuko.
Touche
I have no problem with JM, but really…As ZUKO?! That's not exactly the 'dream' role.But it should be pretty entertaining…
Dude give him a chance here's a pic i found of Jesse dressed up like zuko http://animantx.deviantart.com/journal/ just scroll down a little and you'll see now im not totally easy about this but it gives me a little hope
I second that Josh.
Agreed. More stunt casting, for a live action mess that should have remained true to it's animated roots. Atleast the creators will see some bank from this future atrocity. They deserve it for making an awesome show.
I'd like to see a picture of this Noah kid before judging…though it's glorious that he seems to be able to do the stunts necessary for this role.The actors for Sokka and Katara I could see convincingly filling their roles but…. Jesse?seriously? My brain starts to melt even now.
Seriously hope that Jesse McCartney will NOT be cast as Zuko. How could Jesse McCartney play Zuko? I don't think he could be able to do a good job.
this kills me the whole point of avartar is their animeplus isnt every one supposed to be like japanese pretty sure zuko was he deffinetly isnt jesse mccartney this is way confusing
Agreed. Anime-inspired Western Animation at best.
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!*cries and enters corner or woe* HWY IS MY BELOVED ZUKO GOING TO BE PLAYED BY THAT IDIOTIC HOMO?!?!?!?!?!
I will so watch dis Jesse McCartney well b in it Coooooooool
I love Jesse MccArtney
Personally, I reserve judgement until I see the movie. However, I do think everyone is over reacting about McCartney as Zuko. The only thing that bugs me is, all the site's keep saying 'evil', and Zuko ISN'T evil.Just putting that out there.
Very very true. Only a real avatar fan would have caught that! ;)
I'm not too fond of Rathbone after he just messed up Jasper in Twilight, to be honest.
How did he mess up Jasper? I thought Jasper was one of the best portrayed characters from the book to the movie.I think he'll make a pretty good Sokka, but I'm not ready to call it great.
But duuuuuuuude why didn't they chose asian people? They'd look better. A blond hot guy that played a vampire in a teenage girl movie??????? That's not sokka!!! Sokka is not blond nor white!!! aahhrhghhh They'll mess up this like they will mess up Dragon Ball's movie ¬¬
The first three, I can live with. But Jesse McCartney? Seriously? He does NOT look right for the part of Prince Zuko. FAIL.
i totally agree with you i just cant imagine jesse playing zuko i always imagined zuko wayyy hotter and jesse with a scar and pontail ….umm just cant visulize it but i still cant wait to see the outcome
I personally think, much like the Dragonball movie coming out… It's going to bring to Live Action what inherently should stay animated.
I think they should have come up with a new storyline or gone with another Avatar entirely. It is going to be really hard to do this movie right. Its going to have to be at least 2 or 3 movies also.
They WANT it to be at least 2 or 3 movies! The producers will think it's a flop if they only make 2 movies. They are going to turn 7 Harry Potter books into at least 8 movies! How many more Chronicles of Narnia Movies can get made before that franchise loses momentum?
If they want it to be 3 movies then they might want to plan ahead and film them together. The story might not translate if the actors all age a lot between movies. I can see why Shyamalan wants to do this as a movie since the whole thing is laid out in 3 parts all leading onto a bigger story and all well done. It sounds like a slam dunk but this isnt a book to movie thing. The cartoon was well done too so I think its going to be tough. Good luck to him though, I am looking forward to it.
How does this tie in with J.M. playing zuko in the movie???
I could put up with Jesse McCartney as Zuko. I'm more concerned about the kid playing Aang. He's got the most important role, and does anyone actually know if he's a good actor? We should be more concerned with the lead role then the popstar who got a part in a movie about a kick-but TV show!
ok eveyone is complaining about jesse bein zuko and how hes not good for the part an all that. so if hes not who is? can you imagine ANYONE bald except for a ponytail with a scar on the side of their face? and what about jackson rathbone? sokka only has a ponytail too and no one is complaining about him! i say give jesse a chance. come on ppl! :)
I think I died a little inside when I saw who was playing Zuko. Seriously, Jesse McCartney?! meh, lets hope for some miracle that he pulls it off! As for Jasper playing Sokka.. wholey unexpected and completely funny. For someone who just stood there all wide-eyed for the whole Twilight movie I want to see how well he plays an energetic, comedic character.I'm going to hope for the best and expect the worse, just like what I'm doing with Dragonball. Sometimes I think they should stop the good shows like Dragonball and Avatar from being all hollywoodised, it just lessens their value.Nevertheless, I still am going to see it when it comes out and, again, hope for the best.-e
Personally, I think all of us should just stay silent until AFTER the movie comes out. Wait until we know who the FULL cast is before judging. We do not know who some of the big hitters are yet. Toph, Zhao, Iroh.. If only Mako was still alive.. *Tear*.. Although, I think a good Iroh for live action could be the gentleman who played Oogway from Kung Fu Panda, Randall Duk Kim. However, if you would like to see who is to play Aang, here is a link to his picture. http://www.aolcdn.com/ch_kids/star-411-jesse-mcca… He has the kind of baby-faced innocence that I can see in Aang. As for Jesse as Zuko, as long as he can pull off the " Pure hearted, but way off his path " Type person, I think he would be perfect. However, somehow, I can see Zuko's actual voice actor playing him in live action. http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/news_ima… However, I can see them not casting him as he seems a bit too old for the part. Either way, let's just calm down and watch who is going to be cast in more
uhm….that's not Noah. I don't know who that is, but Noah is bald for starters…
Katara is fine…except a bit too white…Sokka is fine…Aang can't tell…Zuko is OUT….What the hell is wrong with Night…I am not going to watch this shit if they don't do something to the cast.Like how stupid can an actor get ?….Come one…Zuko doesn't look White…you can tell from his family…Iroh is not white….his father is not white….and the apparels Zuko wears are all chinese influenced. Get an Asian dude to do the part of Zuko…not some white singer.
oh god… jesse mccartney?? he's… he's… squishy faced, gay, and… not at all goood looking or even… good why can't they just get dante brasco to play zuko? sure, he's a little old, but he played a high schooler in that dancing movie with antonio banderas. if he can learn to dance like THAT, he can learn to stage fight as well. and he ROCKED as rufio in hook, even if it was a decade agowouldn't it be easier to just keep the voice actors to play the parts? or at least some of them? mae whitman is also a damn fine live actress, why can't they keep her as katara? hearing differnt voices playing these characters is going to be a stab right through the heart. is the movie going to be pre or post show continum? redoing the tv story into live action seems like a waste of time, yet billing zuko as "evil" seems to mean they aren't going with an after tv story line. it would be very interesting if they did a story based around finding zuko's mother. i wonder what the twist ending would be? aang and katara fall in love, but he turns out to be her great great grand uncle or something?
Knowing Noah Ringer personally, I can tell you that he will not disappoint. A black belt in Karate to perform all the stunts, yes. But he also looks A LOT like Aang even before make up is even applied. His acting experience may be minimal, but his skills are good. Plus his personality is already very much like Aang's adventurous and playful spirit, so portraying him won't be so hard for Noah. So I wouldn't worry about him. ;)As for the series…I heard they were gonna attempt and making it four movies?
noooooo!!! JM can't be zuko!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XP
HOLY FRIKIN MOTHER OF ARCHIDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND! This cast sucks more than a vaccum cleaner. Jasper (Twilight sucked) will never be Sokka, that girl is nothing like Katara and what the h-e- double hockey sticks were they thinking when they cast Jesse McGaynee for Zuko? Great StarClan, this movie will blow.
………………………………… I'm just goin to lock myself in the bathroom and cry myself to death……………………………. *screams: WHY OHHH WHY MUST MY LIFE BE RUINED?? JESSE MCCARTNEY PLAYING ZUKO??!!!! That's like a…. JUST NOOOO!!!!!!!* ….
I would like to add now, that this movie is to be a motion-capture, 3-D rendering. Meaning more animated than real life. That is why the release date was pushed so far back. Originally it was set to be opened in 07-08, but now, in December of this year, as the motion capture they are using did not exist until mid-08. Now. NEVER knock a movie until you see it. Except for the Street Fighter movie. And I KNOW M. Night is lightyears beyond something like that, so give these guys a chance to prove themselves before you bring out the proverbial guillotine.
I think an asian person should play zuko. it would be much more fitting.
Can Jesse Mcartney even act? I really like Jackson Rathborn, he's acting skills are totally awesome, but the casting for this is completely off.
um actually JM is 2 fugly 2 play Zuko!!!!!
Zuko is hot Jessie M not so much…..
I love Avatar, I love M. Night Shyamalan, but I just can't see this cast as my favorite characters. I WANT DIVERSITY! I pictured Zukko definately asian, Katara and Sokka where either of the Athabascan or Inuit tribes, Unfortunately Aang I couldn't convince myself to what he was, caucasian may be it for him as long as the actor can pull off his airbending moves. I just don't want to be dissapointed.
Why isn't anybody in the cast asian? That would make a lot of sense since ALL of the characters are, in fact, asian. And I think Jesse McCartney's an awful mistake! A blonde pretty boy who happens to be a sucky actor is just not going to be able to pull of the brooding, complex, ASIAN Prince Zuko. That is just the stupidest thing that I have EVER heard of. It's like how the idiots at summit want Vanessa Hudgens to play Leah Clearwater in New Moon. Hello? Leah is native american. Vanessa is not…Let's try and get something right people. I mean, what is with these awful casting choices?
The actor who portrays the voice of Zuko (Dante Basco) does an excellent job delivering the passion of Zuko; his drive, the burning fire (metaphorically speaking) of his rage (not to be confused with the literal burning fire as a result of his rage), and Zuko's desire to regain his honour are all well conveyed through Dante's voice. For those of you unfamiliar with Dante's work, he was a supporting actor of 1991's Hook with Robin Williams. Dante played Rufio, the second-in-command of the Lost Boys who took the reins after Peter (Williams) left. Watching Rufio (Dante) in that movie was like watching Zuko perform in live action. Now, Dante is a little old to play a fiery teenager, but I believe the actor who is to be cast as Zuko needs to compliment on Dante's performance, hence complimenting the original series "Avatar: The Last Airbender". Hopefully M. Night understands this and is working tightly with the creators/writers of the TV series to give the Avatar fans a worthy adaption. Long live DiMartino & Konietzko…and those other guys as well.
I agree that JM would be a poor cast for Aang but right now it is just rumored……..so lets keep sending our complaints on it and hopefully M Night will get the point! right now im more worried about Jasper from Twighlight playing Sokka…i wish they would of just had Jack DeSena play him he has Sokka's character down perfectly and he even resembles him. I hope that M Night doesnt ruin this whole thing with a poor cast.
ya now whats going to happen right, since only one actor in the movie that I know of knows martial arts theri going to get stunt doubles to do all the fight scenes. and spent more time in the film then the actors will be. yay.
my goshhhwhy are white people being casted?!ok katara and sokka should of been filipinos…aang could of been filipino…and zuko could be like chinese/japanese/filipino!
ok i have a fair point in saying that no one beleived heath ledger could play the joker yet he did such an amazing performence it was unbelievable!!! now jesse has been given a chance to play a wicked character that i know (being an actor myself) would have had any actor willing to kill to play this role!!! so could this end up being like heath? and jesse pullign off a great performence now heres where i have a problem and worried about this casting… jesse is not an actor… he did voice work exceptionally in kingdom hearts, horton, and even in alvin (even though that movie "sucked balls" and i quote according to my 8 yr old brother) but is he really an actor? can he pull this off? i hope M.Night hasnt chosen him due to his name cause that could really suck due to every time that has happened it has sucked! i know that Rathbone will actually be perfect for Sokka, trust me on that! i have never heard of this peltz girl but from what i have seen she looks the role. and the kid playing aang im sure will be fantastic i think aang needed an unknown. now back to jesse he has a very girly voice at times and also a very weak stature im hoping he can change it around due to zuko being so determined and strong presence that whenever ive seen jesse he hasnt had. thus i am definetly worried but i guess we will just have to wait till this is released i do evry much hope this isnt doesnt end up like "eragon" such a great story turned to shit due to poor filming and casting. but lets see but thats my 2 cents.Cheers J…P.S i am not comparing jesse to Heath… Heath was a man of pure brilliance for which jesse is the equivelent of an extra compared to Heaths talent. no actually jesse is the equivelent of the rubbish guy who cleans up after the cast and crew have finished lunch/dinner compared to Heaths talent. im more just comparing the situation of people doubting a "performer" ( i refuse to call jesse an actor) about a performence they have not yet seen.
jesse will be the worst choice ever and if he actually has the role he will be the wreck this movie… he isnt an actor he is a singer end say NO to Jesse As Zuko!!!!!!
haha. I'm supposed to play a gymnast in this mvie that should be fun :)
Jesse McCartney? Please tell me this is some joke, a cruel, horrible joke? He cant be zuko, he just can't! He cant act at all! I'd like to say this would be like twilight, everyone freaked out about robert being cast as edward and he turned around and rocked it! I can say this is NOT going to be like twilight! Jessie cant act! WTF is wrong with Night casting him? Was he on drugs during that casting?As for the others I havn't seen much of Nicole Pelts work but I think she will be able to play Katara well.I know a few of ye are doubting Jackson but i have seen nearly all his work and i can tell you he will do well, really well.Can't comment on the guy who is playing Aang i cant even find a pictue of him I would say I'm sure he'll do fine but Night obviously isn't good at casting (yeah i'm refering to JM)
well first of all i have no clue wat aang looks like so i can't judge him but katara should be a little darker no offense and i guess sokka is ok but he should at least be funny and jesse mccartney playing zuko ????? i mean maybe a couple of years ago when his hair was longer and if he dyed it he could look like how zuko looked at the ending episodes of the show but i hope they don't mess up the movie with the people they're casting and i don't really mean to bag on them just saying ( typing) =)
WHY DIDN"T ANYONE THINK TO CAST ASIAN LOOKING PEOPLE?! the girl who will play Katara will kill her character…and i know this may sound dumb but i'm a zutara fan so now THERE IS NOT HOPE! Something goes for Katara's brother! Jason Scott Lee looks like zuko! GET HIM!!! Anyone but Dev Patel! it will breaking so many Avatar fans…LIKE ME!!!! this is gonna kill me!
Zuko…oh my poor baby! dear hollywood…LEAVE ZUKO, AANG, KATARA AND EVERYONE IN THE AVATAR ALONE! GET YOUR OWN IDEAS AND LEAVE SOME MANY AVATAR FANS (like me) OUR DREAMS! YOU'LL RUIN IT!!!!
i would rather have Jesse McCartney play the very hot (not joke) prince zuko than Dev Patel! He looks nothing…NOTHING like Zuko! i think Jason Scott Lee could pull off Zuko! GET HIM! And the people they got for Katara and her brother are bad picks too! HORRIBLE! and, yeah this may sound stupid, but i'm a zutara fan (and proud of it) (if you don't know what zutara is google it!) so this movie will leave me (and other fans) NO HOPE and will crush our hearts! *sniff-tears* please, i would really like it if they just didn't make this movie! twilight, harry potter, and all the other superhero/ book based movies are already screwed up! *vomiting alittle* the show is brilliantly awsome so leave it alone! someone should go look for some hot & very perfect cool asian actors…oh wait…WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THAT IN THE FIRST FREAKING PLACE!?!?
Dev can go eat a dick. so can m. night; he prolly hooked dev up with this role. what a doucher. they should've kept dante basco as zuko. i went to go see transformers 2 and i was really pumped for this movie until i found out the dev patel asshole fukin ruined the whole damm movie for me. shyamalan needs to b hung by his balls and beaten over the head with bats. screw him; screw the movie. they should've gotten the same ppl who made crouching tiger hidden dragon cast and direct this film; and also fuck nickelodeon for letting this happen u push over bastards. i outta kik dev right in the nose
This really sucks i'm not being a racist but WHY is the WHOLE cast white??? isn't this supposed to be a believable movie? this is supposed to be an asian culturally based movie and last time i checked Rathbone wasn't asian in ANY sense of the word. I really hope this doesn't turn out like the dragonball movie they made cuz that crap just got massacred at the box office… i had a feeling M night was gonna fuck this up :(
ok…i think this is old already but i just wanted 2 say that i think the guy who voiced Jake Long in American Dragon: Jake Long and who was also in that dance movie Take the Lead should play the role of prince Zukko since their voices sound a like and the guy could pass off for asian. if he is asian even better.
Actually, Jake Long IS the same person who does Zuko, Dante Basco. And it isn't Jesse McCartney. Zuko is now officially Dev Patel. I've seen some of the pictures. They look really good. And watch the teaser trailer. Right now, it looks great. So check it out!
none of the characters in the movie even slightly look like the cartoons. Nowhere close, this movie is gonna blow
Get your facts straight…. Zuko is not being played Jesse McCarteny… he WAS originally cast but after deep thought they decided to cast Dev Patel. Look it up… stupid ppl… XP