Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, The Hot Zone: Anthrax) has joined the cast of Netflix’s highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, according to Deadline. Based on Nickelodeon’s animated series, Kim will portray the nefarious Fire Nation leader, Lord Ozai.
As Fire Lord Ozai, Kim will lead the treacherous Fire Nation army across the world, bending weaker nations to his control. Lord Ozai believes it is his destiny to exact firebender rule over the other three nations – a mission his ancestors began centuries ago. Ruthless to the core, his high standards are felt throughout Fire Nation, especially on his son, Prince Zuko, who will be played by Dallas Liu (PEN15, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings).
According to Deadline, Kim will join the previously announced cast that includes Gordon Cormier (Christmas Under the Stars, A Christmas Miracle), Kiawentiio (Beans), Ian Ousley (13 Reasons Why, Young Sheldon), and Liu. Cormier will play the destined Avatar, Aang, who is prophesied to be the last Airbender reincarnated to bring peace to the warring nations. Kiawentiio is Katara, the young Water Nation teen who discovers Aang in the desolate tundra. Ousley will play Katara’s brother, Sokka.
The project has been in development at Netflix since 2019 with original creators Michael DiMartino (The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Rebel Genius) and Bryan Konietzko (The Legend of Korra, Avatar: The Last Airbender – North and South) on board. However, due to creative differences, the two departed the project last year. The series has progressed with new creative team with filming set to begin this month.
According to Deadline, Albert Kim (Nikita, Sleepy Hollow) will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner for the series. He is joined by executive producers Dan Lin (Aladdin, The Lego Batman Movie) and Lindsey Liberatore (Hostage, Man On Fire) of Rideback. Michael Goi (Big Sky, American Horror Story) will produce and Roseanne Liang (Shadow in the Cloud, Do No Harm) will serve as a co-executive producer. Goi and Liang will share directing duties alongside Jabbar Raisani (Lost in Space, Game of Thrones) and Jet Wilkinson (Warrior Nun, Netflix’s Jessica Jones).
Avatar: The Last Airbender aired from February 2005 to July 2008 on Nickelodeon. It spawned a spinoff, The Legend of Korra, and a film adaptation from M. Night Shyamalan (Old, Split).