See Netflix's “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Cast Side-by-Side with the Original Animated Characters
See Netflix's “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Cast Side-by-Side with the Original Animated Characters
Skyler TrepelSat, June 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC
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Aang in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Gordan Cormier as Aang in season 2 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Katie Yu/Netflix
The animated Avatar: The Last Airbender is known as an all-time great TV series, so Netflix’s live-action adaptation has a lot to live up to entering its second season.
The original animated series aired from 2005 to 2008 and was revolutionary for exploring war, sexism and classism in a kid-friendly way while also imparting life lessons and maintaining a light-hearted sense of fun.
In the series, 12-year-old Aang (Gordon Cormier) is told that he is the Avatar destined to stop the power-hungry warfare the fire nation is waging. When the fire nation wipes out his airbender tribe, Aang is frozen for 100 years until waterbender Katara (Kiawentiio Tarbell) unfreezes him and he reclaims his destiny to stop the firebenders’ war, restoring balance.
The animated iteration is beloved, but Netflix’s live-action adaptation allows more time to explore storylines like Aang’s backstory while also dealing with the actors aging, even featuring a time jump in 2026’s season 2. The live-action version is also more tailored to an adult audience, as Kiawentiio put it.
“It's slightly darker,” she told Entertainment Weeklyin 2024. “I feel like it's slightly catered to fans of the original that were kids back then and have grown now."
Here, see how the cast of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender compares to their animated counterparts from the 2005 series.
01 of 09
Gordon Cormier as Aang
Aang in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Gordan Cormier as Aang in season 2 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix (2)
Cormier plays the kind, generous, fun-loving, but all-powerful Avatar Aang. Part of what makes Aang so unique as a lead protagonist is that despite being the series’ most important character, he maintains a child-like sense of wonder.
Casting Cormier as Aang when he was just 11 years old made the character's playful nature an even more natural fit. He turned 12 soon after.
“It was huge because I was a little 12-year-old. This was my first ever big role,” Cormier told Awards Radar in 2024. “To take on something so big with a beloved fan base was really interesting, life-changing and awesome because it’s a huge role … I’m kind of just realizing that now.”
Prior to being cast as Aang, Cormier received acclaim for his performance as mute child Joe in the TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand in 2020. He also appeared on episodes of Turner & Hooch(2021), Gabby Duran & the Unsittables (2021) and voiced Luis on the animated series Team Zenko Go (2022).
02 of 09
Kiawentiio Tarbell as Katara
Katara in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Kiawentiio as Katara in season 1 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix (2)
Kiawentiio portrays the empathetic, steadfast waterbender Katara, who unfreezes Aang and becomes close friends with him. Kiawentiio was cast when she was 14 years old and was 18 by the end of season 1, so she hoped viewers would see how she grew as both an actress and a person.
“I feel like I got comfortable with Katara, and I feel like you can see it on the show,” Kiawentiio told Entertainment Weekly. “Hopefully people are giving me grace a little and to see me grow into the character more.”
After making her TV debut in 2019 on the Anne of Green Gables adaptation Anne with an E, Kiawentiio played the lead role of Beans in the 2020 drama of the same name. She also acted in two episodes of the sitcom Rutherford Falls in 2021 — the same year she released her EP In My Head — and currently plays Necani in It: Welcome to Derry(2025-present).
03 of 09
Ian Ousley as Sokka
Sokka in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Ian Ousley as Sokka in season 1 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Robert Falconer/Netflix
Ian Ousley plays the humorously hot-headed, strategic Water Tribe warrior and brother of Katara, Sokka. Ousley studied the animated version of his character closely to capture his humor, but also tried to give the character more emotional weight.
"I wanted to make sure that Sokka was funny … There's many times where I'm going off and [the producers were] like, 'Try one dry,’ ” Ousley told Entertainment Weekly. "There's more weight with the realism in every way … There are things that were redirected just because it might play a little different."
After appearing in episodes of shows like the teen drama 13 Reasons Why(2019-2020) and Young Sheldon (2020), Ousley was cast in Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is also a third-degree black belt, which proves helpful for his fight scenes.
04 of 09
Dallas Liu as Zuko
Zuko in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Dallas Liu as Zuko in season 2 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix (2)
Dallas Liu plays the multi-layered vengeful heir to the Fire Nation throne, Prince Zuko. He’s initially desperate to prove himself to his war-waging father, Fire Lord Ozai, by hunting Aang but begins to mature and evolve in seeing the error of his ways and misconceptions of Aang.
"[Prince Zuko] has one of the greatest character arcs and developments in animation history,” Liu told Entertainment Weekly. "Knowing all of that as a kid really made me fall in love with his character."
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Liu had a recurring role as Carter on the Nickelodeon comedy Legendary Dudas (2016), a main role in the comedy Pen15 (2019-2021) and a minor role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings(2021). He’s currently voicing one of the lead roles in the anime series Sakamoto Days (2025-present).
05 of 09
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh
Iroh in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Iroh in season 1 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Robert Falconer/Netflix
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays the joyful, wise — but haunted by his dark past as a fire nation general —Iroh. Lee has spoken in depth about playing Iroh, who helps Aang and eventually mentors his nephew Zuko.
“[Iroh] was so complex and so … conflicted in a lot of ways. He suffered a lot of pain in the past but he’s using that pain to sort of try to alter [Zuko’s] future,” Lee told JoBlo Celebrity Accessin 2024. “I think the performances in the animated series in terms of the writing, the voice acting … served as a really great foundational piece for me to sort of build this character off of and use them as inspiration, but also making it my own just because it was an adaptation.”
Some of Lee’s well-known roles include playing Randy Ko on the soap opera Train 48 (2003-2005)and a lead role on the sitcom Kim’s Convenience(2016-2021). These days, Lee is best known for his recurring role as Captain Carson Teva in the Star Warsfranchise — most recently reprising the role in The Mandalorian and Grogu(2026) — and voicing Mr. Park on Paw Patrol(2025-present).
06 of 09
Ken Leung as Zhao
Zhao in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Ken Leung as Zhao in season 1 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Robert Falconer/Netflix
Ken Leung plays the perpetually overconfident master firebender Commander (and later Admiral) Zhao. While many cast members were big fans of the original cartoon, Leung was one of the few who didn’t even know of its existence and thought he was auditioning for James Cameron’s Avatar franchise.
“I didn't know the original at all … When I first heard that it was for Avatar I thought I was going to be blue,” Leung told Deadline in 2024. “Looking back, I kind of love that I came in blank because … when you have ideas you can kind of, I don't know, corrupt a pure process. When you come in blank, things will come into it that will inform your playing of it in a way that it might not if you came in with preconceived ideas.”
Leung’s acting debut came in 1998’s Rush Hourand he also had minor parts in films like A.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001) and Saw(2004) and shows like The Sopranos(2007). He became more well known after playing Miles Straume on Lost(2008-2010) and for his ongoing role as Eric Tao on Industry(2020-present).
07 of 09
Daniel Dae Kim as Lord Ozai
Ozai in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Daniel Dae Kim as Ozai in season 1 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Robert Falconer/Netflix
Daniel Dae Kim plays the menacing father of Prince Zuko and primary proponent of the Fire Nation’s war against humanity, Fire Lord Ozai. Kim isn’t just part of the live-action series, but also voiced Team Avatar ally and earthbender General Fong in the 2005 animated series.
This gave him a unique perspective on adapting the cartoon, specifically when it came to fight scenes.
“Our stunt team did a great job of helping us imagine what the supernatural elements of the fight would be. We have the hand-to-hand combat but then with the addition of the firebending and special effects, it required a certain specificity and suspension of disbelief on our parts,” Kim toldGQ.“I give a lot of credit to the stunt team for being so specific about it and saying, ‘If you want to create this kind of blast, it’s this kind of movement.’ That imagination became part of the choreography.”
Kim is best known for roles like Jin-Soo Kwon on Lost (2004-2010), Chin Ho Kelly on Hawaii Five-O(2010-2017) and Chief Benja in Raya and the Last Dragon(2021). Kim was also an executive producer of The Good Doctor (2017-2024)and was nominated for a 2024 Tony Award for his starring role in Yellow Face.
08 of 09
Elizabeth Yu as Azula
Azula in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Elizabeth Yu as Azula in season 1 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Robert Falconer/Netflix
Elizabeth Yu plays the manipulative, cruel and competitive Fire Nation Princess Azula, who is the sister of Zuko and competes for their father’s affection. Yu was a fan of the original animated show and specifically requested incorporating her character’s signature sharp nails into the live action.
“I went to Rebecca, who was the head of the makeup department,” Yu told Entertainment Weeklyin 2026. “I was like, ‘Can we try it?! What do you think?’ Because it's so iconic from the animation. They're very claw-like. She was like, ‘If you're down with wearing long nails for a year straight, then yes, we can do it.’ ”
Yu’s first acting role came in Ray Romano’s directorial debut Somewhere in Queens (2022) and she gained further attention for her role in May December(2023). Since 2018, she’s been in a relationship with Stranger Thingsstar Gaten Matarazzo.
09 of 09
Miya Cech as Toph
Toph in Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; Miya Cech as Toph in season 2 of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'.Credit: Netflix; Katie Yu/Netflix
Miya Cech portrays the blunt and blind earthbender Toph Beifong, who joins Aang’s group in season 2. Cech was concerned about living up to the legacy of such a nuanced character, which led to her putting her best foot forward.
“My biggest concern was actually portraying a character who's blind or has low vision because I am not and I will never know what that's like,” Cech told Entertainment Weekly. “I felt very nervous … It was not only Toph’s entrance, but it was mine. I needed to show what I was made of. I needed to show what I was gonna do for the rest of the season and this sets the tone.”
Cech has had leading roles in shows including the Are You Afraid of the Darkrevival (2019), The Astronauts (2020-2021) and Surfside Girls (2022).
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