Netflix unveiled the first trailer for the live-action season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The first season of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender managed to fare a bit better than M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 film, drawing mixed reactions. Still, it isn’t exactly a breakout hit, even as the show persists in comparisons with Cowboy Bebop or Winx. The series’ co-creator and showrunner, Albert Kim, stepped away to focus on another adaptation, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, this time for Disney+.
Taking over are co-producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani, who shot seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back. It’s a smart move to manage the practical reality of the lead actor Gordon Cormier (Aang) physically growing between seasons. It remains a risky bet if the show’s reception falters. Still, it would have been a shame to skip one of the best characters from the original cartoon, Toph, brought to life by Miya Cech, who is set to join the central trio of Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) alongside Aang. The first trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender season 2 has just dropped.
The Last Airbender: Aang-core — One Season
With Toph’s arrival, the Last Airbender lands within the Earth Kingdom’s borders! Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender will push Aang, Katara, and Sokka toward the Earth King, whom the trio hopes to win over: they’ll need his aid to square off against the formidable Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim). Things aren’t going to unfold in Ba Sing Se exactly as the trio expects.
Judging from the early footage and a few unmistakable beats (such as Aang’s face-off with Prince Zuko, played by Dallas Liu, in a Ba Sing Se street), this new season appears to follow the cartoon’s original storyline with commendable fidelity. Moreover, while lead actor Gordon Cormier has indeed grown between seasons, the shift hasn’t proven jarring yet.
In addition to the performers already named, the cast will also include Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Iroh) and Elizabeth Yu (Princess Azula), who were part of the first season, along with: Madison Hu (Fei, a character created for the new adaptation), Lily Gao (the mother of Zuko and Azula) and Tantoo Cardinal (Hama, the figure who developed Bloodbending), among others.
Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender will premiere on Netflix on June 25. The date had already been announced previously.
