This month, Netflix will release Avatar: The Last Airbender, a live-action remake of the popular anime. The upcoming series, created in collaboration with Nickelodeon, will follow the titular character Aang as he reclaims his role as the next Avatar. Along the way, he’s joined by new companions Sokka and Katara.
If you’re new to the franchise, fret not; we’ve put together a timeline of the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender to get you up to speed. Scroll down to learn more about the cast and the new characters in the upcoming series. Be sure to get a VPN download to watch all your favorite shows on various devices with privacy and security while avoiding throttling.
For the uninitiated, note that this franchise is unrelated to James Cameron’s massively successful Avatar films. Also, ExpressVPN is not affiliated with Avatar: The Last Airbender. We just love everything streaming!
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Timeline
The story’s timeline is divided into Before the Genocide (BG) and After the Genocide (AG), referring to the Air Nomad Genocide, a catastrophic event that led to the Hundred Year War and Avatar Aang’s journey to restore balance.
What is an Avatar?
An Avatar is a being who is the bridge between the physical world and the spirit world. The Avatar is the only person capable of bending all four elements: water, earth, fire, and air.
The role of the Avatar is to maintain balance and peace between the four nations (the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads) as well as between the physical world and the spirit world.
The Avatar possesses the Avatar State, a powerful defense mechanism that grants them the skills and knowledge of all past Avatars, providing them immense power and abilities. The Avatar reincarnates into the next nation in the cycle following their death, ensuring the continuation of the Avatar lineage and the balance of the world.
Cast and characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)
A cheatsheet on the Avatar characters.
Aang
Played by: Gordon Cormier
Role: The protagonist and the last surviving Air Nomad, Aang is the young and reluctant Avatar who must master all four elements (air, water, earth, fire) to end the Hundred Year War and bring peace to the world.
Katara
Played by: Kiawentiio
Role: A waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara discovers Aang in the iceberg. She is compassionate and strong-willed, and she becomes Aang’s waterbending teacher.
Sokka
Played by: Ian Ousley
Role: Katara’s non-bending brother, Sokka is a skilled strategist and warrior. Despite lacking bending abilities, Sokka’s ingenuity and resourcefulness make him an essential team member.
Prince Zuko
Played by: Dallas Liu
Role: Initially an antagonist, Zuko is the exiled prince of the Fire Nation, obsessed with capturing Aang to regain his honor and return to his place as heir to the throne. His complex journey from foe to friend and his struggle with identity and redemption are central to the narrative. He becomes Aang’s firebending instructor.
Fire Lord Ozai
Played by: Daniel Dae KimRole: Ozai is the ruler of the Fire Nation and the father of Zuko and Azula. Ozai is characterized by his ambition, power, and ruthless desire to expand the Fire Nation’s dominance across the world, continuing the imperialistic war started by his ancestors.
Uncle Iroh
Played by: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
Role: Zuko’s wise and kind-hearted uncle, a former Fire Nation general, and a master firebender. Iroh serves as a mentor not only to Zuko but also offers wisdom and guidance to other characters.
Other recurring characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Unlike the M. Night Shyamalan adaptation from 2010, the upcoming series will feature notable characters from the comic books.
Suki
Played by: Maria Zhang
Role: Suki is a skilled warrior and the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, a group of female fighters from Kyoshi Island named after Avatar Kyoshi. She is known for her combat proficiency, loyalty, and courage.
Princess Azula
Played by: Elizabeth Yu
Role: Princess Azula is a powerful firebender and the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai. Azula is tasked with capturing her brother Zuko and the Avatar, showcasing her strategic mind and manipulative skills.
June
Played by: Arden Cho
Role: June is a bounty hunter known for her expertise in tracking and capturing targets with the help of her animal companion, a shirshu named Nyla.
When does Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) premiere?
Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres on Netflix on February 22, 2024, featuring eight episodes. Currently, these are the rumored titles of the various episodes:
- Episode 1 – The Last Airbender
- Episode 2 – Warriors
- Episode 3 – Omashu
- Episode 4 – Into The Dark
- Episode 5 – Spirited Away
- Episode 6 – Masks
- Episode 7 – The North
- Episode 8 – Legends
Watch the trailer for the series here: