It’s been over a decade since its disastrous first try and hit the massive display screen, however sufficient time has handed that it’s not less than value giving Avatar: The Final Airbender one other shot at cinematic glory. Subsequent fall sees the discharge of The Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender, a (fortunately) animated spin-off and continuation of one of many biggest animated collection of all time. Plot particulars are scarce in the mean time, however it’s been confirmed that the movie will give attention to the unique present protagonists, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko, of their early maturity.
Perhaps probably the most stunning announcement has been that each one of those voice roles have been recast, as creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (who will function producers) wished to honor the characters’ ethnic and racial backgrounds. Korean singer/actor Eric Nam will voice Aang, with Jessica Matten (Darkish Winds) as Katara, Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) as Sokka, and Dionne Quan (Kimi from Rugrats) as Toph. But by far the largest get is Steven Yeun, confirmed to take the position of Zuko, and who’s truly an Avatar veteran.
Steven Yeun Is a ‘Final Airbender’ Veteran
Because of his breakout position as Glenn in The Strolling Lifeless, his Oscar-nominated efficiency in Minari, and his Emmy-winning position in Netflix’s Beef, Steven Yeun has been a star on the rise for not less than a decade. Nonetheless, he additionally took a recurring position within the Avatar sequel collection, The Legend of Korra, as a key determine within the franchise’s mythology.
In The Legend of Korra’s second season two-parter, “Beginnings,” Yeun voiced Wan, an historic firebender who grew to become the primary Avatar, virtually 10,000 years earlier than the occasions of the unique collection. Because the episodes detailed, Wan was born into poverty and spent most of his life envying the Chou household, the rich elites who ranked among the many strongest in his metropolis.
Ultimately, he determined to steal meals from the Chous for his pals, and, beneath the guise of becoming a member of a looking social gathering, satisfied his metropolis’s Lion Turtle to show him the facility to create hearth to defend himself within the forest. Nonetheless, he virtually instantly broke his promise and used his powers to attempt to steal from the Chous, resulting in his banishment from the village.
Wan relocated to the forest, the place he lived among the many spirits, who accepted him. A dragon taught him the means to manage his new powers, thus making Wan the primary firebender. As he mastered the artwork, his fellow villagers quickly realized they may use the facility to struggle again towards the Chous and steal hearth from the Lion Turtle, forming a brand new group that might later turn into the Fireplace Nation.
Wan Is a Key ‘Avatar’ Determine
Through the years, Wan traveled the world, someday encountering a battle between Raava, a spirit of sunshine, and Vaatu, a spirit of darkness and struggle, who clashed each 10,000 years to find out the destiny of the world. Vaatu was in a position to trick Wan into utilizing his firebending to free him from the grasp of his enemy, subsequently unleashing darkness and chaos upon the world at massive, and leaving Wan to reckon along with his mistake.
Unable to face Vaatu on her personal, Raava joined forces with Wan, serving to him journey to different Lion Turtle cities, the place he’d persuade the traditional guardians to show him management over the opposite three components. Shortly studying to bend hearth, air, water, and earth, Wan grew to become the primary Avatar, getting ready to face off towards Vaatu in an occasion often called “Harmonic Convergence,” throughout which the north and south spirit portals would merge for a quick interval.
Throughout the battle, Vaatu shortly gained the higher hand, main Raava to persuade Wan to merge together with her, permitting him to attract upon the facility of the spirit world, and creating what would later turn into often called the “Avatar State.” Wan emerged victorious and trapped Vaatu contained in the spirit world. The ultimate scenes in “Beginnings” depict an aged Wan, close to loss of life and regretful that he was unable to utterly restore peace to the world. Raava guarantees that when Wan dies, she will probably be reborn into a brand new human host, thus starting the Avatar cycle of reincarnation, which Aang and Korra later turn into a part of.
“Beginnings” simply stands because the excessive level of The Legend of Korra’s lackluster second season, which frolicked spinning its wheels and usually relied an excessive amount of on coincidence in its plot developments. Nonetheless, these two episodes stuffed in some fascinating gaps within the Avatar mythology and benefited immensely from Steven Yeun’s voiceover work.
He brilliantly captured Wan’s simultaneous vanity and kindheartedness, alongside along with his emotional progress, and it’s that vary that makes him an ideal option to take over the position of Prince Zuko. Whereas it’s admittedly disappointing that Dante Basco received’t be returning, we’ve little doubt that Yeun will show a greater than worthy successor, due to his already legendary standing within the Avatar franchise. The Legend of Aang: The Final Airbender is in theaters on October 9, 2026.