Actors talk about “Avatar: The Last Airbender”
The series “Avatar: The Last Airbender” premieres this Thursday (22) and is the second attempt at the now classic cartoon, which was originally shown in the USA between 2005 and 2008 not to be confused with the Blue People films by James Cameron with actors still to be adapted with the 2010 production by M. Night Shyamalan, which audiences prefer to forget.
For those who were there back then it may not have been that long ago, but for some it was a long time ago. Gordon Cormier (“The Stand”), for example, brings the protagonist to life, but at the end of the original he wasn't even alive.
At age 14, he had not yet seen the drawing when he began participating in the production's mysterious selection process.
The gap was completely closed with the setting after countless viewings of the animated film but, surrounded by a young cast with three other fans, he was still able to count on the help of his colleagues.
“They actually saw the cartoon long before I did, and I think the cartoon was released before I was even born. For about four years. So I definitely didn’t see him growing up,” he says along with the others in an interview with g1 . Watch the video above.
“Of course there were a few times when they helped me with my figure. On set, the director even had to tell me, 'Gordon, go eat some candy.' Because some days I was really tired.”
1 of 4 Kiawentiio, Gordon Cormier and Ian Ousley in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Robert Falconer/Netflix Kiawentiio, Gordon Cormier and Ian Ousley in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Robert Falconer/Netflix
By combining their powers
In the series, which will see the eight episodes of the first season premiere simultaneously on Netflix, Cormier plays Aang, a boy who lives in a world divided between four people, each of whom can control the four elements.
Just like drawing, he has a great responsibility. Not only is he the last survivor of the nomads who ruled the air, but he is also the Avatar, a legendary being who has the unique ability to also control or bend, as the plot says water, earth and fire.
When the young man awakens after being trapped in a block of ice for more than a century, he discovers that the Fire Nation has decimated his former comrades and controlled much of the planet.
2 of 4 Daniel Dae Kim in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Disclosure Daniel Dae Kim in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Disclosure
Same avatar, a little different
History has, of course, undergone changes. Not only because of a changed target group, which is now a little older, but because the approximately 20 20minute episodes in the first season of the animated film had to become eight chapters of almost an hour each in the series.
Some fans of the original even complained about some of these, such as the lack of machismo from one of Aang's friends, Sokka (Ian Ousley), and a more direct path to the protagonist's adventures at the beginning.
Daniel Dae Kim (“Lost”) plays one of history’s greatest villains, Fire Lord Ozai. At 55, he is one of the most experienced leading actors and explains the changes.
“Some things were condensed and reorganized to consider an adaptation with actors. I think some of the changes have made the relationships more complex,” says the actor.
“I like the fact that we see more of Azula (Lizzy Yu) and the whole family in the Fire Nation because it makes the world feel a little bigger and the relationships a little more complex.”
3 of 4 Ian Ousley, Gordon Cormier and Kiawentiio in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Robert Falconer/Netflix Ian Ousley, Gordon Cormier and Kiawentiio in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Robert Falconer/Netflix
Aang is accompanied on his adventure by two loyal companions. Members of the Water Tribe, brothers Sokka and Katara (Kiawentiio), aid the hero in his mission to learn how to tame the four elements and free the world from Fire Nation rule.
The actress, who is about to turn 18, has not yet had much success in her career, but has already appeared in series such as “Anne with E”. She says she has many similar characteristics to Katara, but Ousley and Cormier were chosen because they were “literally born like the characters.”
Ousley, 21, who has worked on productions such as “13 Reasons Why,” agrees.
“My voice is very similar. The shape of my head is very similar for some reason. It is very long and narrow. And I love comedy. So you don’t need much more than that.”
4 of 4 Arden Cho, Dallas Liu and Paul SunHyung Lee in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Photo: Robert Falconer/Netflix Arden Cho, Dallas Liu and Paul SunHyung Lee in a scene from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” “The Last Airbender” Photo: Robert Falconer/Netflix