Eagarly waiting for this.

Jesse McCartney as Zuko? Yeah, I ain't watching this.

jesse mcartney isnt zuko, the main actor from the movie slumdog millionair is.

Last time (and first) I checked, which was 2 seconds ago on Wikipedia, the show wasn't even set on Earth so it didn't have Asians. Just because the show was influenced by Asian culture doesn't automatically make all the characters resemble inhabitants of certain areas of our planet. Don't get me wrong, there'd be absolutely nothing wrong with the characters being Asian, but you're complaining about them doing something they're not. Besides, the animated characters don't even look Asian.

But clearly Sokka and Katara were darker than white people earth....at all. Not that it matter to me, i'm just mad at the choice for zuko. I was hoping Dante Basco, the guy who did his voice, might get to play him :(

Same here, dude's hawt AND knows how the character's played

yer, especially katara being played by someone so pale, in the show it is obvious of there tanned skin - which makes them part of the water tribe.
it honestly looks like the actors playing sokka and katara are the pale-est people there !?!

Everyone here needs to get over the race topic. It doesn't matter what race they are. What matters is their acting abilites. I agree that I would have really liked Dante Basco to play zuko but he obviously wasn't chosen to play the part.

P.S. An example of acting skills coming before race is the movie Much Ado About Nothing. It has Denzel Washington playing a part that is meant for a white man but he got the part even though it made the movie a little awkward considering that he is supposed to be the brother of Keanu Reeves (who is obviously white). So as you can see Denzel was a better actor and got the part because of his skill even though he didn't really fit the part.

It's convenient to say that it's all about talent and not about looks, when almost always, and certainly for at least three of these for-certain white actors, that the talent just happens to only pop up in white people. If it's all about acting ability and not about looks, then that's saying that they could only find acting ability in white people, and not in the 4 million Native American/Alaskan Native population, nor in the 14.2 million Asian American population. It simply does not compute.

You are seriously kidding me right? As an Asian American this is like the most insulting crap Hollywood keep dumping on us. If it is not some ugly stereotype to make some white guy look good in movies, it is changing all the characters to white or whitewash all the Asian characters. These characters are Asian and they should be played by Asian Americans. Same for DragonZ ball. The movie 21 was an ASIAN AMERICAN story yet the main characters magically became white. You must be super naive to think it has anything to do with talent. There are a zillion talented Asian actors in Asia yet Hollywood has no problem importing actors from UK and Australia. The concept of only talented people getting work is a total joke. Hollywood is run by bunch of racist white guys whose only mission in life is to make white men the "man". Get a clue people. When you support movies like this, you are saying racism is ok in America or movies are ok as long as white people get all the leading roles. This despite the fact America is 1/3 people of color.

You do realize that not hiring someone for a job just because they don't fit the "correct" physical features, even though they do have the abilites that are required, is actually racist. I just felt that you should know this.

Oh yes, assuredly. That also means I expect the next Batman film to remove Christian Bale and replace him with Wanda Sykes. Otherwise that would be racist AND sexist. And homophobic.

(It's actually much more racist to pretend that 1/3 of Americans aren't actually here, just because they aren't white. Please don't try to tell me that whites are underrepresented and stereotyped VICTIMS in Hollywood, I will just laugh at you.)

Seriously Rahne? Don't be naive. I am an actor - you're an idiot if you think they don't cast based on physical features. That's what gets you in the door - you have to fit their vision before you can prove your acting skills. I suppose you think Driving MIss Daisy could have starred two white people too. I guess Morgan Freeman was just so good they decied to put him in instead. idiot.

Do you realize that most casting calls in Hollywood are limited to "white people"? Hollywood practices what you call racism every single day. Do you honestly think they would have cast black or asian kids as the main characters in Narnia, had these kids had the ability?

Of course not, and there would have been an outcry if they had, people would say it was political correctness gone mad.
And they didn't look for non white kids anyway.

Most casting calls specify they are looking for white people. They usually look at minority actors only when there is a token minority role.

There never would be a black Superman or asian Indy Jones.

Minority actors getting roles intended for white people is the minority, not the ule.

I totally agree with you, but I just wanted to add about 21 that in the real story, not all the students were Asian Americans. There were also Middle-Easterners. They choose non-white kids because in casinos white kids with $100,000 stand out. But when it's Asian or dark skinned kids, people think they're the children of rich business executives or of oil magnates.

They successfully took advantage of ethnic and racial stereotyping.

I haven't seen that movie, but there is such a thing as adoption or mixed marriages. There are families where the kids are of so called"different races". Barack Obama's half sister is half Indonesian. I don't see how it is awkyard, it's more revelating of your own prejudices than anything. BTW, Keanu Reeves is not "full white", he is part Hawaiian and Chinese.

And the race topic... I hope you know race has no biological basis, otherwise you have no business telling people to get over it.

he is way too freaking old to play zuko. true it would be cool but he is too old. don't you guys recognize him from the movie "Hook"? if he was that age it wouldn't be a problem. unless you can turn back time he wouldn't work by today's standards.

The characters don't look asian? What? Did they not use the right shade of yellow? Are their eyes not slanted enough for you? So you are saying that they don't look asian but they are dressed in asian clothing? How many bald headed white monks do you know? The names Aang and Zuko sound European to you? Asian characters in a world built from Asian cultures should be played by Asian actors and actresses.

I'm sorry JakePT, but you are incorrect. Avatar is in fact set on Earth. There's the North and South poles on which the Northern and Southern Water Tribes live. The planet that the show takes place on is Earth, but different. Its a fantasy version of our home planet. And because the show was influenced by Asian culture, it DOES mean that the characters are Asian. They read and write in Chinese for goodness sake! Go back and watch a few episodes and you'll see! I'll bet that if the show's main language was Chinese instead of English, then you would feel differently about them possibly being White, English-speaking Americans. I'm sure the show was done in English because its easier to get an audience, rather than having it all in subtitles.

If this show wasn't meant to represent Asian and Inuit peoples and their cultures, then I don't know what is!

There are all sorts of different Asian races involved in the series, such as: Chinese, Japanese, Inuit, and Mongolian. Inuit (Alaskan or Indian) people are in facts Asians, who settled in colder climates. All of these people's skin colors differ too, from dark brown to pale white.

I'll even go so far to say that the Fire Nation act like the Japanese (I mean no offense when I say this) because the more traditional Japanese people are very hardcore when it comes to maintaining their honor (like Zuko doing anything to get his honor back). I personally know people like this today.

Aang's people - Air Nomads- reside in Temples in different areas of the globe. They are Buddhist, and their Bending forms are based off of Shaolin Kung Fu as well as other Chinese martial arts. So, I'd say the Air Nation is mostly like China.

Check out these people, who look exactly like the Air Nomads:
http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_kenneth/...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Kero-Kero/...

You mean to tell me that the characters from Avatar are not supposed to be actual depictions of real people from our planet? So that's like saying, Neo (from the Matrix) is not a male, Caucasian human from planet Earth? Even though the Matrix trilogy is based off of a fantasy/futuristic version of our planet? Or perhaps, the characters from The Incredibles are not supposed to be the ethnicity that they appear to be?

The makers of this Avatar movie need to put more effort into finding the right people to play the parts. Besides, there are PLENTY of Asians located in California (which is exactly where the head producers for the film, live as well as where Paramount Pictures reside). And I know, because I live in California.

I've said my peace.

I agree with this comment. I've been watching Avatar since the beginning and I am greatly looking forward to the movie. The only main characters in the show who actually look Asian are Zuko and Iroh (and the others of the fire nation), so I do not think I agree with the casting there but will wait to judge once I see the movie. However, everyone is putting up such a fit over the choice for Sokka and Katara and I think that is ridiculous. Does anyone actually watch the show? Because last time I checked, Katara and Sokka HAVE BLUE EYES!! Do a lot of Asians have blue eyes? I hadn't noticed. And Eskimos live in the North Pole, and they are just slightly different from Asians! So I guess if M. wanted to be accurate he could have tracked down some blue eyed Inuits (Eskimos.) I'm all for diversity, but it would be more ridiculous if the leads were all Asian. Though, I would have thought he'd choose an Asian to play Zuko.

You an "IDIOT". What is wrong with you. It doesn't matter where the show to place on whether it be earth or the moon. Clearly they are not "WHITE" and that is what I do know. This movie will be a joke if the cast is all white. It will be like when keanu reeves played the buddah or white folks used to play indians. there are to many actors in "THIS WORLD" not to be able to find people that can realistically be seen as the characters they are portraying. OMG this movie could be great but not if the cast is right...

are u kidding me u know it ment to be asian people u cant tell me they could not even cast a asian person at all plus this bullshit that its not set on earth whats that got to do with it so because its not set on earth the whole cast is going to be white allow that dragonball movie concept idea they should of find some asian people to play the leads that will boost asian actors in hollywood. hollywood dont give a shit about people outside the white race. JakePT just imagine they did The Boondocks live action movie and cast the whole actors as white or Afro Samurai be played as a white person this is a sad day for "Up And Coming Asian Actors"

Well, technically, the characters dont' ALL have to be Asian. The fire nation (Chinese)and earth nations (earth nation might be Mongolian or Central American) are better off being Asian Characters. The Air nation should be white people or tibetians while the Water nation should be some people of Inuit decent.

umm ok... lol, correct me if im wrong, but this whole thing is kind of hypocritical. I mean, your complaining about how the cast is all "white" and that you want them to be all asian. Thats kind of racist dude. Though i dont like the idea of jesse mccartney playing zuko, just because white actors are playing what is meant to be "asian" characters, dosnt mean that its gonna suck. Give it a chance, the whole world isnt against you coz your black.

no i dont want them to be all asian but have the lead as a asian and the other could be played by latinos or something else instead of all white u dont understand thoughtout history of film white characters been some type of hero all the time make they this cast more open to different culture of race not just only white people

also check this out Danny Glover was going to do a film about Haiti but the studio boss did not go with it cause their is no white heroes in the film aint that fucked up the film industry only want white as the lead cause to show everyone white people are always heroes and every other race will never be heroes look at Dragonball and Price of Persia film that will be coming soon the lead is white

the only best ethinc film right now is Harold and Kumar that film shows shows to asian actors having crazy adventure plus the film had white people, black people, latino people etc

no i dont want them to be all asian but have the lead as a asian and the other could be played by latinos or something else instead of all white u dont understand thoughtout history of film white characters been some type of hero all the time make they this cast more open to different culture of race not just only white people

also check this out Danny Glover was going to do a film about Haiti but the studio boss did not go with it cause their is no white heroes in the film aint that fucked up the film industry only want white as the lead cause to show everyone white people are always heroes and every other race will never be heroes look at Dragonball and Price of Persia film that will be coming soon the lead is white

the only best ethinc film right now is Harold and Kumar that film shows shows to asian actors having crazy adventure plus the film had white people, black people, latino people etc

No it is not racist... racist is sitting back and watching another race-wash happen. Please do not feed me this crap that the chracters are not suppose to be asian... it is obvious and if you don't see it then you are willfully ignorant. Even the producers said it was ASIAN influence. So basically hollywood is saying "hey asian people we like all your culture but your not good enough to star. So... we are just gonna take that part but you can keep the rest. Thanks!" AND THAT IS RACISM!!! So... if you want to keep this film from becoming another EArthsea (look it up) then help us fight at
http://aang-aint-white.livejournal.com/646.html

Actually Jesse McCartney is 1:1 with Zuko in the face. If you take off the hair and that smile and put some anger in the eyes you'll see why they choose him. Nicola Peltz is also very much alike with the animated character.
I haven't seen Twilight yet, so I can't say for sure anything about Jackson Rathbone.

As for Noah Ringer, I hope he will be able to fill the main spot.

Good cast. Let's hope they don't ruin the script...

If he wants to take white actors and actresses for the roles,at least train Noah Ringer in Baguazhang,NOT KARATE.

your an idiot baguazhang IS karate.

Baguazhang is Chinese martial arts. Karate is Japanese martial arts. Wanna try that again?

who is the idiot here? bakua is nothing like karate

are you stupid Ba Gua Zhang is nothing like Karate

Um.... Jesse McCartney as Zuko........ i can't see him as the dark brooding type which he basically is for a large part of the series.... as for the rest of it i hope it works out.... becuase it is going to just piss me off if they mess it up.

This should be called The Last Airbender 90210.

Well, I was interested! I love the cartoon, but I will pass on this! What a shame!

I don't see the big deal in the actor choices, here is my reasoning...... The Last Airbender was targeted for American audiences. Even the animated characters even though they are meant to be decidely Asian are not drawn that way. I am a big fan of The Last Airbender and I can safely say that it doesnt matter to me the characters are not Asian. I am more interested in the budget and script, I was kinda scratchin my head over Jesse McCartney but this could be a pivotal role for the young lad, something that could change his career if done well. Remember, Zuko starts off very bad and throughout his trials and carefull mentoring by his loving Uncle becomes righteous. It really is the best role of the movie besides Ang of course.

Targeted for Americans = all-white cast?

Nice of you to not even pretend.

Not drawn that way? Okay, even ignoring the characters in the show who were drawn as "distinctly Asian" according to your average white American (i.e. slanted eyes, straight black hair, tan to "yellow" skin, distinctly Asian styles of facial hair on the adults, etc.), there's a reason why, for example, Aang's race seems "ambiguous" when you strip away all the obviously Tibetan and Asian traits about his wardrobe, fighting style, cultural traditions, shaved head, etc.

It's because Japanese anime, the art style that the creators of ATLA were mimicking, does not rely on cultural markers such as the stereotypically slanted eyes to show Asian ethnicity, because when Japanese audiences see them, they immediately assume the characters are Japanese until proven otherwise, just as white audiences, including certain Avatar fans, immediately, and in this case, wrongly assume the characters are white until proven otherwise. Not relying on racial markers in Japanese anime allows for a broader range of expression and physical appearances for the characters. This is the art style Mike and Bryan wanted to mimic.

And taking away that bit of animation/manga history, you still have the fact that many, MANY Asian people DO have big/rounded eyes, a broad variety of black and brown hair color, and a broad variety of skin tones, heights, and other physical features. Just. Like. In. Avatar.

You do realize 100 M (1/3) of Americas are not white? Why is white people playing lead roles in like 95% of the movies while minorities are always sidekicks? For Asian Americans, they are always portrayed in some kind of negative stereotype white white characters always the leading roles? It happens again and again. Even when story is based on actual real life Asian American stories like movie 21, characters all become white.

Bottom line is entertainment should reflect the total population, not just part of it. If you care about equality in America, don't support this movie.

Please read this article, you will understand why it makes no sense to say these characters don't look Asians: http://matt-thorn.com/mangagaku/faceoftheother.ht...

You are reacting from the perspective of someone who lives in America where white is the default. Even in cartoons and comics, non white characters must be "racially" marked so that they can be identified as being non white by the audience.

This show, targeted to American audiences, has characters with a variety of shades and ethnic looks, and some definitely look Asian. While I'm not overly concerned with having actors that perfectly match the skin tone/apparent ethnicity of the characters, I do feel that it's a shame that all of the experienced actors chosen for this project basically look the same in their lily-whiteness. I can't comment on their acting abilities, and I hope they do a great job. However, I can think of so many good actors who could've done these parts justice and also more closely resemble the actual multi-toned appearance of the characters...

Who the hell is "Photo Unavailable"?

Noah Ringer.

No doubt shyamalan's first choice for zuko was joaquin phoenix.

Are you kidding? M. Night, why wouldnt you use the voice actors from the show?? Mae Whitman as Katara (george michaels gf in arrested development!) and freaking DANTE BASCO as zuko. anyone remember Rufio from Hook? Dude was born for this role (and he does the voice). ugh, night, just ugh.

Ehh, it might not be M. Night's fault. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt and say there are many other factors that could have led to them not being casted. They didn't want to, not enough martial arts experience (well these people sans Noah Ringer all null that case), didn't have the time, money, etc.

ya totally I mean seriously this cast needs an upgrade

I guess Asian-American actors don't exist.

Who said they don't exist?You are very,SICK.