A year ago, Nickelodeon announced that M. Night Shyamalan would be making three live action movies based on the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The surprising news fueled much hype among Avatar fandom but since then, the excitement has gradually died down. Recently, however, the production of the movie has been moving forward and more speculations about the film are surfacing the internet bit by bit.
According to a number of fan sites dedicated to Avatar: The Last Airbender, word on the street is that the role of Aang, the fun-loving 12-year-old and protagonist of the animated series, has already been cast and that Australian actor Jonathan Nguyen has reportedly landed the lead role.
While this hasn’t been officially announced, many forums have already posted this casting news, which has been deemed by most Avatar fans as true. Not much is known about Jonathan Nguyen except that he is 17-years-old, Australian, and that he has an upcoming drama movie called The Black Balloon, which is expected to hit Australian theaters on March 6.
Created by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a television series influenced by Asian art, mythology and fighting styles. The story centers on the adventures of Aang and his duty to restore harmony and peace to a fantasy world divided into four nations, the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads and the Fire Nations.
Avatar has won several awards and garnered Annie Award nominations for best animated television production and best writing in an animated television production. The series also has attracted an audience beyond Nickelodeon’s usual 6-11 demographic.
Fans will be pleased to know that production of the Avatar: The Last Airbender film is expected to begin this year. Meanwhile, fans can catch the television series Avatar on Nickelodeon.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV.com, mnightfans.com
(Image courtesy of TV.com)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
