While we haven’t gotten any official updates on the show, we know that Netflix is teaming up with Avatar creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino for another stab at a live-action adaptation. What’s interesting is, Star Wars actor John Boyega is interested in getting involved.
Boyega had shared a video related to M. Night Shymalan’s The Last Airbender, and when original series director Giancarlo Volpe commented on the post, Boyega followed it up with:
When you lot are ready to have the benders in Africa explored let me know! https://t.co/mUPx0JwWIs pic.twitter.com/zOVuHCRYjv
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) July 19, 2020
With the show being influenced mainly by Asian culture, I think it’s fair to say that there aren’t any races in the show equivalent to black (or white) race in the real-world. If anything the world is condensed into 4 nations only, with each nation heavily borrowing from existing Asian culture; Japan/Korea (Fire Nation), China (Earth Kingdom), and Tibet (Air Nation); the only culture that isn’t Asian-inspired is the Water Tribe as they are based on the Inuit.
Then again, I’m sure there is some room for creative liberties. After all, it wouldn’t be a good adaptation if it just followed the series beat for beat. Though I can’t imagine Boyega being a series regular, I think he can play several potential guest roles, like one of the Sandbenders in Book 2 or a Sun Warrior in Book 3. As far as Book 1 goes, I think Boyega would be a good choice to play Jet. I mean, he’s ‘rebel scum’ after all.
No release date has been set for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, but you can check out the original animated show now.
