Netflix's Avatar The Last Airbender Show Casts Daniel Dae Kim In Villainous Role

Netflix announced way back in 2018 that it had an Avatar: The Last Airbender series in the works and began announcing casting earlier this year. Now, the show has found its big bad, Fire Lord Ozai, in actor Daniel Dae Kim, the streaming company has announced.

"I do have the power. I have all the power in the world!" the tweet reads, quoting a line from the animated series version of the character as voiced by Mark Hamill. "Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender has found its Fire Lord Ozai: Daniel Dae Kim."

"Daniel Dae Kim joins the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast as a series regular," Netflix announced in a follow-up tweet, suggesting that he'll play a bigger role in the live-action series than he did in the animated series. While Ozai ended up being Aang's final battle in the show, Ozai appeared in visions and shadows early in the series, and didn't actually make a full appearance until the show's third season. If Kim is a series regular, it seems like he'll have a bit more to do.

This is far from Kim's first adventure with Avatar, as he appeared in both the original series and the follow-up, The Legend of Korra. In the original series, he played Earth Nation soldier General Fong. In Korra, he played Hiroshi Sato, father of Asami Sato.

Netflix describes the live-action Ozai as "the ruthlessly-driven leader of the Fire Nation. He demands everyone live up to his impossible standards, especially his teenaged son, Prince Zuko. Ozai’s drive to conquer and unite the world under firebender rule is a family burden—he believes that it’s his destiny to finish a war started by his ancestors."

Previously-announced cast members include Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, and Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, the son of Fire Lord Ozai. Netflix has not yet announced a release window for Avatar: The Last Airbender.