Live-action Last Airbender star talks pressures of playing Prince Zuko

Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on Nickelodeon way back in 2005, and remains a beloved series to this day. Now, Netflix is turning remaking this animated show as a live-action epic, which comes with a lot of responsibility. Fortunately, the stars of the show grasp the weight of what they’re taking on.

In fact, Dallas Liu, who will play Prince Zuko in the upcoming series, recently talked about the “pressure” of bringing such an iconic, well-loved character to life. Speaking to ComicBook.com, he sounded serious about the challenge:

"I mean, because it is such a beloved show I feel like there is some pressure to do a great job and not that I’m doubting anyone or the project at all, but this is the biggest project and the biggest role that I’ve been able to take part in now, especially leading with a character like Zuko, who’s so complex and one of, if not the favorite, one of the favorites of the show with his fire bending and his history."

Liu is a big Zuko fan himself, so he feels a responsibility to do right by the fans and his own interpretation of the character. “So, I mean, I’m just as much of a fan of Zuko as everyone else is. So I mean, obviously I’m excited because this is like a dream, but at the same time, it gets a little nerve-wracking.”

Fans can prep for the live-action Last Airbender show with new boxset

While the actors working on the live-action Last Airbender series are preparing to start filming, fans can get ready by checking out the new Blu-ray boxset for the original show. Available for pre-order on Amazon, the collector’s bundle contains all seasons of both Avatar: The Last Airbender and its spinoff series The Legend of Korra. There are also more than 80 minutes of bonus materials, a fun addition for dedicated fans.

As for when those fans will actually get to watch the remake, it’s anybody’s guess. With production ramping up, it’s possible we could see Liu’s interpretation of Zuko in late 2022, or perhaps early 2023. And if the live-action remake doesn’t do it for you, Avatar Studios is making a variety of Last Airbender animated shows and movies. It’s a good time to be in this fandom.

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