Fans Cannot Get Over the Fact That Serena Williams Voiced This Character in ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’
Fans were dazzled in May 2020, when Netflix dropped the entire series of Avatar: The Last Airbender on the streaming service out of the blue. The iconic Nickelodeon series celebrated its 15th anniversary this year and though it already has a massive cult following, its presence on Netflix will surely introduce Aang, Appa, Zuko, Sokka, Katara, Fire Lord Ozai, and Toph to a whole new generation of fans.
The series, which ran from 2005 to 2008, follows avatar Aang’s 12-year journey. The Last Airbender also centered his friends and their abilities to bend elements. More than that the series themes centered around family dysfunction, coming-of-age, and going to war.
As fans dove back into Aang’s world and the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads, they’ve discovered that a legendary tennis player played a major role in the series.
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ is one of the best Nickelodeon shows of all time
Though it only ran for three seasons and for 61 episodes, Aang’s journey to master all four elements as the long-lost Avatar is still heralded as one of the best Nickelodeon series of all time, and one of the best cartoons ever. The series even earned a Peabody Award for its substance and “multidimensional characters.” It also earned an Emmy and a Kids’ Choice Award.
Children can certainly enjoy many elements of the series, but it’s just as stunning to watch if you’re an adult. The animation is one thing, but The Last Airbender’s complex themes centering around death, romance, pain, spirituality, self-determination, and family feuds make the series palatable for anyone who might want to watch.
Created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, Avatar: The Last Airbender is voiced by Mark Hamill, Mae Whitman, Dante Basco, Jason Isaacs, and Zach Tyler Eisen among others.
A live-action version of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ is coming to Netflix
Though Netflix dropped the animated series to celebrate its 15th anniversary, they also did so in preparation for the forthcoming live-action series. The series was set to begin production this year but may be delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Still, DiMartino and Konietzko have promised fans that this won’t be a whitewashed series. “We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender,” they said in a statement. “We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast.”
No casting has been announced just yet but we do know the creators are looking for a mostly Asian cast and for a boy between the ages of 12-14 of Asian ethnicity to play Aang.
Serena Williams voiced Ming on Season 3 of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’
When Netflix released the original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series on their streaming service, fans were delighted to hear tennis icon, Serena Williams’ voice.
Williams voiced Fire Nation prison guard Ming in the Season 3 two-parter The Day of Black Sun. In the episodes, Ming tries to help Zuko’s (Dante Basco) uncle Iroh (Mako) while he is under her surveillance. “Ming, the prison guard who snuck extra food in for iroh, was voiced by serena williams omfgggg,” one fan tweeted. Another added, “I know this bc I found out that Serena Williams is a huge Avatar fan……and apparently just asked if she could be in it. The power she has. Unmatched.”
Williams has tweeted about her obsession with the show in the past, so this seems like the perfect fit.
