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Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated series that viewers love to revisit.

The 2010 live-action film…well…the less said about it, the better.

Avatar follows the adventures of Aang, a young warrior who learns the art of element bending. The series aired on Nickelodeon from 2005-2008, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Inspired by the show’s success, M. Night Shyamalan directed a live-action film adaptation for Paramount Pictures titled The Last Airbender. The reception wasn’t good. Fans felt that the film didn’t capture the spirit of the animated series. The movie struggled at the box office, barely breaking even, and the planned sequels were soon canceled.

To this day, the film is controversial for Avatar fans…but what does the original cast think of it?

It turns out that the film’s reputation precedes it. In fact, many of the cast members have been warned not to watch the movie. During an Avatar reunion panel at Florida Supercon 2024, the voice actors were asked if they had ever seen the film. They didn’t hold back.

“I’ve actually never seen the movie. Not once. So many people told me, ‘Don’t even do it. It’s going to ruin it,’” Zach Tyler Eisen says.

“I’ve actually never seen it either,” Dante Basco admits.

Jack DeSena had seen it, but he required the assistance of alcohol. DeSena was asked how the film made him feel, and he had a simple answer… “Hungover. Because that’s what it took to watch it.”

“I am a fan of M. Night,” Basco added. He admits that he didn’t want any of his comments to bite him in the butt if he ever auditioned for the director.  

Netflix has renewed Avatar: The Last Airbender for season 2! While you wait, check out our watch order for newcomers, an exclusive Avatar reunion panel from ECCC 2024, and a couple recommendations on what to watch after the series. Heck, we've even interviewed some of the best Avatar cosplayers from across the four nations - why not check it out?