THE LAST AIRBENDER First Images

USA TODAY has the first look images of the characters of M. Night Shyamalan‘s next movie, THE LAST AIRBENDER based on the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The image above features 12 year old Noah Ringer as Aang. Don’t underestimate the little fellow, he got this gig by sending in a DVD of him practicing Tae Kwon Do. By the way, he’s a black belt, yup! That means that sucka can kick your ass no matter how intimidating you may appear to be.
Interesting fact, all this time, he’s actually been called Aang by his friends because he also kept his head shaved and now he gets to live the character on screen.

The image below is SLUMDOG star Dev Patel as Prince Zuko, he’s also got a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Gees, is that requirement to be part of this project? Patel is as skinny as a stick but apparently he’s got a deadly kick. He started watching the animated series when filming Slumdog Millionaire in India.
Those of you who might be anticipating this live action adaptation, the teaser trailer for THE LAST AIRBENDER will be attached to TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the live-action feature film is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Air and Fire.
The Fire Nation is waging a ruthless, oppressive war against the other three nations. The film’s hero, the reluctant young Aang (Noah Ringer), is the “Last Airbender” — the Avatar who, according to prophecy, has the ability to manipulate all of the elements and bring all the nations together. Aided by a protective teenage Waterbender named Katara (Nicola Peltz) and her bull-headed brother Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world.
Jackson Rathbone plays Katara’s brother Sokka, and Dev Patel plays Prince Zuko, prince of the Fire Nation. Mandvi is set to play the role of Commander Zhao, an ambitious and hot-tempered Fire Nation commander. Toub is cast as Uncle Iroh, the retired Fire Nation general and devoted surrogate parent to Dev Patel’s character Zuko. Curtis is set to play the ruthless ruler Fire Lord Ozai. Keong Sim has been cast in the role of Earthbending Father.

THE LAST AIRBENDER opens July 2nd, 2010