Netflix has announced its first recast for the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Adam Beach will replace Joel Montgrand as the Southern Water Tribe’s Chieftain, Hakoda, and the father of Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio). The actor will make his Avatar debut in Season 3, which is currently in production.
Before Netflix‘s Avatar series was released, Beach was a fan-favorite choice for playing Hakoda. Aside from his work on Law & Order, Beach is known for his roles in Cowboys & Aliens, Windtalkers, and Flags of Our Fathers. He began his acting career in 1990 and quickly made an impression, earning three “Best Actor” awards across major festivals, including the 1995 American Indian Film Festival, First Americans in the Arts Awards, and the 1998 San Diego World Film Festival. In 2009, his performance in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.
Recently, Netflix added new cast members for Season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender. They include Madison Hu (Bizaardvark) as Fei, Dichen Lachman (Severance) as Yangchen, Dolly De Leon (Jackpot!) as Lo and Li, Lily Gao (Twisted Metal) as Ursa, Terry Cehn (House of Cards) as Jeong Jeong, Jon Jon Briones (American Horror Story) as Piandao, and Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon) as Hama. Season 3 has entered production, and a release date has yet to be revealed.
Who Is Hakoda in ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender?’
In the original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series, Hakoda is the father of Sokka and Katara and the leader of the Southern Water Tribe. During the 100-year war, he leaves his family to lead a group of warriors against the Fire Nation. For a while, many presumed he was dead, but Hakoda reunites with Team Avatar near the end of Book Two: Earth and is featured prominently throughout Book Three: Fire. He joins Team Avatar and their allies during the Day of Black Sun, is captured and imprisoned at the Boiling Rock prison, and eventually reunites with his children following the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai.
In Netflix‘s live-action adaptation, Hakoda appears briefly in a flashback during Sokka’s ice dodging trial. After the ceremony, Sokka overhears a conversation in which Hakoda expresses concern about his son’s readiness to become a warrior. He has yet to reunite with his children in the Netflix series.
While Seasons 2 and 3 have yet to announce their release dates, You can now stream Season 1 of the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
via Collider