Netflix’s ‘Avatar’ Cast Pranked Into Thinking Season 2 Was Canceled

Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender cast endured a dramatic rollercoaster of emotions earlier this year when actor Daniel Dae Kim orchestrated an elaborate prank to announce the show’s double renewal for Seasons 2 and 3.

The stars of the beloved adaptation gathered over Zoom in March 2024, weeks after the first season premiered, under the guise of a routine check-in about the show’s future.

The series had launched to impressive numbers, reaching 21.2 million views within four days on Netflix and topping the streamer’s English-language TV chart.

Yet behind the scenes, the cast was divided on whether a renewal would come. “Some people felt confident and some people were really very nervous,” one cast member recalled.

Elizabeth Yu, who plays Princess Azula, noted, “Sometimes a show could be huge and there just isn’t a place for it to get to see the story through.”

Daniel Dae Kim’s Prank Leads to Double Renewal

Daniel Dae Kim, who portrays Fire Lord Ozai, took charge of the call and delivered devastating news.

“I’m sorry if this was unexpected, but they are not able to announce a season 2 for our show,” he told the assembled cast, which included Gordon Cormier (Aang), Dallas Liu (Zuko), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Iroh), Kiawentiio, and Elizabeth Yu.

The young stars’ faces fell — though actor Ian Ousley later admitted he was skeptical.

“When Daniel was like, ‘Season 2’s not happening,’ I was like, ‘Hmm. I don’t know if I’m buying this,’” he said.

Ousley’s instincts proved correct. Moments later, Kim broke the real news: “They’re not able to announce a season 2 because they would like to announce season 2 and season 3.”

The double renewal meant the cast would film both installments back-to-back, ensuring the live-action adaptation would tell the complete story through to the end.

“We all group FaceTimed within three minutes of the Zoom finishing,” Cormier recalled.

“We all talked for like 45 minutes, all just expressing our joy to get back to it.”

Production officially resumed in September 2024, about three years after filming season 1, with the cast shooting both seasons over the course of a calendar year.

Authentic Representation for Toph Beifong

Newcomer Miya Cech, who joins the series as the blind earthbender Toph Beifong, worked closely with the production team to authentically portray the character’s blindness.

Cech wore restrictive contacts that simulated blindness on set and collaborated with Joe Strechay, the series’ blindness consultant.

“Learning how to portray a fully blind character was one of the biggest insecurities I had about this role,” Cech said.

“All of my cast mates have been super helpful, telling me where things are in relation to me.

That way I’m not going through the scene looking like I can’t see, because Toph can see in her own unique way.”

With production now underway on the final two seasons, the Avatar cast is finally able to bring the complete saga to life — no more suspense required.