Even in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender where the elements can be bent and warped, you can’t bend time. Now that the live-action reimagining of the classic Nickelodeon animated series has returned for Season 2, streaming now, you’ll meet an Aang who has grown up visibly since the first chapter debuted, as you can see in the first-look photo above — and the actor who plays him, Gordon Cormier, has evolved right along with him.
“Shooting Season 1, I was 12, so it’s really the fun memories that stick with you,” Cormier told Netflix from the set of Season 2. He even missed sporting Aang’s signature haircut — or lack thereof. “A piece of me wanted to shave my head again — I don’t know why,” he said, laughing. “I missed being bald and my castmates — both.” Along with the fun and camaraderie with the tight-knit cast, Cormier and the rest of the Gaang reunited knowing that they’d be able to finish telling the entire story. “We didn’t really know if we were getting Season 2 or Season 3,” Cormier recalled, of filming the first season. “And now having both, it’s really awesome knowing I’m going to be able to see them again for a while.”
That continuity, as well as becoming a more mature actor, has shifted Cormier’s approach, making him think more deeply about his character. “It’s definitely a lot more,” he said. “I go home, read my script, study my script, character analysis, study my script, hang out a little bit, go rock climbing, study my script, go to sleep, come to work, study my script — that kind of thing.”
The scope of the series will grow, too, as Aang and Team Avatar must navigate the complexities of the Earth Kingdom. “It’s definitely going to be a lot more action-packed and emotional,” Cormier says. “There are going to be some scenes that push the audience to tears, but also make them laugh.”
Of course, one of the most anticipated additions is Toph, a character brought to life by Miyako. “She fits right in now,” Cormier says of their dynamic. “We have a new member of the family.” As a longtime fan of the animated series, he’s excited for fans to meet Miyako on screen. “She’s playing Toph the way I pictured it,” he says. “I’m really stoked.”
Even Aang’s costume reflects the season’s evolution. His familiar robes return — but they’re rougher, patched, and lengthened, complete with a larger cape. “Honestly, that OG costume, just all extended and super worn looking, is my favorite,” Cormier says.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is streaming now.
