Korean-American singer Eric Nam has been cast as the voice of Aang in the upcoming animated film Aang: The Last Airbender. Paramount broke the news of his casting during its CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas. This role places Eric at the heart of a major film project. Dave Bautista, Dionne Quan, Jessica Matten, and Roman Zaragoza are also part of the cast. Dante Basco, the original voice of Zuko in the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, will also return for the movie. It’s set for release on January 20, 2026.
The announcement at CinemaCon follows a 2022 revelation by the studio that three standalone Avatar animated films are in the works, with this project being the first slated for release. Directed by Lauren Montgomery, who was involved in the original series, and co-directed by William Mata, the film promises to align closely with the creators’ vision. Creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and Eric Coleman are on board as executive producers.
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Damage control
Eric’s excitement about his new role was made clear when he reacted to the announcement on X (formerly Twitter). He shared a post about his casting and added a series of emojis. This marks a significant step in his career, which has spanned music and interviews with Hollywood’s elite. Now Eric is making a seamless transition to voice acting.
However, Eric’s casting has stirred controversy, revisiting past backlash he faced over comments related to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. In October 2023, he liked a social media post that took a neutral stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which did not sit well with many of his fans. The post suggested it was logical to oppose the Israeli government’s policies while also advocating for the protection of Jews globally. This action sparked significant discontent among his fans, particularly in Malaysia, leading to calls for a boycott of his concert in Kuala Lumpur, which was subsequently canceled without public explanation.
The controversy deepened when Eric’s brother and manager, Eddie Nam, indicated in a private Discord server that they would not respond to the backlash, which only fueled the fire. Eric later addressed the issue on his X account. He claimed his stance was “pro-human” and that the concert cancellation was due to death threats, not his political views. Critics accused him of merely performing damage control.
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Why are people against Eric voicing Avatar Aang?
In light of his new role as Aang, a pacifist and the lone survivor of the Air Nation genocide, the backlash he received has resurfaced. Some say he’s not fit to play Aang because of his perceived neutrality on a real-world genocide. Eric’s casting has been criticized as being in poor taste by those who see a disconnect between his beliefs and the values embodied by Aang.
Avatar: The Last Airbender, which aired from 2005 to 2008, was continued by The Legend of Korra from 2012 to 2014. It follows the journey of the Avatar, a being capable of mastering all four elements—air, water, earth, and fire—to bring balance to the world. The show is celebrated for its deep storytelling and complex moral themes, making the controversy around Eric’s casting a somewhat sticky situation for fans and observers alike. – K-Pop Life
Featured Image: Not everyone is glad that Eric will play Aang. Sources: X/@FireSiblings, X/@MAKOSSANCE.