Uuuuh, I just hope it turns out good. :D

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't think these are bad casting choices. I know of roles some of these people have done (Jackson and Jesse) and they are not what most people assume on the surface. Jesse has done some hardcore acting lately - he played a really evil guy quite successfully on TV just a couple of weeks ago. Also, Jackson is not just Jasper, he has done other roles, fun and silly roles. I believe we need to give them a chance to show us what they can do.

As far as the MNS bashing goes.. so what if his last few movies were not amazing? How would you feel if everyone gave up on you simply because you were not up to your best the last couple of times? Wouldn't you want another chance?

The movie might just tank, but it is also just as likely that it will not. I know the trend is to be against things, but I'll go against the trend and I am supporting this. I am a rabid fan of Avatar, and I feel good about this. I might be the only one like that, but it's how I will stand.

You know what makes me the most upset? The water tribe is a tribe of color, and they're casting Caucasians for the role. I know the other nations are clearly Asian, but I can kinda let that one slip. As for MNS, I dunno. He seems pretty dedicated to the series, his kids are MAJOR fans, so I'm sure they'll cut in if he allows them on set. Also, Jesse is in talks. A part of me seriously doubt he'll get the role, but hey. He did VA for Roxas in KH, and Roxas definitely brought the angst on, so he might not slaughter Zuko.

I'm still hopeful!

Holy crap! My friend told me about this awhile back, but I thought he was joking! No!!!! *joins in the sobbing* poor, poor Avatar *sniff*

@cougarsama:

Every movie of MNS's that wasn't The Sixth Sense bombed.

Is a live-action Avatar even really necessary? The animated series did more than satisfy my needs in every way (great story, amazing animation, dynamic fight scenes, etc). That and animation is where you can make up things that wouldn't be possible in real life and no one would care.

Well, I suppose that just me... I'm usually never a fan of live-action series that are based cartoons. Seeing what's possible in animated form is better than a CGI-generated effect with real people added.

Wait, I take that back... I enjoyed the live-action Nodame Cantabile (only because it was slightly better than the anime). But I think that it's also a slice-of-life title with no crazy special effects.

I guess we'll just have to wait until to see where this goes...

Allow me to join the crying fans.... this will ruin everything that Avatar stands for, at least for me. Awful that they're making a movie with actors instead of good ol' fashion animation...

I'd like to echo the comment I just made over on EW and remind people, as SomeGuy has, that making a call on the overall quality of this project so early in the game is foolish and unnecessary. 3, maybe 4 casting calls can't possibly decide the fate of these films when it's simply names, not clips or trailers, that we've received. Thousands of people will have a part in this project and claiming that having "non-Asians" or "McCartney" or whatever will destroy it is disrespectful and naive. Actors mature. People progress and adapt under demanding circumstances, and anyone that thinks these films won't have an impact on those filling the roles and their acting development is in for a big surprise.

I've never been one to condemn a film before I watch it, and I don't intend to ever become such a person. I believe I get more enjoyment out of films because of this. Stop fretting about that which we cannot control. Actually, since internet buzz is just about the only thing that we fans can do to impact a project, how about throwing out feasible options for making this casting work. Ideas like "I hope these peeps are ready for some martial arts training" or "Hm, maybe tanning would be a good idea" or pretty much anything other than "this will be the suckzorz" etc.

And do remember that Avatar is a fictional world filled with fictional cultures and peoples. How these are brought to life on the big screen is up to the creators' and Shyamalan's interpretation. I will wait before jumping to any conclusions about the merits of this part of the cast.

I will ignore the fracture in my heart that appeared along with the words, "Jesse McCartney."

*sob*

But I'll save the real judgment 'til after the movie comes out.

@red tigress:

I'm pretty sure MNS would be clever enough to not be retarded enough to mess up the style differences and whatnot. It would be kinda important, yeah.

And I think that I'm just gonna start ignoring the parts where people go cry about the guy that HASN'T been cast in the movie. It's not gonna stop any time soon.

Ok, I've never heard of any of these people until today. I was just making my comments based off of M. Night Shymalan's recent bad track record, and the usually shitty versions of anime and cartoons being adapted into live action full-length movies, most notably Dragonball Z. I will reserve the rest of my judgments until I see pictures and a trailer. I AM pleased with the Aang casting to be a karate prodigy. I just hope MNS sticks to the style of the different benders, because I always that that was some of the most intriguing parts of the show.

noooo!!!
Jesse'll RUIN zuko's wonderful character!!! AGH! And... Jackson as Sokka?! WHAT THE HELL, MAN? *face ~> palm*
o well... can't help it, but i refuse to see it in theatres... >.< i may rent it, but i'll critique it harshly... mleh.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2006/01/28/watanabe_defends_casting_in_geisha/

Been there. And this isn't even about an actual Asian world this time around, either.

Is Jesse McCartney, who's trying but has yet to nail the role, a bad choice? Possibly, probably. Likely that the movie news could get worse and worse as it comes along? Also possible. Does it mean it has to be? Let's not get ahead of ourselves now.

I mean, who remembers how upset everyone got when they announced Heath Ledger as The Joker? Just sayin', it's not always game over. At least wait 'til the leaked set stills before you go hang yourselves.

Last thing on looks: Uzumaki Naruto is blonde-haired and blue-eyed.

And the raping of fandom continues.