Fil-Am actor Dave Bautista to voice villain in ‘Avatar’ animated film

Photo from ericnam/Instagram, davebautista/Instagram

After Filipino Canadian actor Gordon Cormier’s portrayal of Aang made waves in Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” another actor of Filipino descent is set to enter the Avatar world.

Stepping out of the wrestling ring, Filipino American wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista is set to bring his commanding presence to the upcoming animated adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Studios.

The news was unveiled during Paramount’s presentation at CinemaCon, and as shared by Variety, sparking excitement among fans eager to see the series come to life once more.

Dubbed “Aang: The Last Airbender,” (title subject to change) the film sees Bautista lending his voice to the film’s antagonist, alongside a diverse ensemble cast including Korean American singer Eric Nam, veteran Nickelodeon voice actress Dionne Quan, Canadian actress Jessica Matten and Mexican actor Roman Zaragoza.

Nam, known for hits like “Only For a Moment” and “I Don’t Know You Anymore,” enthusiastically shared his involvement on Instagram, hinting at his likely portrayal of Aang, the central character.

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A post shared by 에릭남 Eric Nam (@ericnam)

“I am so thrilled and honored to share that I will be stepping into the incredible role of Aang in the upcoming ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ animated film! Let’s do this. YIP YIP,” he posted.

Scheduled for release on Oct. 10, 2025, the film marks the first entry in a series of standalone “Avatar” animated films announced by the studios in June 2022.

Under the direction of Lauren Montgomery, acclaimed for her contributions to the original “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series and its sequel “The Legend of Korra,” the project benefits from the guidance of original series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who serve as executive producers alongside Eric Coleman.

Additionally, William Mata joins as co-director, ensuring the film remains faithful to the essence of the franchise.

Set in a world where individuals wield mastery over the four elements, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” chronicles the odyssey of Aang, Katara and Sokka as they confront the tyrannical Fire Kingdom, endeavoring to restore harmony to their strife-torn realm.