The NetflixAvatar: The Last Airbenderis one of the streamer’s most anticipated upcoming projects. Actor Utkarsh Ambudkar, who plays the 112-year-old King Bumi, has spoken about the arduous aging up process involved in getting him into character.
Netflix added the originalAvatar: The Last Airbenderto its oeuvre in 2020.Avatar: The Last Airbenderquickly became a hiton the service and broke records, staying in the top 10 most-watched list for longer than any other show ever had on Netflix. This led to a growing interest in the cartoon, which has been having a sort of renaissance in the limelight, which was good news for Netflix, who had ordered a live action adaptation. Production swiftly began, and filming wrapped on shooting in mid-2022.
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While at NYCC, Ambudkar spoke withComic Book Resourcesand briefly discussed the process involved when transforming into Bumi. Ambudkar explained that “it was like six hours in a chair transforming into King Bumi and I think people are really gonna be pleased when they see the series.” He further hinted that fans would see the characters muscled physique (it’s a surprise in the animated series when Bumi reveals he’s still fit enough to fight by straightening his back and shedding his cloak to reveal the muscles underneath) when he mentioned undergoing a rigorous workout routine for the role.
The role of King Bumi is a brief but pivotal one. In the animated series, he’s one of the last remaining links Aang (portrayed in the Netflix series by Gordon Cormier) has to his childhood after spending a hundred years in the iceberg. He appears sporadically throughout each book of the show, offering Aang guidance and wisdom on his journey. His advice eventually leads Aang to Toph, who becomes Aang’s Earthbending master.
Ambudkar seems like an inspired choice for King Bumi.The world ofAvataris one in which age does not matter, but in the real world, the show would be hard-pressed to find a 112-year-old actor who’s up to the task. As a man of Indian descent, Ambudkar’s casting also plays homage to the South Asian influences present in the show, which often go overlooked.
The actor also has comedic talent, which Bumi has in spades. Credited as a “mad genius,” he’s a quirky character who needs some comedic skills to get right. He also needs some gravitas; the character isalong the lines of Uncle Iroh: a wise, yet goofy man with much to teach the team. The character and portrayal is definitely one to watch out for when the series finally hits Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbenderis expected to air on Netflix sometime in 2023.
