We’ve received word from Paramount confirming that young 10-year-old Korean-American actor Isaac Jin Solstein has been cast as ‘Earthbending Boy’ in The Last Airbender.
Isaac’s father, Eric Solstein, described the young boy’s role as being “pretty high up on the cast list.” When asked about the official title of the role, ‘Earthbending Boy,’ he thinks “most fans will be able to guess what character from the original cartoon that might represent.”
We’ve also learned from Mr. Solstein that young Isaac is a practiced martial artist, holding black belts in both Tang Soo Do, and in his current art, Soo Bahk Do. Isaac was also a US National Champion last year among nine and ten-year-olds, and will be testing for his E Dan (second degree black belt) this autumn.
While The Last Airbender will be Isaac’s first role in a feature film, he does have previous acting experience in theater, holding roles as Tam in “Miss Saigon” and Prince Chulalongkorn in “The King and I.”
See Isaac Jin Solstein in action on his YouTube Channel!
Tags: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Haru
June 9, 2009 at 7:35 pm |
….What? I thought that next to “The Great Divide” that “Imprisoning” would be the first to go. It has pretty much no impact on the overall plot (sure he show’s up for the “invasion” but his role is very, very small. Plus Haru is like in his late teens, not younger than Aang
June 9, 2009 at 7:58 pm |
I agree, cxcd. I was almost positive he would go. *thinks through episodes with earthbending young men* Hmmm…. Just looked through the list of B1 eps and the only one with a major character as a young earthbending male is Haru. I’m kinda dissappointed about that, since he’s so insignificant to the story. This gives Jet an even better chance of getting in.
June 9, 2009 at 8:00 pm |
I think he’s going to be the young bumi
June 10, 2009 at 5:00 am |
Bumi is still fairly irrelevant to the overall story. Maybe give him a cameo appearance in the 3rd film, but nothing more. Its fairly obvious in the first movie what should be included:
Boy in the Iceberg
The Avatar Returns
Southern Air Temple
Warriors of Kyoshi
Avatar Roku
Flashbacks from “The Storm” (likely intermingled with the events of the Southern Air Temple)
The Blue Spirit
The Waterbending Master
Siege of the North
We know that the Blue Spirit is in it since Jesse McCartney was being trained to use the duel swords, and Suki’s in the cast where we know thats there as well.
June 10, 2009 at 11:58 pm
“Bumi is still fairly irrelevant to the overall story”
Erm … I beg to differ on that. Bumi is the one who tells Aang how to find his earth bending teacher, Toph, in the second season. But you never know, the writer might give that role to somebody else, but that kind of screws over the second season/movie, because if Bumi doesn’t show up at all then what business would the Gaang have in Omashu after its capture (when they’re trying to find Aang an earthbending teacher), which really introduces the characters of Mai, Ty Lee and further developes Azula.
I’m sure there are ways to rearrange the plot to make that work so its condensed, but I think that people might baulk at so much cutting of the plot — there are ways to retain some of the plot but shorten it so this movie is a gazillion hours long.
My theory is that the Gaang lands up going to Omashu, Aang has a little flashback of Bumi maybe, and they land up staying the night and Aang lands up getting visited by Roku, and the sneak “Winter Solistice” in that way.
And in just to really solidify my point that I think it’s Bumi, not haru I say simply that Haru’s role can EASILY be written out, much more easily than Bumi’s. The whole episode with Haru in season 1 is really of no plot signifigance, except for building Katara’s character, but there’s plenty of other opportunities for her to do that, and the episode he shows up for the Invasion, he, again, doesn’t really provide all that much. He say like, what, one or two lines, maybe?
June 9, 2009 at 8:34 pm |
he is obviously relationed with the “earthbending father” and it seems it refers to Haru and his father, but the age not match, another option is tha he is young bumi, but I think that his role is not very important and he is just an extra like “policeman #3″
June 9, 2009 at 8:40 pm |
Unless he’s.. Teo? Maybe? Possibly?
I REALLY hope that’s not Haru, though. D:
And about this kid’s dad saying how it’s a role that’s “pretty high up”… well, he could just be exaggerating, as parents often do.
June 9, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
or is a young Haru in a flashback
June 9, 2009 at 10:44 pm |
So high up he doesn’t warrant a name other then ‘earth bending boy’? Considering the time table these people seem to be working on and the designs I’ve seen, I’m not seeing myself being terribly impressed by this film.
We get changing of obviously non white characters for white, changing of martial arts styles for the bending, a total redesign rather then an adaption of the world look and casting that seems to be not fully finished. And considering as of a month before filming the casting department stated that they didn’t know what the final world would look like, it seems like this film has been delegated studio committee schlock.
June 9, 2009 at 10:56 pm |
I find it hilarious that they’re hiring mainly martial arts adept Asians for all the side character roles. Not trying to bring the whole “OMG RACE!FAIL” thing here, just saying is all.
I find this guy way too young to be Haru. He’s like 12 while Haru is around 15-16 I’d say. Also, I thought Haru would be HISPANIC? Again, not trying to bring up the whole race thing but the name itself kinda gives it away.
Ah well. I guess I’ll never figure out this movie until perhaps the trailer comes out. *shrug*
June 9, 2009 at 11:08 pm |
I thought the name Haru was Japanese not hispanic. Which hispanic culture does it stem from?
June 9, 2009 at 11:30 pm |
@Charles Carver: I knew a Hispanic woman named Haru at my former workplace, that’s what I based my thoughts off of. But yea, you’re right. I looked it up and it means “sunshine” in Japanese. Perhaps it’s not exclusive to just one culture.
June 9, 2009 at 11:30 pm |
Haru IS Japanese. It means ‘Spring’.
June 9, 2009 at 11:31 pm |
Cute. Awesome,but he looks a bit too young. And he may need to be a little tanned. hehe.
June 9, 2009 at 11:32 pm |
Hey Charles Carver,are you the admin of this site. Do you think we can talk: keishakatara@gmail.com. If you are the admin,please email me,ill reply.
June 9, 2009 at 11:38 pm |
Yes, but I always thought Haru would be Hispanic IRL. I don’t know about you but auburn hair, tan skin, and green eyes don’t necessarily scream ‘Japanese’ to me. Just like this kid doesn’t necessarily scream ‘Haru’ to me.
Ah well, we’ll just have to wait for a full updated cast list to find out who he is. He’s super cute though. <3
June 9, 2009 at 11:43 pm |
It’s not unusual. I have an adopted Korean cousin who has blue eyes.
Many Japanese have tan skin and reddish brown hair. just depends on where in Japan someone is from. The fact that so many people think that Chinese and Japanese are so…identical as far as skin tone and hair/eye color is rather startling. They’re just as diverse as westerners.
Look at the adults in Avatar and they all have very Asian features. The kids have wider eyes for ease of animation and the fact that in anime (which the creators were heavily influenced by) wider eyes indicate innocence (note, Zuko does not have wide eyes, indicating a more cynical look on life)
June 10, 2009 at 4:48 am
I know it’s not unusual. I’m an Indian with light skin and blue eyes. It’s just that people always have stereotypical views. It’s a natural part of being human. For example, everyone thinks that Indians have dark skin and dark eyes. I admit MOST of us do but not all(just look at me!).
But anyways, this kid just doesn’t look like Haru at all so I don’t know what you’re trying to prove saying Asians can look different too. I KNOW that. I’m just saying that MOST Asians don’t look like Haru and this kid doesn’t fit Haru’s character. :/
Oh, and I don’t really agree on the innocence thing. Eye size primarily indicates age IMO. Azula has slightly larger eyes than Zuko yet she has a much more cynical outlook on life than he has. Shouldn’t hers be narrower in that regard?
June 14, 2009 at 7:12 am |
Most Asians don’t look like Haru? I think your image of an Asian has creamy white skin and black hair, right.. but what about Southeast Asians who have darker skin because of the warmer climates? Asians have a variety of looks.
June 10, 2009 at 12:08 am |
Well I know nothing about animation styles or the genetic traits of Asians. I was just confused about the name.
Good to hear I was right this time, it happens so rarely!
And as for looks, I figure it’s a cartoon, they’ll do what they want and this far into shooting isn’t going to change a thing.
Thanks for the comments though everyone.
June 10, 2009 at 1:41 am |
Just a note: something I keep seeing on these sites as they refer to the characters ethnicities and physical traits. Asains are just as diverse as anyone else in both complexion, hair color, and even eye color. I’m African American and it boggles my mind that people seem to think that in order for you to be Black you have to have Black or Brown skin, Kinky Black Hair, and Black or Dark Brown eyes. In respect to eye color on the show, keep in mind the world of the Avatar is Fantasy. There are four nations Air, Water, Earth, and Fire, and all of the kids Aang, Sokka and Katara, Toph, and Zuko all have eye color that represents the nation they are apart of.
Aang = Air nomads = Grey eyes
Sokka/ Katara = Water tribe = Blue eyes
Toph = Earth bender = Green eyes
Zuko/ Azula = Fire Nation = Reddish, Brown eyes
Remeber it is an ASAIN FANTASY world. Just because the characters eyes are blue, green, grey, or red and they have complexions from vey pale to very dark does not mean that they are not or cannot still be Asain … Not that any of this matters now, but I figured I’d put it out there for those who hadn’t realized.
June 10, 2009 at 1:59 am |
Thank you! I’m white (with some Scandinavian blood, so I’m plenty pale) and I’ve met a number of people of Asian ancestry who are lighter skinned than I am.
June 10, 2009 at 2:31 am |
Amen! I’m always shocked how often that little fact gets convieniently overlooked in these debates (when we’re actually allowed to have them. most Avatar forums seemed to have locked down any discussion that is counter to the film). That and the fact that the adults have distinctly Asian features. All of them. Aside from the Guru who is obviously based off of an Indian guru.
June 10, 2009 at 4:30 am |
*facepalm*
Ugh, you guys don’t have to bring up the race issue and start a whole DEBATE just because of something I said. I wasn’t trying to start anything. And I never said Haru was Hispanic. I said I thought he LOOKED Hispanic. Can’t I say my opinion without getting attacked on it for once? Jesus. Some people.
June 10, 2009 at 6:32 am
No, you can’t, because god knows everything has to be perfect. *sarcasm*
June 13, 2009 at 7:12 pm
And if you read my comment, neither was I. I was making a statement based on comments I’ve read that justify the casting of Caucasain kids as based solely on eye color – which in the world of this show makes no sense. I was pointing out the fact that the kids in show have eye color based on their nations, not their race. Essentially they are all the same race, Human. Ethnically they are similar, various types of Asain, but culturally they differ. Side note: That’s is the beauty of this cartoon, it showcases cultural diversity and unity within an ASAIN fanatasy world.
The comment had nothing to do with your Haru comment, and nor, I’m sure did any of the following responses.
And in response to you, Tasunara, you don’t really want to go there.
June 10, 2009 at 4:43 am |
i dont think Haru’s story should be in the movie….he is not important at all. I think Jet should replace him. He’s more important than Haru, b/c he comes in in the 2nd movie, and has a bigger part. But i think he looks just FINE for the part (whatever part that might be)
June 10, 2009 at 6:37 am |
Something from Youtube, just to back up what the dad said, “And here’s some news, Isaac has a featured role in Night Shyamalan’s upcoming film, “The Last Airbender.” It’s a significant speaking part and he did a great job. Stay tuned!”
June 10, 2009 at 5:31 pm |
Well, seeing as the Earth Kingdom is going to be represented by Asians (According to heresay), I’m not suprised by his race at all. I always thought Haru could go more than one way.
On the race debate, I kinda like the idea of the three foreighners in an Asian influenced world (The Earth Kingdom). It always made sense to me that they would look diffeent, and not quite fit in. The difference in race could really help highlight that point.
June 11, 2009 at 3:56 am |
Ya like in the cartoon. It looks like to me the Earth Kingdom is the only nation that looks Asian, so i dont know why everyone is thinking all the actors need to be Asian. The four nations in the cartoon are four DIFFERENT nations. They should LOOK like they are from different nations.
Earth=Asian
Fire=Indian
Water=Cacasian
Air=…doesnt really matter cause there is only one
It looks to me that the casting director is doing a good job and (for lack of a better phrase) keeping it real
June 11, 2009 at 6:45 am
If you watched the recent interview with Jackson Rathbone, he tanned out a helluva lot. His hair is very nappy, too, but it looks like it’s all long on the top from having a wolf’s tail all the time. go to lastairbenderfans.com to check it out.
June 13, 2009 at 7:18 pm
“he tanned out a helluva lot. His hair is very nappy, too”
Tasunara, do you realize how ignorant you sound? If that wasn’t your intention, then I suggest you quickly rephrase that statement.
June 14, 2009 at 7:14 am
Indian is Asian too, btw.
July 1, 2009 at 11:57 am
actually, sweety, it seems more like this:
Earth- Asian
Fire- Indian
Water- Inuit
Air- Caucasian
June 10, 2009 at 6:07 pm |
*too young to play Haru
*too young to play Teo
*young Bumi?
*young Jet? flashback maybe?.. but Jet isn’t an ‘Earthbending boy’
*Poi and Ping? the twins from aunt Wu’s village… lol
*new character?
—
TLA producer post via his twitter this:
‘This particular Earth Nation village is going to have a wet look…’
any relation between an ‘Earthbending Boy’ and a ‘wet look village’?
June 10, 2009 at 8:15 pm |
ooh ooh how about foamy !!!
June 10, 2009 at 9:28 pm |
Foamy? HAHA. I sure they don’t cut foamy
Or the cabbage guy “MY CABBAGES”
Anyways, I think it’s young Bumi.
As for the quote by the dad. I don’t think he knows anything about Avatar. I can see him as a guy with the attitude of “my sons in a movie and he’ll be famous” So he’s making the role sound bigger than it is.
I think it’s young Bumi. Haru doesn’t make sense, Haru is like… 18 or something.
June 16, 2009 at 11:41 am |
Marshall’s post about a “wet look” is supposed to be a joke since it’s been raining on the sets for a while.
June 22, 2009 at 11:13 pm
My bad, that was supposed to be a reply to a different post.
June 10, 2009 at 11:46 pm |
He’s too young to be Haru. He’d be perfect for the role of the kid Zuko befriends in Season 2′s “Zuko Alone” episode, but for a 10 year old actor to play a love interest for Katara? The only way he’d work as Haru is if Shyamalan takes the love interest out of the story. For all we know, this kid just might be some extra and not a major player in the first movie. Haru as a love interest? No. Young King Bumi in a flashback scene? Yes.
June 11, 2009 at 3:34 am |
ya i think he is too young to play haru i guess, because in season 3 he has a mustache. Im not saying they are going to put that in the movie, but im saying that should give you an idea of his age.
June 11, 2009 at 8:25 am |
I agree with deet. I’ll bet he plays young Bumi.
Ahah, they’ll just have to make him look a little more eccentric.
June 11, 2009 at 4:13 pm |
I think that the lowered Haru’s role in the story to that of a young Earthbender, and that’s what we are seeing here.
June 12, 2009 at 1:35 am |
that better not be haru
June 12, 2009 at 4:06 pm |
Or what?
June 12, 2009 at 11:42 pm |
what if “Earthbending Father” and “Earthbending Boy” arent related to eachother at all…i mean if they were wouldnt “Earthbending Boy” be called “Earthbending SON” ?? that way “Earthbending Boy” can be young Bumi…and “Earthbending Father” can be someone else
June 13, 2009 at 1:43 am |
watch, this kid is probably not going to play any of the roles we have named haha. It sounds like to me the dad thinks too highly of the role his son is playing. You would think if his role was “high on the list” it wouldnt be titled as “earthbendering boy”. I guess i understand if they were keeping it a secret but i just dont know why they would do that.
June 13, 2009 at 11:22 pm |
they are casting WAY too low. even for aang and the other main characters.
June 14, 2009 at 3:02 am |
Eh, probably not Haru. He’s probably going to play some random extra the father thinks is important to the cartoon, but really isn’t. *shrug*
June 14, 2009 at 3:31 am |
I thought Earthbending boy was the kid from the episode with Madam Wu. He was listed as Earthbending Boy in the credits. and he’s around the right age for the kid and looks similar.
One thing I’m sure of is that it definately isn’t Haru
June 15, 2009 at 1:07 am |
OMG… I am so sick and tired of people going on about everyone in avatar being Asian… First of all the show isn’t even an anime… It’s American… Second of all… The half character’s don’t even look asian… Sure maybe one or two of the characters (Mainly minor or background characters) from each nation look a little Asian but the whole show is based on Asian culture. Just because the architecture and clothing is influenced by that particular culture doesn’t mean that every single person in the show is… I’m not happy that Dev Patel is playing Zuko and all of the fire nation are becoming Indians but I’m SO over the moon that he is not asian… I’m not being racist… Just in my opinion zuko does not look asian to me. I think Jess Mcarthy looked spot on for the role, the shape of his face was spot on… In my opinion… Yes that’s right my opinion because I’m entitled to one… I would rather watch a live action Avatar movie with actors and actresses who look like the people they are meant to be playing! Everyone is getting so upset about people not being the right race… but what about how they look… You can change the colour of their skin easier than you can change how they look… Shaun Toub is no where near Uncle Iroh… and Nicola Peltz would not of been my first choice for Katara… I’m not saying I have better suggestions atm… But I think they could of done a better job of finding the right people for the job… So far I think Jackson Rathbone and Noah Ringer are the only two that seem to do the job… Sure Noah could be a little older but he is only meant to be twelve… and by the time they get to the third film he will look older… My main concern is… Why aren’t fans of the show getting greater input as to how things should be… Because atm the movie is being made by people… Probably half of which have never heard of the show until now… and they are the ones who are getting to so how they think things should look… That’s not right… Sorry about my little rage there… Just so frustrating seeing a great show that I love being made into a movie and not having any control over it.
June 15, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
… You’re so adorable! Where do I get one of you?
June 15, 2009 at 5:46 am |
i pretty sure he is just gonna play the role of one of the twin boys in The Fortuneteller that helped anag stop the volcano from destroying the town in season 1 episode 14 The Fortuneteller
June 16, 2009 at 10:10 am |
@Jay
I was saying that to show that Jackson Rathbone seems to be dedicated to the role he’s playing, not trying to come off as a shotty racist and I’m sorry if I offended you or something.
June 18, 2009 at 12:56 am |
Maybe he’s that guy who sells cabbage
June 18, 2009 at 4:52 am |
@Gammapod- wow totally not a match O_o…..and sorry if you were just kidding cause i couldnt tell if you were serious or not haha
June 18, 2009 at 4:05 pm |
I never really thought of Haru as a love interest to Katara
I just thought he was some person she wanted to help because she has a good heart. and if that is Haru, a little make up can make him older
June 18, 2009 at 9:01 pm |
I think the second movie should start with the team avatar in Omashu, but then the Fire Nation attack and capture Bumi and obviously the “Ozai Angels” appear
July 1, 2009 at 12:13 pm |
omg you saw that parody tooo!? With Ozai’s Angels!? Haha I hadn’t even thought about that for a looong time, then I saw your post and couldn’t stop laughing xD
June 19, 2009 at 1:19 am |
i hope this is not haru
June 20, 2009 at 11:41 pm |
@cxcd Finally someone sane comments on this thread
My guess for him would be young Bumi, or a random nameless character. Bumi definitely could be fit in, but he wouldn’t have a very important role.
Clearly the storyline for the first movie will be much much different than that of the show. The first and last arcs of the season have more content than a single movie anyway, so the only way to make a single coherent movie of the entire first season will be to create a new storyline that hits the main points, which are:
-Aang discovered in the iceberg
-Zuko tries to capture him at least once before the North Pole (doesn’t have to be at the south pole, though)
-Roku warns Aang of Sozin’s Comet
-They travel to the north pole to learn waterbending
-Katara becomes a Master
That’s it. The rest is negligible, no matter how awesome a lot of the moments are. From the CGI trailer and the casting, we know of some other things that will be in the movie, though:
-Aang visits an Air Temple (and seems to be attacked by Zuko at that point)
-Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors make an appearance
-Zhao attacks the North Pole
That’s all I can think of at the moment. I personally felt that Jet was a more important character than Suki (because of Book 2), but Suki is a great character, too. To be honest, all 3 Books really would’ve been better off as 2 movies each, but that would’ve been a bit too expensive to make.
The only way they can condense Books 2 and 3 into 2 movies is to completely remove The Day of Black Sun. It wouldn’t ruin the movies, but it’d make them much much different, but it’s the only way I can imagine it being done. Movie 2 would only include the introduction of Toph and the Ba Sing Se arc (warning the Earth King of Sozin’s Comet), ignoring the Lost Appa arc. Likewise, Movie 3 would only include Zuko’s alignment change and the Sozin’s Comet arc, ignoring the Day of Black Sun arc.
August 13, 2009 at 3:13 pm |
Ughh. Jasonthe why will they ignore the lost appa arc? that is one of the main reasons they come to Ba Sing Se. And its another reason to antagonize Long Feng.
June 23, 2009 at 4:32 am |
Ok. I don’t think it’s Haru. Age is not right. They might have haru, but I don’t think this is the kid. He might be a young Bumi though. And i totally think that Bumi needs to be in the first movie. there are so many little things Bumi says to Aang and the gang that are important to the story that to cut him out of the first would screw up with the next two.
June 24, 2009 at 4:01 am |
I have a feeling that he is replacing Toph. Which would be a sick move.
June 24, 2009 at 10:52 am |
I have a feeling that Toph will be a guy in the movie, and this guy will be him.
July 5, 2009 at 8:22 am |
….i can….sorta see it….if i really really concentrate i can
July 24, 2009 at 1:52 pm |
here is a list of all earthkingdom characters
http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Earth_Kingdom_characters
September 30, 2009 at 4:01 am |
pls visit my site click on my name
October 16, 2009 at 4:42 am |
Don’t think he will be Toph, rly…
No way she’ll be in the first film :/ (and I don’t agree for her to be… a boy, lol)
buut, they doing what they please, so w/e
*shoots herself*
I am, truely, disappointed about the casting…
and so :/
October 16, 2009 at 4:48 am |
“me” don’t like this…
August 21, 2010 at 5:16 pm |
Ive seen the movie and really enjoyed it.I also didnt agree with the casting but after watching it would have to say the actors did well.Earthbending boy is just that a boy with a small role. Toph is not in the first and god she better remain female lol. And race is always going to be an issue no matter the situation.
June 18, 2009 at 1:23 pm |
Bumi is hardly neccessary, I mean at all. He’s a good character but adds pretty much nothing to the overall plot of the series. Aang knows he has to find an Earthbending teacher, and if he sees Toph, he’ll try to make her his teacher. Problem solved. Plus it will really damage the movie since it has no impact on the plot of the 1st movie. They can’t be over 3 hours.
The Second movie will be by far the most difficult to adapt, and alot has to be omitted. And I highly doubt Omashu will make the movies, except for maybe mentioning it. I do agree that Aang and Azula need to meet before Ba Sing Se, but “The Chase” seems like a better part in the story to incorporate rather than Omashu. Plus I think in all likelihood Mai and Ty Lee will be with Azula in the beginning of the movie and she won’t need to recruit them.
June 24, 2009 at 11:05 am |
They won’t replace Toph. Plus (unless she is in a vision) there’s no way Toph will make the first film. But now that we know the Northern Air Temple will be in it, I’m guessing this is Teo and the Earthbending Father is the Mechanist.
July 2, 2009 at 7:13 pm |
Actually, Teo and the Mechanist are both non-benders so that’s impossible.