Controversy arose when a number of Caucasians were cast in “The Last Airbender” when many critics believed that the roles should have gone to individuals of Asian descent.
The creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were heavily influenced by Asian Martial Arts, and many wonder why the actors cast for the role didn’t fit this mold.
The director, M. Night Shyamalan had this to say:
Ultimately, this movie, and then the three movies, will be the most culturally diverse tentpole movies ever released, period. So if I’m failing the bar, I’m not sure whose bar is set higher than this movie.
While actor Shaun Toub, who plays Patel’s uncle in the film, added:
If they would have put all Asians in a certain nation, I think then there would be people who come out and said, ‘Well, now you’re stereotyping, saying that anything that has to do with martial arts has to do with Asians and chop suey and all that.’ So it’s nice to mix it up and just do the unexpected.
What’s your opinion on this controversy? Click here to watch “The Last Airbender” movie trailer.
