Zuko, Prince of the Fire Nation and eventual Fire Lord, is one of the most popular characters from Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. And given that the series offers many wonderful characters, that’s saying something. Across the show’s three seasons, Zuko struggled with recognizing right from wrong and acting against his tyrannical family. Thus, he had one of the best character arcs. Part of what made him a fan favorite is Dante Basco, the voice behind him. Now, Basco has expressed interest in playing a part in Netflix’s upcoming live-action remake.
While speaking to CBR, Basco reflected on the role 15 years after the premiere of Avatar. Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the creators of the original show, are returning for Netflix’s remake. And Basco has spoken to them about being involved.
Yeah, we’ve had some conversations. I mean, I love those guys. I trust those guys. It’s the stuff they came up with. They’re involved. It’s going to be fascinating, and, you know, I’m all for the Avatar family. So I hope sooner or later I’ll be involved in some way, shape or form.”
He also offered advice on the role of Zuko to whoever plays him in the live-action series:
As far as Zuko’s story, in the end of the day, it’s a story of redemption. So, it’s okay to be not liked. There are things you’re going to do that’s going to be unlikable and understand why he’s doing everything he’s doing. He’s always trying to do the right thing all the time, even though it may be the wrong thing. At that time in his life, he feels like it’s the right thing.”
Basco clearly has a lot of passion for Zuko and the world of Avatar. He returned for a minor role in the sequel series, The Legend of Korra. Here, he voiced Zuko’s grandson Iroh, named for his beloved uncle. He also frequently goes to conventions and is active with fans on Twitter. So it’s entirely likely he’ll pop up somewhere when the Avatar remake launches on Netflix.