Roger Ebert Condemns ‘The Last Airbender’ Film Casting

December 30th, 2009  |  Published in Background, In The News  |  3 Comments

Roger Ebert condemns The Last Airbender film casting


In his December 23rd, 2009 “Answer Man” update, venerated American film critic Roger Ebert publicly condemned the casting of The Last Airbender film.

Q. Regarding the upcoming M. Night Shyamalan vehicle The Last Airbender, what do you think about the whitewashing of the production [...] ?Arlene C. Harris

A. Wrong. The original series Avatar: The Last Airbender was highly regarded and popular for three seasons on Nickelodeon. Its fans take it for granted that its heroes are Asian. Why would Paramount and Shyamalan go out of their way to offend these fans? There are many young Asian actors capable of playing the parts.

We thank Mr. Ebert for his willingness to advocate for fair Hollywood casting. We look forward to reading his review of the film.

In June 2010, Ebert answered another fan question about The Last Airbender. Read More Here

RSS feed | Trackback URI


Mission Statement

Through open dialogue and grassroots protest, we seek to raise awareness.

Through organized boycott and communication with Hollywood representatives, we encourage studios to create television and film that reflect the true richness of the American people.

Newsletter or Street Team Signup

Our monthly newsletters will give you the latest news on the movement, from exclusive interviews with professionals to local events and volunteer opportunities. Our strict privacy policy keeps your email address 100% safe and secure - and you can opt out at any time.

Phone number needed for Street Team signup ONLY. Optional otherwise.