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Jason Isaacs is best recognized for his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in theHarry Pottermovies. He has been acting for over three decades, appearing in various films, TV shows, and stage productions.
Isaacs voiced the character Zhao in seven episodes ofAvatar: The Last Airbender.Nearly eight years later, he returned to the franchise for a cameo appearance as the same character in one episode ofThe Legend of Korra(set in the fictional world ofAvatar: The Last Airbender).
Apart fromHarry Potterfilm series, Isaacs is best known for his role as Michael D. Steele inBlack Hawk Down(2001), and Captain Hook inPeter Pan(2003).
However, what some fans may not know is that the actor landed his role in Nickelodeon’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderpartly due to one of his own successful $215 million films!
Avatar: The Last Airbender Theory – There Exists a Scarier Technique Than Bloodbending Only Earthbenders Can Use
How Did Jason Isaacs’s Own Film Lead Him to Get Cast inAvatar: The Last Airbender?
The creators ofAvatar: The Last Airbendergot the idea for Zhao from various sources. They wanted a character who was skilled in firebending but also power-hungry and arrogant.
When the creators were brainstorming the character of Zhao, they wanted someone who could be both dignified and menacing. They looked toJason Isaacs‘ roles for inspiration, especially his character inThe Patriot. They liked how Isaac portrayed someone regal yet practical in the film.
In 2000, Isaacs starred in the historical epic oppositeMel GibsonandHeath Ledger, playing sadistic cavalry officer Colonel William Tavington. So, the casting director used these comparisons to guide the search for the right actor. Luckily, Isaacs was available for the role at that time.
The creators of the series initially thought the actor would be a good fit for Zhao’s voice because they wanted someone who wouldn’t overdo it.
They saw Isaacs as a solid choice for portraying a military man without being too exaggerated. This fits well with the character of Zhao, especially when compared to the intense portrayal of Fire Lord Ozai byMark Hamill.
This choice of Zhao’s voice allowed his character to develop over the season. He became more egotistical as the season progressed, which made his claim of being ‘Zhao the Moon Slayer’ in the finale more satisfying to see (especially considering his origins).
“He’s just still not strong enough”: Dallas James Liu is Sure Zuko will Never be Powerful Enough to Beat 1 Avatar: The Last Airbender Character
Jason Isaacs Brought Many Characters to Life BeyondAvatar: The Last Airbender
Though Ken Leung portrayed Admiral Zhao in Netflix’s recent adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbender, it was Jason Isaacs who originally brought the character to life.
But that wasn’t the only animated project for the Liverpool native. Isaacs also did voice acting in other animations, such as playing the Grand Inquisitor inStar Wars Rebelsand the Judge inCastlevania.
The actor is now set to star in the upcoming third season of the Emmy award-winning show,The White Lotus. Created by Mike White, the series is mainly set to film in Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui for this season.
During an HBO and Max presentation, Chairman and CEO of HBO,Casey Bloys, confirmed (viaElle) that the series has been pushed to a 2025 release.
“It was his refusal to apologize”: Mark Hamill Left Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Star Speechless as Actor Replaced Star Wars Legend in Live-Action
WatchAvatar: The Last Airbenderon Netflix.
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
