According to Arden Cho, bounty hunter June’s future in Netflix’s live-action adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbenderis uncertain, but she could still have a role to play in the show’s upcoming seasons. The first season of Netflix’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderadapted season 1 of the original ATLAcartoon, “Book One: Water.” Though the live-action season featured a few major plot and structural changes, it did introduce some of the show’s fan-favorite minor characters, including bounty hunter June, portrayed byTeen Wolfveteran Arden Cho, and June’s shirshu sniffer mount, Nyla.
After the success of season 1, Netflix quickly and wisely renewedAvatar: The Last Airbenderfor seasons 2and 3, allowing the show to complete Aang’s Avatar story as he masters all the elements and takes on Fire Lord Ozai.Throughout the original cartoon, minor characters who played an important role in Aang’s Avatar journey reappear when needed most, including June. However, during an interview withScreenRantfor the animated fantasy musical filmKPop Demon Hunters, Cho shared an uncertain update regarding herATLAcharacter’s future on the show.
ScreenRant: I loved you in season 1 ofAvatar: The Last Airbender. What can you say, if anything, about June’s story in seasons 2 or 3?
Arden Cho:Oh, man. I wish I knew. I know. I hope she’s back. We’re all trying to work that out. It’s a big world, and there are a lot of cool characters. But yeah, she’s one of my favorites. She’s so badass. I feel really lucky to be able to play someone like Rumi, [from Kpop Demon Hunters], but also June [from ATLA], and all these strong badass women. It’s fun!
What This Means For Avatar: The Last Airbender Seasons 2 & 3
June Only Appears Again In The Final Season Of The Cartoon
Though Cho’sJune wasn’t expected to be inAvatar: The Last Airbenderseason 2, as she doesn’t appear in “Book Two: Earth,“she did have a part to play in the original show’s climactic finale, “Sozin’s Comet.“Before he faces Fire Lord Ozai, Aang disappears from the face of the Earth, and Zuko, Sokka, Katara, and Earthbender Toph hire June and Nyla to track him down. Though unsuccessful, she does instead help them find Zuko’s Uncle Iroh and a few other familiar allies on the eve of Aang’s biggest battle.
Read more about June and Iroh’s lives after the Hundred Year War in the standalone graphic novelThe Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer,by Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman and Adele Matera.
In a surprisingly welcome change for Netflix,The Last Airbender’s final two seasons were scheduled to be shot back-to-back. Season 2 wrapped filming earlier this year, and season 3 began production on May 20. If Cho is still uncertain of her character’s return at this stage, it seems unlikely June and Nyla will be part of Netflix’s adaptation of the “Sozin’s Comet” arc, though never say never.“We’re all trying to work that out,“could imply scheduling conflicts, which can still be overcome.
Our Take On Live-Action Avatar’s June
She’s The Story’s Most Neutral Character
One of the most compelling things about June is that she isn’t an inherently evil or good character.Her allegiance is to herself, Nyla, and money, which means she can easily be slotted into almost any storyline. After all, Prince Zuko and Iroh aren’t the only ones looking for the Avatar, and as Team Avatar continues to travel around the world so that Aang may master all four elements, she could also appear before Zuko and Co. ask her to track him down in the series finale.
Cho’s performance as June nailed the character’s tenacity, strength, and dubious morality, and it was fun to see her flirt with Iroh instead of the other (creepier) way around. I’d be excited to see her return to the show, if only so that we could witness Nyla and Aang’s trusty sky bison, Appa, go head-to-head in live-action the way they did in the animated season 1 episode “Bato of the Water Tribe.” However, we’ll have to wait and see whether Arden Cho’s June will return in Netflix’s adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbender.
