Summary
Avatar: The Last Airbenderwill feature new faces and characters when it returns for Season 2. One of the new additions shared more details about their role.
Netflix’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderis a live-action adaptation of the animated fantasy action television series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. It premiered on Jul 14, 2025. It stars Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao, and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai. Its first season received mixed reviews from critics, but its significant viewership promptedNetflixto renew it for two more seasons. Season 2 will introduce new characters and one of them shared new details about their character.
Toph Beifongwas noticeably missing inAvatar: The Last AirbenderSeason 1. However, Miya Cech was cast to play the blind earthbending prodigy. Cech is a Japanese-American actress whose career started as a model. She transitioned into acting in 2015. Among her most notable TV appearances are inAre You Afraid of the Dark? (2019), The Astronauts (2020-2021), Surfside Girls (2022), The Santa Clauses (2022 - 2023) and Beef (2023).She also appeared in several films, includingThe Darkest Minds(2018),Rim of the World(2019),Always Be My Maybe(2019),Marvelous and the Black Hole(2021), andYou Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah(2023).The fan-favorite character dubbed “Melon Lord” is confirmed to join Season 2. The Direct asked Cech about her portrayal of Toph on the red carpet for her sci-fi horror filmMarshmellow. The young actress was kind enough to give a direct response, telling the outlet that her version was “a little older” and “slightly more feminine.” Cech explained:
My version of Toph is going to be a little older and slightly more feminine. I feel like I wanted to work into a very humanizing space for her because, you know, she was a cartoon.
Cech was determined to give the character justice. She even met Michaela Jill Murphy, who voiced Toph in the animated series. Cech said they had “a very similar take in terms of the process.” She announced her casting in Netflix’s action-adventure comedy-drama fantasy onInstagramin September 2024. According to her, she spent the last five years hoping for an opportunity to audition for Toph. So, when she got the role, she couldn’t believe it and had to pinch herself. In an interview withTudum, Cech shared that she grew up watchingAvatar: The Last Airbenderand Toph was always her “favorite character.” She considered Toph a “unique character” and trained in boot camp for the role. She enjoyed the process because she had some martial arts experience. Cech also worked with a blind consultant and a professional from the blindness community to ensure they were represented appropriately.
Cech has already established her acting career and is undoubtedly great at what she does. TheBeefactress is a terrific choice to play Toph because she can balance humor, strength and vulnerability — Toph’s key traits. Additionally, Toph is bold, witty and independent. Cech has portrayed those qualities in her previous roles. The executive producers also saw Cech’s potential in playing the role, so they picked her among the thousands of auditions they received. However, some fans were concerned about her take on making Toph “feminine” because the character is not feminine in the animated series and this element makes her unique and memorable. Toph is rebellious and tomboyish. She also hates proper etiquette and even mocks her experience when she is forced to wear a dress and act like a refined young lady in one episode. However, one should note that Cech said they would make Toph “slightly” more feminine, it didn’t sound like they were transforming the character. So, let’s wait and see.
Avatar: The Last AirbenderSeason 2 is expected to premiere on Netflix in early 2026.
