Feb 2, 2009–Dev Patel, star of “Slumdog Millionaire,” joined the cast of M. Night Shyamalan's “The Last Airbender,” Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Films actioner based on a Nick TV series, which begins shooting in March.
Patel will play alongside Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone and Jessica Jade Andres. Ringer is an unknown chosen for the lead off an Internet audition. Patel steps into a role originally planned for Jesse McCartney. Ringer will play Aang, last member of a race of people who can manipulate the elements of air.
Ringer, a 12-year-old from Texas, landed the part after showing martial arts skills in an Internet video posted to a website Shyamalan set up for open virtual auditions. Patel will play Zuko, a member of the Fire Nation. Peltz plays the Water Tribe rep Katara, while Andres is the Earth Kingdom's representative, Suki.
Paramount plans to to release “The Last Airbender” on July 2, 2010.