Whitewashing Airbender

Thoughtless decision or racist? Probably both. [Link]

M. Night Shyamalan's movie version Avatar: The Last Airbender is apparently in danger already, as fans of the original animated series protest seemingly racist casting decisions. Is there nothing the director can do right anymore?

There's no way of getting around it; the announcement last week of the actors chosen to play the lead roles in the adaptation of the Nickelodeon animated series was... well, much more controversial than the filmmakers had undoubtedly intended. After all, who could find anything offensive about Twilight's Jackson Rathbone, Deck The Halls' Nicola Peltz or teen pop idol Jesse McCartney?

Let's ask some of the fans, shall we?

The main cast appears very white. Very white. Airbender is set in an Asian themed world, so there should have been a little more diversity in casting.