Streaming service Netflix has released a new promotional video for the second season of the series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," entirely dedicated to the blind earthbending master Toph Beifong, played by young actress Mia Cheh.
According to the showrunners, the search for the actress was lengthy: the team reviewed over 6000 applications. At the final casting, Mia demonstrated perfect "chemistry" with the actor playing Aang and was immediately approved. The creators note that the dynamic between Aang and his new teacher will resemble interaction with an "evil older sister who is actually younger and much stronger."
The creators paid special attention to the character's blindness. Mia Cheh admitted that her biggest fear was portraying blindness inaccurately. To avoid this, the actress trained for weeks with special lenses that completely blocked her vision and worked with a specialized consultant, Joe Strechay.
They meticulously worked on movement coordination, tactile interaction with objects, and orientation in the world without relying on sight. The creators emphasized that it was critically important for them to make Toph's portrayal respectful and inspiring for blind and visually impaired children.
The premiere of the second season, which adapts the animated "Book Two: Earth," will take place on June 25, 2026 – all 7 planned episodes will be released on this day. Although there is one fewer episode than in the first season, their total runtime will exceed 430 minutes. The third season of "Avatar" is already in production, with filming completed last November.