Known for his remarkable performances in acclaimed films like Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, Dev Patel has solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors. However, even amidst his impressive body of work, Patel has encountered his share of setbacks and disappointments, and the most noticeable among them is M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 film Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Based on the Nickelodeon animated series, the film was a massive failure, commercially and critically, with many crediting it as the worst film of all time. The actor accepted the criticism in an interview with The New York Times while reflecting on how the film has led to his newfound admiration for the actors of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Dev Patel Admits Avatar: The Last Airbender Was a Disaster
In a candid conversation with The New York Times, actor Dev Patel opened up about starring in the 2010 adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He shared that his experience working on the film was so disappointing that he has since turned down numerous offers to star in major Hollywood blockbusters.
“Maybe it’s a fear of how I would fit into that world,” he shared during the interview as he described The Last Airbender as one of the worst movies he’s ever done. “[It’s] one of the worst movies I’ve ever done, and I shouldn’t even bring it up but do a quick IMDb search, and you’ll know what it is,” he said, referring to M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 film.
Patel portrayed the role of Prince Zuko in the adaptation, which was heavily criticized for feeding into Hollywood’s longstanding issue of whitewashing. He even received a Razzie Award nomination as Worst Supporting Actor. However, Patel’s challenges extended beyond awards recognition, as he grappled with significant discomfort working with green screens and special effects.
The Last Airbender Made Dev Patel Admire Marvel Stars Even More
During his interview, Dev Patel also opened up about how challenging it was for him to work with green screen and special effects and how it influenced his perspective on the actors starring in Hollywood’s blockbuster productions, particularly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who often work with so many green screens.
“I didn’t really flourish in that position—I take my hat off to all those incredible actors that do Marvel movies where it’s, like, big, noisy fans and green screen and tennis balls and whatnot.”
After the 2010 film, Patel showcased a shift towards independent cinema and found success with films like Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Lion, with the latter earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The 33-year-old actor is now gearing up for his directorial debut with the upcoming action thriller Monkey Man. Patel is also taking on the lead role as Kid in the film that follows an anonymous young man seeking revenge on a group of corrupt leaders, who are responsible for his mother’s death and the exploitation of poor and powerless.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is available to stream on Paramount+.
Monkey Man is set to release on April 5, 2024.
