'Slumdog Millionaire' Star Joins Shyamalan's Latest

Zap2It.com | February 2, 2009

Dev Patel

Dev Patel signs on for 'The Last Airbender'

No twist here: Score an armful of major awards as an independent film darling, and you'll get a chance at the big time.

Dev Patel, star of " Slumdog Millionaire," has been cast in M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, according to Variety. "The Last Airbender," based on the Nickelodeon cartoon series "Avatar: The Last Airbender," follows element-based martial-arts warriors who rally against their world's evil Fire Lord. In Shyamalan's film, Patel will play a prince of the Fire Nation who serves as the hero's early opponent.

The film is set for a summer 2010 release.

"Millionaire" was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, plus won four Golden Globes awards and one SAG award. Patel, 18, also starred on the series "Skins" for the UK's Channel 4.