Air Pockets

Thanks to his high profile turn in the Oscar nominated awarded Slumdog Millionaire, its star Dev Patel has landed a role in M. Night Shyamalan's cartoon adaptation The Last Airbender, reports Variety.

Patel steps into a role that singer Jesse McCartney was all set for until:-"Jesse had tour dates that conflicted with a boot camp I always hold on my films, and where the actors here have to train for martial arts," Shyamalan said.

In the live-action film based on the toon, 12-year-old Aang is the last of a race of people who can manipulate the elements of air.

Patel will play Zuko, a member of the Fire Nation. joining Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, and Jackson Rathbone.

Given M. Night's recent track record with his last few flicks--I'm not sure that McCartney didn't dodge a bullet

Production begins in mid-March for release July 2010.