Avatar Live Action TV Series Coming From Netflix
Avatar: The Last Airbender is coming back as a TV series! That’s right, the ATLA series is getting another chance at live action. Netflix is set to produce a “reimagined live-action series” based on the fan favorite Nickelodeon animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. This new series will have original ATLA creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko serving as showrunners and executive producers. It will start production in 2019 and you can find concept art by John Staub below.
The news of this series is especially welcome from hardcore Avatar: The Last Airbender fans, who universally hated the 2010 live action movie based on the series. That film had little involvement from the original creators, so to hear they’re now very involved in the new series is a sign of hope for fans. Speaking about the new series, Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino had this to say.
“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build upon everyone’s great work on the original animated series and go even deeper into the characters, story, action, and world-building. Netflix is wholly dedicated to manifesting our vision for this retelling, and we’re incredibly grateful to be partnering with them.”
Melissa Cobb, vice-president of Kids & Family Content at Netflix stressed their support for the original creators.
“We are committed to honoring Bryan and Mike’s vision for this retelling and are thrilled to support them on creating a live-action event series, bringing Aang’s epic world of elemental magic to life for global audiences on Netflix.”
Somewhat buried in the press release was comments from Chris Viscardi, Senior Vice President, Animation Production and Development, Nickelodeon, who hinted at more Nick series possibly coming to Netflix.
“This partnership with Netflix is part of our broader efforts at Nick and Viacom to tap into our enormous library of culturally resonant properties to produce new interpretations, and we can’t wait for people to see Netflix’s live-action version of Avatar.”
We can’t wait for this Avatar: The Last Airbender live action series so make sure you stay tuned to Den of Geek for more information as it comes!
Shamus Kelley is a pop culture/television writer and official Power Rangers expert. Follow him on Twitter! Read more articles by him here!