After months of radio silence from Netflix and showrunners Bryan Konietzko & Mike DiMartino; the two original creators announce they have stepped away from the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.
When the series was announced back in 2018 by Netflix and the co-creators that a live-action adaption was being developed that would include an ethnically accurate cast (as compared to the 2010 film) it was met with complete praise. Netflix promised to fully support the original creator’s vision as they adapted it for live-action television.
However, according to the creators today the streaming service failed to make good on that promise in an open statement:
An open letter to Avatar: The Last Airbender fans:
Many of you have been asking me for updates about the Avatar live-action Netflix series. I can finally tell you that I am no longer involved with the project. In June of this year, after two years of development work, Bryan Konietzko and I made the difficult decision to leave the production.
When Bryan and I signed on to the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners. In a joint announcement for the series, Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating the series. And we expressed how excited we were for the opportunity to be at the helm. Unfortunately, things did not go as we had hoped.
Look, things happen. Productions are challenging. Unforeseen events arise. Plans have to change. And when those things have happened at other points during my career, I try to be like an Air Nomad and adapt. I do my best to go with the flow, no matter what obstacle is put in my way. But even an Air Nomad knows when it’s time to cut their losses and move on.
I started to reevaluate what is truly important in my life and what I wanted to do with what’s left of it. I took some advice from Uncle Iroh. I looked inward and started asking myself the big question: “Who are you and what do you want?”
I also sought wisdom from Stoic philosophers who were big on differentiating between what is within our control and what isn’t. I realized I couldn’t control the creative direction of the series, but I could control how I responded. So, I chose to leave the project. It was the hardest professional decision I’ve ever had to make, and certainly not one that I took lightly, but it was necessary for my happiness and creative integrity.
And who knows? Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good. It might turn out to be a show many of you end up enjoying. But what I can be certain about is that whatever version ends up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make.
I also want to be clear that this doesn’t mean the end of my involvement in the Avatar universe. These stories and characters are important to me and the renewed interest and excitement in Avatar and Korra has been inspiring to see.
Writing this letter has left me with a very heavy heart. I know many of you will be disappointed and frustrated by this news. I get it. I share your disappointment and frustration. I also recognize this creative setback is small compared to the problems we’re all facing as a society right now.
Thankfully, Iroh offered some wisdom for that, too: “Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving you will come to a better place.”
May we all keep moving and come to a better place.
Thanks for reading and for your continued enthusiasm for the Avatar universe.
With gratitude,
Michael Dante DiMartino
The streaming service may reconsider their tough position on the adaption as online consensus has deemed this a massive loss for them. Avatar: The Last Airbender original series was dropped on the service earlier this summer met with a renewed love by fans. Becoming the #1 streamed series on the network even after being originally released on Nickelodeon 15 years ago.
The service is still planning to release the sequel series The Legend of Korra later this week. However, it seems with this recent announcement they might not see the same amount of streams as before.
Netflix responded to The Hollywood Reporter by stating they still plan on developing the series without the original creators:
“We have complete respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story that they created in the Avatar animated series. Although they have chosen to depart the live-action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender has no set release date