Netflix has finally broken the curse of the live-action adaptations of animated series with the success of One Piece and from there, more animated shows are getting their live-action counterparts. One of those shows is Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender which will bring the story of Aang and the gang to life on the streaming platform. An executive behind the series, showrunner Albert Kim reveals that this upcoming version will be a "remix" of the animated series.
Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series one of the most anticipated releases of Netflix after the curse-breaking One Piece live-action series. The upcoming show will bring to life the beloved animated series of the same name and with so much anticipation on the series, showrunner Albert Kim teases what makes Avatar: The Last Airbender different from its original source material. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Kim reveals being intimidated at first but reiterates that this version is, somehow, their own:
You'd have to be an idiot not to be intimidated a little bit. My first reaction after ‘Hell yeah!’ was ‘Holy s---! Do I really want to do this? Is there a way to improve upon the original?’ Whenever you tackle something that's already beloved by millions of fans, you have to ask yourself those questions. A live-action version meant setting new benchmarks for representation by featuring an all Asian and Indigenous cast. This is Avatar: The Last Airbender , but it is our version of Avatar: The Last Airbender .
This "remix" version of Avatar: The Last Airbender will bring forth some unexpected changes from the animated show to the live-action series. The changes are expected to be surprising especially to those who followed the animated series from when it started on Nickelodeon. Following the success of One Piece, hopes for the success of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender remains high.
What changes from the animated series will be on Avatar: The Last Airbender?
In the same interview, Kim reveals that the changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender from the animated show to the live-action series is a conscious decision among those who are working behind the scenes. Kim also unveils some of the changes that the audience could expect from the upcoming live-action series:
We don't start the show the way the animated series starts. That was a conscious decision to show people this is not the animated series. We had to sometimes unravel storylines and remix them in a new way to make sense for a serialized drama. So I'm very curious to see what'll happen in terms of reaction to that. All of our writers are also fans of the original, so they drew upon their own personal experiences and the things that they love the best. We made sure to include all those in the show.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is based on the animated series of the same name on Nickelodeon which will be arriving on Netflix with eight episodes starting on February 22, 2024. The series will feature the live-action debut of Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Katara's brother Sokka, Dallas Liu as firebending royalty Prince Zuko, Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao, Elizabeth Yu as Azula, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh.
