Netflix has announced a live-action adaptation of the animated classic Avatar: The Last Airbender, with the original show’s creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, back at the helm. And with that, fans everywhere hold their breath. The central question here (and in the age of reboots writ large) is why you’d bother reimagining a relatively recent, beloved TV series as … another TV series. But Netflix’s famously hands-off approach may afford the showrunners new opportunities—and the autonomy they were denied the last time they tried to take the show into the realm of live action. M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender remains notorious for, among other things, whitewashing the protagonists, mispronouncing the main character’s name, and generally being one of the worst films of all time. Konietzko and DiMartino have all but disavowed Shyamalan’s attempt. (“We were involved, but our involvement had no effect,” Konietzko said of the film in 2014, adding, “I don’t want to be associated with that!”) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fans should have less to worry about with Konietzko and DiMartino calling the shots. In a new statement, the pair emphasized that they “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.” The showrunners also promised they’ll go “even deeper into the characters, stories, and world-building.” Whether that means new plotlines or the integration of material from the comics remains to be seen. If the latter, the series could fold in the backstory of fan favorite Zuko, whose troubled family history was hinted at in the animated series but explored more thoroughly in the spin-off graphic novels, and also acknowledge the deaths they weren’t allowed to show on screen the first time around. Advertisement The co-creators have made use of the relative freedom of streaming before: The original show’s sequel, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, pushed the limits of family-friendly Nickelodeon with its darker subject matter, ultimately moving online for its last (and best) seasons. As Vanity Fair noted at the time, “Korra became too dangerous, too risky for Nick to air. But that outsider status made it downright irresistible to certain viewers. Especially teenagers.” The Korra comics went further still with respect to LGBTQ representation: Avatar Kyoshi, a recurring character in the original series, was depicted as bisexual, and the relationship between Korra and Asami was fleshed out more fully than had been possible on the TV show. At Netflix, where Voltron’s Shiro was recently revealed to be gay, it seems likely that all of this will be fair game. Konietzko has described the new series, slated to film next year, as a “simultaneously new and old adventure,” and he and DiMartino aren’t the only ones returning on the creative side: Jeremy Zuckerman, who was responsible for the original series’ iconic score, also confirmed his involvement via Instagram. With the promise of fresh material, greater narrative freedom, and an exciting vehicle for Asian American stars, cautious optimism seems warranted. Reincarnation is, after all, the Avatar team’s area of expertise.<doc-sep>The beloved Nickelodeon cartoon series Avatar: The Last Airbender is getting another reincarnation: this time as a live-action series at Netflix. The original creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are attached as executive producers and showrunners, and are promising to do this one right--with some pointed commentary at the 2010 live-action film. "We're thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender," DiMartino and Konietzko said in the announcement. "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." That statement is a not-too-subtle jab at the M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender, which was criticized in part for a whitewashed cast. The movie was generally panned for more than just casting problems, though, and was widely criticized for an overstuffed story and stiff, languid action sequences--a far cry from the fluid martial artistry depicted in the animated series. Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on Nickelodeon in 2005 and ran for three seasons, gaining a passionate fanbase. It followed the adventures of Aang, the latest incarnation of the legendary Avatar--the one being on the planet who could master all four essential elements. He emerged to a world that had been ravaged by war, including a violent purge of his own people, the Airbenders. It was followed by a sequel series, The Legend of Korra, which featured a fiery young woman as the new Avatar reincarnation after Aang passed away. The series has also spawned a wide variety of graphic novels and an upcoming young-adult novel.<doc-sep>Avatar: The Last Airbender, not to confused with Avatar the mega-successful movie series about blue aliens, is an animated fantasy show that ran for three seasons on Nickelodeon back in the mid-2000s. Family-friendly without being patronizing, it told a surprisingly rich story packed with memorable characters. Even a decade later, it has many loyal fans. And now, Netflix is making a live-action version, according to Deadline. Netflix confirmed the news on Twitter. Original series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are returning to shepherd this new version. “We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender,” they said in a statement. “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.” Netflix had a statement, too, from VP of Kids & Family Content Melissa Cobb. “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.” A reimagined, live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series is coming to Netflix! (ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴀʀᴛ ʙʏ Jᴏʜɴ Sᴛᴀᴜʙ) pic.twitter.com/YsMoE4UguV — See What's Next (@seewhatsnext) September 18, 2018 The series, as you’ve probably picked up, is about Aang; that’s him leading his flying bison Appa across a snowy landscape in the concept art above. Aang is an airbender, meaning he can control the wind at will. The last of his kind, Aang sets out on a journey to restore balance to the world, much of which has been conquered by the militaristic Fire Nation, picking up allies and enemies along the way. It’s a good yarn, and some fans are wondering why it needs to be retold, particularly after M. Night Shyamalan, then near the nadir of his credibility, adapted the first season as a disastrously terrible live-action movie in 2010. (The bit about a “non-whitewashed cast” in DiMartino and Konietzko’s statement seems to be a dig at that movie’s casting, which stirred up controversy at the time.) The presence of DiMartino and Konietzko, who also helmed the well-received spinoff The Legend of Korra, should allay fears somewhat, but the show isn’t that old. Does it need a remake, and a live -action one at that? What do you think? To stay up to date on everything Game of Thrones, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter. 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Netflix is set to produce a live-action series based on Nickelodeon’s mid-2000s animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, and is bringing aboard original creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko as executive producers and showrunners. The new series will be made in partnership with Nickelodeon, with production to start next year. The original Avatar: The Last Airbender aired for three seasons on Nickelodeon from February 2005-July 2008, winning an Emmy in 2017 and a Peabody Award among other honors. The series followed main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation. A total of 61 episodes aired. “We’re thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender,” DiMartino and Konietzko said in a release announcing the project. “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.” The property has spawned a comic book and graphic novel series, and the home video compilation Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series is nearing $5 million in retail sales since its release earlier this year. “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,” said Netflix’s Melissa Cobb, VP Kids & Family Content.