Skip to main content

Avatar: The Last Airbender creators cut ties with Netflix adaptation

The creators of the beloved Nickelodeon animated show Avatar: The Last Airbender have cut ties with the upcoming live-action Netflix adaptation, stating that they left in June of this year after two years in preproduction.

Michael Dante DiMartino claimed in a letter that he and co-creator Bryan Konietzko felt a lack of an ability to control the direction of the production and little support for their vision, a commitment that the streaming giant had previously made public when Netflix announced the remake.

“Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good, 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,” DiMartino said in a statement. “Though I got to work with some great individuals, both on Netflix’s side and on our own small development team, the general handling of the project created what I felt was a negative and unsupportive environment.”

Netflix released the following statement about the creators’ decision to leave: “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.”

Netflix went on to explain that creative differences arose between DiMartino and Konietzko, the other creatives involved with the show, and Netflix itself over the preproduction process. It was the pair’s choice to step away from the project, and the live-action show is still in development, Netflix said.

When the adaptation was announced in 2018, the creative pair issued a joint statement that stated “Netflix is wholly dedicated to manifesting our vision for this retelling, and we’re incredibly grateful to be partnering with them.”

As far as either of the creators is aware, Netflix still plans on going ahead with the remake without their involvement.

DiMartino ended his statement on a more positive note, committing to future Avatar stories. “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.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender expanded past its original three-season animated show with a spinoff, The Legend of Korra, that told the story of the Avatar that followed Aang, the protagonist of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Since then, a handful of graphic novels and books have fleshed out the world of both shows, and a much-maligned live-action film adaptation of the original show’s first season was released in 2010.

Both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra will soon be available on Netflix, with the latter releasing on the platform in the coming days.

Updated August 12, 2020, with a statement from Netflix.

Editors' Recommendations

Tom Caswell
Professional video producer and writer, gaming enthusiast, and streamer! twitch.tv/greatbritom
Everything leaving Hulu in June 2023
A scene from Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.

Summer is here, and you can expect the heat to be close behind. But before the June swoon sets in, there are plenty of movies and TV shows to keep you occupied at home. Disney and 20th Century Studios may have poached the Hulu original film The Boogeyman for a theatrical release this month, but it's bound to arrive on Hulu in the near future. In the meantime, there's always something new on Hulu that you can enjoy.

But as the new shows and movies come in, some of the older titles in the library are going away. Even some of the 20th Century Studios films like Rise of the Planet of the Apes aren't immune to this trend. And while these TV series and movies will likely show up on another streaming service soon, don't you think you should get your money's worth as a Hulu subscriber? We do, and that's why we’ve put together this list of everything leaving Hulu in June 2023. Our picks are in bold, and all you have to do is find the opportunity to watch them.

Read more
Everything leaving Netflix in June 2023
Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire.

There’s good news for Netflix subscribers this month because there are not many TV shows and movies that are heading out of the door in June. But there are still departures ahead in the early days of summer, and you only have 30 days to catch some of your favorites. A few Netflix original series and films are also leaving for parts unknown. and it’s unclear when or if any of those projects will resurface.

It takes a lot of effort to keep on top of the new and exciting arrivals on Netflix. But it’s also worth knowing which titles are only hanging around for a limited time. To make things easier for you, we’ve assembled this list of everything leaving Netflix in June 2023, with our suggestions in bold.

Read more
All the Marvel Easter eggs in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Gwen and Miles from Across the Spider-Verse.

At long last, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has thwipped its way into cinemas. Like its acclaimed predecessor, this sequel is brimming with Easter eggs, many of which pay tribute to other Marvel films, shows, video games (even the upcoming Spider-Man 2), and comic book source material.

Untangling this massive web of references from such a layered film can be daunting for some audiences. So for those who need a hand, here's a guide to all the Easter eggs found in Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy's latest big-screen adventure.
The guy in the chair

Read more