Past attempts to adapt Avatar: The Last Airbender into live-action have been trash. However, with Netflix now at the helm, there's new hope. We've got all the info you could possibly need about Netflix's live-action Avatar adventure, including the release date, the latest trailers, cast news, and more (meaning: drama!)
Netflix's live-action take on Avatar: The Last Airbender could be a massive hit. Especially given Netflix's recent success with adaptations such as One Piece. Yep, fans are getting their hopes up (and perhaps we can finally move past the 2010 M. Night Shyamalan film).
Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in a world torn apart by war that can only be saved by the Avatar, master of all four elements. The problem is, this legendary Avatar is a young boy named Aang (the last airbender alive) who has been trapped in an iceberg for one hundred years. After awakening from his deep slumber, he teams up with the siblings Katara and Sokka to master every element and free the world from the oppressive Fire Nation.
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the series has rightfully claimed its position as one of the best animated shows ever made! With the enormous responsibility of its adaptation now on Netflix's shoulders, the anticipation is palpable. Dive into this article as we reveal the eagerly awaited release date for this rejuvenated version of the cherished epic!
Avatar: The Last Airbender On Netflix | Release Date & New Extended Trailer
Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender will be released on February 22, 2024. So far, it seems like they are planning to stay faithful to the source material with iconic shots that oldschool Avatar fans will recognize.
But hold on, that's not entirely true, because there are indeed things that got changed for the live-action-series. Let's dive into these changes next:
Avatar: The Last Airbender On Netflix | Changes Of The Live-Action-Series
Sokkas Character Changes
The significant alteration in the live-action adaptation is the overhaul of Sokka's character, eliminating his sexist traits to align with modern standards.
While it may be rational to incorporate such changes to reflect contemporary viewpoints, Sokka's character arc hinges on this trait in the original animated series.
This alteration may have a profound impact on the complete world, as Sokka isn't the only misogyny. And strong, independent women like Katara consistently challenge these attitudes, shaping their own growth. This raises the question whether this development will be entirely erased? But with just eight episodes confirmed, there may be limited space for character growth in the narrative.
Firenation Characters Already Included In Season 1
Key players of the Fire Nation will also get into the game way earlier: Azula already mingles in Zuko's affairs on Netflix, General Zhao is supposed to get more screentime and in contrast to the original, Netflix shows the Firelord in the very first season.
It's pretty safe to say that the adaptation will take its creative liberties with the source material. While that may be great news to fans of Suki, this could also upset parts of the fanbase that just want an accurate, live-action adaptation of the original.THE FIRE NATION HAS ARRIVED Meet Fire Lord Ozai, General Iroh, Princess Azula and Commander Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender, coming in 2024. pic.twitter.com/qx3QDhocGz
— Netflix (@netflix) October 17, 2023
And that's not the only way the Netflix adaptation made upset fans: the casting of Ian Ousley as Sokka has been a whole mess of its own. You can read up on the drama right here.
Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix | Cast
Like the insulting movie by Shyamalan, the Netflix adaptation will cover the events of Book 1: Water, meaning some beloved characters won't come to the streaming platform just yet (to quote one of those characters: "Oh no, what a nightmare"). There are lots of others to look forward to, though, and then some. Here's the main cast:
- Gordon Cormier as Aang
- Kiawentiio as Katara
- Ian Ousley as Sokka
- Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko
- Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh
- Maria Zhang as Suki
Interestingly enough, they have cast Tamlyn Tomita as Yukari. If you're a fan of the original, you'll know that there is no Yukari. Surprise: it's Suki's never before seen mother that will make her debut in the upcoming show!
Neither Of The Original Creators Are On The Netflix Team
Not to be pessimistic here, but there's another tough pill to swallow. Originally, Netflix announced that the original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko would be the executive producers and showrunners for the "reimagined" live-action adaptation.
That didn't work out due to creative differences, and both Konietzko and DiMartino departed with the Netflix show. In an open letter to fans, DiMartino addressed the issues and to be honest, his words don't really spark much hope:
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.
It's always a bad sign if an adaptation is so far away from the source material that the original creators decide to leave the production, but we won't hate on the show until we've seen it.
At this point, there's only two things left to do: wait for February 22, 2024 to see for ourselves and rewatch the original ATLA until then.
Shopping Tip: You've seen the original, right? Ever wondered what happened to Zuko's mum? There are some pretty cool books about that. There's a ton of these books in fact: here's the complete series with 26 books!