Credit: NetflixPublic consensus is shifting fast — and not in favor of Netflix’s new Avatar live-action show.
Related: Disney No Longer Industry Leaders? Surprising Rivals Could Topple Animation Giants
The Avatar franchise started with creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko’s original series, Avatar: The Last Airbender — no, not James Cameron’s blue people. Airing on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008, The Last Airbender (also referred to as The Legend of Aang in certain regions) targeted a younger audience but garnered a significant following among older folks as well.
Avatar received widespread critical acclaim during its initial rise to popularity in the 2000s. Its recognition received a significant boost during the COVID-19 pandemic when the series became accessible for streaming on Netflix. This introduced a new audience of adults who either rediscovered the show or experienced it for the first time.
Such was the quality of Avatar: The Last Airbender that even the outdated 4:3 aspect ratio of the original series did not hinder its enduring popularity.
The unwavering affection for the series is a testament to the immense adoration fans hold for it.
The excitement for its debut is virtually unparalleled, with the highly anticipated live-action Avatar television series scheduled to premiere on Netflix streaming on February 22, 2024.
What’s particularly intriguing is that the new live-action adaptation of Avatar’s Book One (Season 1), once praised by fans for its apparent faithfulness to the original, is now facing major backlash.
Related: James Cameron Accused of Copying Beloved Franchise After Plot of ‘Avatar 3’ Revealed
The Tide Turns For Netflix’s Avatar
Previously, we reported that the new Avatar live-action remake was cutting a rather significant plot point from the original animated series.
The most recent teaser clip released to promote the fact that the show is debuting in “one more week” has gained traction — for all the wrong reasons.
The reaction from once-loyal Avatar fans has become particularly ugly, as the teaser went viral over the past few days. A fan’s brutal comment to the official Netflix on X (formerly Twitter) went viral, stating:
@gingrsnapactual: Why does this look so terrible?
Why does this look so terrible?
— beepboop (@gingrsnapactual) February 15, 2024
User @jbromovies’ follow up post has now also gone viral, reacting to other fans trying to defend the new Netflix show.
In yet another savage comment, the user responds to @flow_marvel1898’s reupload of the new clip comparing the footage to the original animated series:
Oh yeah this video will help your point for sure@flow_marvel1898: You people will never be happier like— it’s literally the same and both are in slowmo y’all bandwagon fans need to leave this to us. #AvatarTheLastAirbender
Oh yeah this video will help your point for sure https://t.co/kXJc2ukCP3
— joe bro’dib (@jbromovies) February 18, 2024
It seems like following the recent comments from cast and creatives of the new Avatar reboot, fans no longer feel hopeful about the series after an initially positive response to the show’s first couple trailers.
From major changes and retcons, to odd changes including getting rid of “sexism” in the original — actually meant to be a learning point in the original — and comments that the show would try (bafflingly) to appease Game of Thrones fans, it appears that this is the last straw for many fans of the series.
These fans have even begun to compare the new Netflix series to the heavily despised 2010 movie adaptation by M. Night Shyamalan, The Last Airbender:
@TaiyoYozakura: What in the M. Night Shyamalan is this?
What in the M. Night Shyamalan is this?
— Albumbrella (@TaiyoYozakura) February 15, 2024
The backlash is to the point that fans are actively wishing it wasn’t going to be adapted into live-action:
this totally baffles me like why they gotta do a live action when nobody even wants it? and the hype ain’t even there plus they’re cutting or changing some scenes too. that’s why it’s better off staying animated
this totally baffles me like why they gotta do a live action when nobody even wants it? and the hype ain't even there plus they're cutting or changing some scenes too. that's why it's better off staying animated
— goddess francesca ❤️🔥 (@francescafaithh) February 19, 2024
Has Netflix made a wrong step in marketing the movie? Should this even have been made in the first place?
It’s natural to wonder whether changes like these influenced the decision of the show’s original creators, Konietzko and DiMartino, who were initially involved in the live-action adaptation, to depart the project and establish Avatar Studios under Paramount+ (Paramount Plus).
The brand-new Avatar Studios is committed to continuing the narratives from the original Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra series. The studio is already in the process of developing a prequel series, along with another series that follows the adventures of young adult Avatar Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen), Fire Lord Zuko (Dante Basco), and the rest of “Team Avatar,” as well as a series set in the future of the Avatar world after Avatar Korra (Janet Varney).
It definitely seems as if the February 22 release might indicate a rocky start to the new Netflix series. Only time will tell if the show in its entirety holds up to this increased scrutiny, however.
Are you excited or worried about Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action remake? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
More on Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender
In September 2018, Netflix announced plans for a “reimagined” live-action Avatar remake, with production slated to begin in 2019. The original creators, DiMartino and Konietzko, were set to serve as executive producers and showrunners, emphasizing their dedication to adapting the series with a culturally appropriate, diverse cast. Jeremy Zuckerman, the composer for the original show, was also confirmed to return for the remake’s music.
However, on August 12, 2020, both Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko announced their departure from the project on social media, citing creative differences. In February 2021, Albert Kim was revealed as the new showrunner. Later that August, casting details emerged, with Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio Tarbell, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu landing the roles of Avatar Aang, Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, and Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, respectively.
Daniel Dae Kim, who previously voiced General Fong in the original series, was subsequently cast as Fire Lord Ozai, alongside Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Lim Kay Siu, and Ken Leung in their respective roles as Uncle Iroh, Monk Gyatso, and Commander Zhao (later General Zhao). Elizabeth Yu, Maria Zhang, Yvonne Chapman, Casey Camp-Horinek, and Tamlyn Tomita joined as Princess Azula, Earth Kingdom Kyoshi Warrior Suki, Avatar Kyoshi, Grandma Kanna (AKA Gran Gran), and Yukari (an original character), respectively.