Netflix To Produce ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Live-Action Series

Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender will be given a new live-action series produced by Netflix. The original creators of the show, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, will serve as showrunners and executive producers on the project.

DiMartino and Konietzko said in a statement (via TheWrap) that they are excited to work on the new live-action series, promising that the series would feature a “culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast.” The new series allows them to “go even deeper” with the series’ characters, story, action, and world-building.

Netflix Vice President of Kids & Family Content Melissa Cobb said that they are “committed to honoring Bryan [Konietzko] and Mike [DiMartino]’s vision for this retelling and are thrilled to support them on creating a live-action event series.”

Chris Viscardi, senior vice president of animation production and development in Nickelodeon, said the project’s partnership with Netflix allows the network “to tap into [their] enormous library of culturally resonant properties to produce new interpretations.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s original animated series released three seasons with 61 episodes from 2005 to 2008. The story is set in a fantasy world divided into four nations based on the four elements (water, earth, air, fire). The story begins with the Fire Nation overtaking much of the world, and the only one able to restore balance is through the Avatar, master of all four elements. The series follows the adventures of main character Aang and his friends in a quest to master the elements and defeat Fire Lord Ozai to end the destructive war.

The series has been adapted into a comic book and graphic novel series. The 2010 live-action movie adaptation The Last Airbender directed by M. Night Shyamalan received a substantial amount of backlash.

With the new Netflix live-action adaptation, creators DiMartino and Konietzko are hopeful and added that they are “grateful to be partnering with [Netflix],” who allow their creative freedom to retell the animated series into live-action.

The series will start production in 2019.