Advertisement

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Co-Creators Reveal They Are No Longer Part of Netflix Live-Action Reboot

Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

From Seventeen

In a huge blindside to Avatar: The Last Airbender fans, the animated series' original co-creators have announced that they are no longer involved in the Netflix live-action adaptation of the series.

Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko announced in separate announcements that they are no longer involved in the series due to differences with Netflix.

"When Netflix brought me on board to run this series alongside Mike two years ago, they made a very public promise to support our vision," Bryan wrote. "Unfortunately, there was no follow-through on that promise. 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."

In his statement, Michael confirmed that the duo left the project back in June of this year, after the original animated series hit the streaming giant and became a big hit.

"I realized I couldn't control the creative direction of the series, but I could control how I responded. So, I chose to leave the project," he wrote. "It was the hardest professional decision I've ever had to make, and certainly not one that I took lightly, but it was necessary for my happiness and creative integrity."

"And who knows? 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 end up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make."

Both co-creators confirmed that they will continue to work on Avatar: The Last Airbender projects outside of the live-action series. Currently, a series of YA books surrounding Avatar Kyoshi have been released, alongside several comics for the original series and The Legend of Korra.

Netflix has yet to announce who will be taking over the series now that Bryan and Michael are gone. Fans can only hope the new showrunners will continue to follow in their footsteps and create an adaptation unlike the live-action film that was released.

You Might Also Like