10 Anticipated Surprises in Netflix's Revival of Avatar: The Last Airbender

Article Overview

Netflix's live-action

Avatar: The Last Airbender

fixes the 2010 movie's casting issue and offers a bright future for the franchise.

Including Fire Lord Ozai and Azula in season 1 provides the opportunity for early development of crucial antagonists, preventing rushed characterizations.

Netflix's adaptation ensures fresh storylines while remaining faithful to the original series, as evidenced by the showcased sets and costumes.

Netflix's upcoming live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender is an exciting development for multiple reasons, especially considering the success of One Piece on the streaming platform. After the failure of M. Night Shyamalan's live-action film adaptation of The Last Airbender in 2010, it appeared that the beloved Nickelodeon show was not suitable for this format. However, Netflix aims to prove this assumption wrong by reimagining the series as a TV show rather than a movie, allowing for more time to establish its identity and capture the essence of the original.

Netflix's adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender has already addressed the significant issue faced by the movie, setting a promising foundation for the new version. Nevertheless, viewers eagerly await the release of season 1 in 2024, and as the premiere approaches, anticipation is expected to build. The excitement seems justified, as everything revealed about the project so far suggests a faithful and enjoyable interpretation of the original series.

10. Netflix's The Last Airbender Fixed The 2010 Movie's Casting Problem

The Netflix series' doesn't whitewash its characters

Shyamalan's 2010 live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender faced immediate backlash for whitewashing its characters, which was a disrespectful move considering the heavy inspiration the series drew from Eastern cultures and historical events. The predominantly white cast of the movie undermined its authenticity. To rectify this issue, Netflix's version of the series has chosen to cast Asian American and Indigenous actors in the key roles.

9. Azula And Ozai Are Appearing In The Last Airbender Season 1

Netflix is making positive changes to the animated show

The remake of Netflix's The Last Airbender also brings about alterations to the original series as it introduces Fire Lord Ozai and his daughter, Princess Azula, in season 1. Unlike in the animated show, where these characters don't appear until season 2, the Netflix version has already chosen the actors and unveiled images of them in costume, confirming their participation. This change is beneficial because it permits the adaptation to commence the development of two pivotal antagonists early on. Consequently, the live-action The Last Airbender can allow the villains to evolve naturally and avoid rushing their characterizations.

8. Netflix's The Last Airbender Is Tweaking The Supporting Stories

Longtime fans will have new storylines to look forward to

Netflix's The Last Airbender remake is also captivating due to its reimagined subplots from the original series. The involvement of Azula and Ozai in season 1 practically guarantees this, as their characters will require fresh storylines for their respective roles. This, however, is not the sole modification that Netflix intends to make to the original narrative. While they strive for a faithful adaptation, subtle alterations ensure that fans familiar with the original storyline will be treated to new and engaging plotlines.

7. The Last Airbender's Stills Promise A Faithful Adaptation

The Netflix show's sets and costume designs are promising

The stills from The Last Airbender also give us a glimpse of the show's sets and costume designs, which already seem much more faithful to the original series compared to the 2010 movie. The images of Iroh, Zuko, Ozai, and Azula all feature outfits that closely resemble their animated counterparts, and even the limited view of the show's sets appears to faithfully recreate the settings of the original series. This attention to detail should enhance the overall authenticity and provide a more satisfying experience for fans of the Nickelodeon show.

6. Takeshi Furukawa Has Experience Creating Faithful Scores

Furukawa is a suitable replacement for Jeremy Zuckerman

The departure of The Last Airbender's original composer, Jeremy Zuckerman, was disappointing. However, the arrival of Takeshi Furukawa brings a glimmer of hope for the remake's score. Furukawa has proven expertise in creating scores based on iconic soundtracks, as seen with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Although it may not reach the level of the original composer's incredible soundtrack for the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender, it is difficult to imagine finding a better replacement than Furukawa.

5. Netflix's The Last Airbender Can Learn From The Failed 2010 Film

The live-action series can learn from the movie's mistakes

Another advantage of Netflix's remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender is that it can take the 2010 film as a reference point on what not to do when adapting the series. The movie version of The Last Airbender failed due to various reasons, such as the controversial decision to cast non-Asian actors and the hurried pace of the storyline. By observing these mistakes, Netflix's interpretation can avoid replicating them. This is particularly crucial in terms of the production design, including sets and costumes, as well as in finding the most effective way to portray bending in a live-action format, which remains a significant challenge.

4. Netflix's The Last Airbender Will Have Longer Episodes Than The Animated Show

This will give it time to flesh out its storylines and characters

The Last Airbender will benefit from Netflix's live-action format, as it allows for longer episodes compared to the original series. This extended length will enable the show to thoroughly develop its stories and characters, providing a more immersive experience. Moreover, the added duration will give the series the necessary space to maintain an engaging pace without leaving any narrative gaps. While The Last Airbender has the potential to cover multiple episodes of the original show in a single episode, it will also retain the flexibility to adapt on a one-to-one basis when required.

3. The Last Airbender's TV Format Will Allow It To Tell The Whole Story

The movie wasn''t able to cover the full narrative

The upcoming live-action adaptation of The Last Airbender will be presented as a TV show, affording it the opportunity to fully explore the entire story. This was a major drawback of the 2010 movie, which could only cover a fraction of The Last Airbender's expansive narrative. Furthermore, the television format will provide ample room for building the world, allowing new fans to immerse themselves in the intricacies of the original show.

2. Netflix's The Last Airbender Will Have Modern Special Effects

This will help the adaptation overcome its biggest challenge

One of the major obstacles faced in bringing The Last Airbender to life as a live-action adaptation is the challenge of presenting bending in a believable manner. Fortunately, advancements in special effects since the disappointing 2010 film have been significant, enhancing the ability to create visually authentic bending experiences. The utilization of modern CGI should enable the portrayal of bending in a realistic fashion without encountering major complications, particularly if the budget allocated to The Last Airbender on Netflix meets expectations. Taking this into consideration, viewers can anticipate a truly enjoyable and immersive display of bending in the upcoming series.

1. Avatar Studios Projects Will Build Hype For The Overall Franchise

Other shows may increase interest in The Last Airbender

Avatar Studios is expanding the immersive world of Avatar: The Last Airbender through the development of new movies and TV shows. This exciting endeavor aims to not only generate greater interest in the franchise, but also has the potential to enrich the original story. Additionally, these spinoffs will serve as a way to keep fans engaged during the potentially prolonged gap between seasons, which has been known to occur due to the extensive time required to complete each season.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I am thrilled about the upcoming Netflix live-action adaptation. The original animated series holds a special place in my heart, and I have been eagerly anticipating this new take on the story.

Based on what has been revealed so far, I am cautiously optimistic about the direction Netflix is taking with the series. The casting choices, in particular, have been a major source of excitement for me. The original movie's whitewashing was a huge disappointment, so I am relieved that Netflix has committed to a more diverse and authentic cast. The inclusion of Asian American and Indigenous actors in the key roles is a step in the right direction and shows that Netflix understands the importance of representation.

I am also intrigued by the changes Netflix is making to the original storyline. Introducing Fire Lord Ozai and Princess Azula in season 1 is a bold move, but I think it has the potential to pay off. This will allow the show to develop these characters more fully and avoid the rushed characterizations that plagued the movie. I am also excited to see how Netflix reimagines some of the subplots from the original series.

Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The casting choices and the faithfulness to the original material are promising signs, and I am eager to see how the show turns out.