Netflix's Bold Moves: Why Avatar's Live-Action Remake Deserves Your Full Attention

Summary

Original composer Jeremy Zuckerman not working on Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender is a blow to fans, as his music was beloved.

The absence of Zuckerman raises concerns about the remake's faithfulness to the original series, especially considering the previous departure of the original creators. Nonetheless, the presence of new composer Takeshi Furukawa, known for his reverence and inspiration drawn from iconic scores like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, suggests that Zuckerman's impact could still be discerned through the music in Netflix's Avatar.

Netflix's remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender has sparked mixed feelings among fans of the original show. The disappointment from M. Night Shyamalan's film adaptation still lingers, creating doubts about the success of a live-action version. However, there have been some positive updates regarding Netflix's adaptation, despite initial production issues involving the series' creators. One particular concern among fans has been the musical composition of the show, but perhaps it is not as big of a concern as originally anticipated.

Jeremy Zuckerman Is Being Replaced By Takeshi Furukawa For Netflix's Last Airbender

The divisive aspect of Netflix's adaptation of The Last Airbender arises from the fact that Jeremy Zuckerman, the original series composer, will not be involved in the project. Instead, Takeshi Furukawa, a Japanese-American music composer with a notable background in music composition, has been hired to create the score for the upcoming series. Furukawa's impressive credentials include a highly acclaimed score for the video game The Last Guardian, which led to multiple award nominations and two wins.

Furukawa has also worked on the AppleTV show Mythic Quest, further highlighting his talents as a composer. However, despite Furukawa's abilities, the absence of Jeremy Zuckerman has disappointed many fans and created division among them regarding Netflix's adaptation of The Last Airbender. The production of the live-action series has faced challenges due to this divisive factor.

Zuckerman Not Returning Continues The Last Airbender's Adaptation Problems

Zuckerman's absence from the live-action adaptation of The Last Airbender is another disappointment for fans who appreciated his original themes in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Many had hoped to hear those beloved themes recreated by Zuckerman with a live orchestra, which was not possible within the budget constraints of the original show. This further adds to the concerns about Netflix's ability to stay faithful to the original series, especially considering the link to the showrunner of both the original and the Netflix remake.

When Netflix announced their version of Avatar: The Last Airbender, they also confirmed that Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino would be the showrunners. As the creators of the original show, this gave fans hope that the live-action adaptation would avoid the mistakes of M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 film, which made frustrating changes to the story of Nickelodeon's Avatar. However, just two years after the announcement, Konietzko and DiMartino left the series due to creative differences with Netflix. In their place, Netflix hired Albert Kim to take over as the new showrunner.

Furukawa's History Means Zuckerman's Influence Will Still Be Felt In Netflix's Avatar

Despite Kim's insistence that authenticity drives the creative process of Netflix's The Last Airbender, concerns remain about the show's potential divergence from the original now that DiMartino and Konietzko are no longer involved. These worries were amplified by the news that Zuckerman would not be returning. As seen in iconic franchises like Star Wars, music plays a crucial role in capturing the unique atmosphere of a series, leaving many anxious that Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender might lack in this aspect due to Zuckerman's absence.

With Zuckerman being replaced by Takeshi Furukawa, we can still hope to experience the same musical impact in Netflix's The Last Airbender. Furukawa's previous involvement in Star Wars: The Clone Wars gives us reason to be optimistic. In an interview with Forbes, Furukawa expressed his inspiration in his career after working on The Last Guardian, mentioning John Williams as a significant influence. It is likely because of this connection that he was chosen to join Kevin Kiner in composing for The Clone Wars. Throughout the series, we can observe the clear references, themes, and musical cues from John Williams' iconic Star Wars compositions. This holds promise for the music of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Furukawa's appreciation for iconic scores in various franchises is evident in his work on The Clone Wars. It is highly probable that he will maintain this approach in The Last Airbender. Furukawa's respect for other artists and his ability to strategically incorporate original compositions suggest that he will incorporate Zuckerman's influence into Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender remake, despite his absence.