Two years ago, Netflix announced ambitious plans to adapt Avatar: The Last Airbender as a live-action series. Netflix also lined up Avatar co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko to serve as showrunners on the new show. However, the series will now go forward without its original creators. Via The Wrap, DiMartino revealed that he and Konietzko left the series over creative differences with Netflix.
“Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating the series,” wrote DiMartino on his blog. “And we expressed how excited we were for the opportunity to be at the helm. Unfortunately, things did not go as we had hoped.”
DiMartino went on to say that “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 ends up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make.”
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“I also want to be clear that this doesn’t mean the end of my involvement in the Avatar universe,” added DiMartino. “These stories and characters are important to me and the renewed interest and excitement in Avatar and Korra has been inspiring to see.”
Additionally, Konietzko shared a statement of his own via his Instagram account.
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Netflix hasn’t announced who will replace DiMartino and Konietzko on the new series. The original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series is currently streaming on Netflix.
What do you think about DiMartino and Konietzko’s departure from the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series? Let us know in the comment section below!
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