“Avatar: The Last Airbender” Creators Quit Netflix Live-Action Adaptation

The creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Michael DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko have decided to leave the Netflix Live-Action series. The two creators mentioned the reason for “creative difference” with the streamer.

Avatar: The Last Airbender creators have left the live-action Netflix project. pic.twitter.com/sa9wEQQN3B

— IGN (@IGN) August 13, 2020

The series that was referred to as the best-animated television series had won several awards including Annie Awards, a Genesis Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Kids’ Choice Award, and a Peabody Award. It was originally produced in 2005 and its three seasons were aired on Nickelodeon from February 2005 till July 2008. The live-action remake of the series was produced for Netflix and it was announced by the streamer that in September 2019 the production of the remake of the Avatar will start and the original creators of the series, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko will be the executive producers and showrunners. The series was made available on Netflix in May 2020 but both the creators left the show due to creative differences.  

In an open letter to fans by Michael Dante DiMartino, he revealed “When Bryan and I signed on to the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners. In a joint announcement for the series, Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating the series. And we expressed how excited we were for the opportunity to be at the helm. Unfortunately, things did not go as we had hoped”. He continued, “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. 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”.  

Netflix is still confident about the live-action adaptation. Its spokesperson said in one of the statements “We have complete respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story that they created in the Avatar animated series, although they have chosen to depart the live-action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation”.  

This news came as a shock and disappointment for the fans who were excited to watch their favorite series on Netflix.