Avatar: The Last Airbender Live Action Series

Ok, late to the party I know, but I just now found out about this.

The issue was briefly touched on previously, but when I did hear about this my first reaction was "why?".

Other than "cartoons are for kids" (I was in my 30s when I finally saw ATLA via Netflix, mind you ), I don't understand why it needs a retelling. There isn't, from what little I've seen on it since finding out, going to be any significant changes to the plot, unlike say Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, which used the source material for plots but didn't slavishly copy the respective sources.

Also, even setting that aside, it will have a tough go to get out from the shadow of the 2010 movie, even if M. Night Shyamalamadingdong isn't involved with the Netflix show.

All your safe space are belong to Trump

I think its also worth nothing that good writers can come with bad ideas and having multiple people work on ideas is usually better off :P Like both of those two probably came up with both good and bad ideas and they working together ironed out some of the bad ones. Its bad idea to try to blame only one of them

This is all rather hearsay, but the show may begin shooting in Canada in February.

Before you get too excited, this is from an interview with Jessie Flower (Toph) where she relates having lunch with Mike and Bryan last May. So the details are pretty vague, and even if that was the plan it may not happen.

So they have a full cast ready?

Usually there’s an announcement of the cast, unless it’s like the Shamalyan movie which, outside of Asiv Mandvi, had zero star power (and given that none of the actors save Asiv have been seen since, didn’t help any of those kids).

I don't expect much "star power" for the main cast, simply because there aren't a lot of famous young Asian actors in North America.

Shooting in February in Canada does make sense for the Southern Water Tribe exteriors.

I would also point out that, assuming they're doing child actors like they did with Stranger Things, getting rather unknown actors would probably be a smart move and not one that would burst headlines either.

Also Dev Patel...

IIRC the actress who played Yue became Asami's voice actress on Legend of Korra, but hasn't done a lot since.

Edited by Pseudopartition on Oct 29th 2019 at 3:25:17 AM

Looks like production is set to start in February. Still no word on casting.

Well, one would expect a bunch of unknowns for this, so it might be why it's quiet.

Wake me up at your own risk.

Well... This is based on a casual conversion Jessie Flower had with Mike and Bryan last May. Even taking it at face value, a lot can happen since then to delay production.

There's an official page for it on Netflix now, albeit with no content other than a brief description.

It says 2020. That probably means winter release.

Perfect for book one water too.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."

Long ago, the three seasons lived in harmony. But then everything changed when the Shyamalan attacked. Only Bryke, masters of the three seasons, could stop him. But when the franchise needed them most, they vanished.

Ten years passed and Netflix discovered Bryke. And although their production skills are great, they still have a lot to learn before they're ready to save everyone, as evidenced by Legend of Korra. But I believe Bryke can save the franchise.

My Tumblr. Currently liveblogging Haruhi Suzumiya and revisiting Danganronpa V3.

(Psst: I liked Legend of Korra more than Avatar: The Last Airbender.)

I'm just hoping this show actually justifies its existence.

Cause why watch the live-action version when you already have the cartoon as they say?

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."

I'm still hoping it's not a direct adaptation, but a new story. That summary is pretty vague, and I'd guess intentionally so.

Because live-action is cooler when done right.

Why watch Avengers: Endgame when you can just read comics?

Edited by TobiasDrake on Feb 9th 2020 at 11:05:33 AM

My Tumblr. Currently liveblogging Haruhi Suzumiya and revisiting Danganronpa V3.

Though which comic?

Endgame is not a direct adaptation of any specific story.

Even then comics aren’t a moving medium like cartoons are.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."

But Avengers: Endgame isn't an adaptation of any singular comic or storyline — it's an amalgamation of stories with additional original material, meaning that it's basically something we've never seen before. In fact, most MCU films are either original stories or storylines that have redone so that they are significantly different. They aren't the same thing as the comics at all.

In contrast, isn't the live-action Avatar show just supposed to be the cartoon, but, you know, live-action? Or is it going to be different? And how different are we talking about? Is the overall story-arc going to be different or just individual episodes? Or are the episodes themselves going to be the same? Because if so, again, we've seen them all before and now what's going to happen.

Avatar: The Last Airbender was often surprising and it's twists gave audiences a genuine shock. If the live-action show decides to just replicate those same twists, then they aren't twists anymore, so what's the point? And it can't be that "live action is always better," but it isn't. All things being the same, I'd rather watch the cartoon Avatar than the live-action one if they were exactly the same and never deviated.

Edited by alliterator on Feb 10th 2020 at 1:37:37 AM

Truth of the matter is, the West respects live action more than animation after decades of the latter being primarily a medium for children’s programming. Why else would we be getting a live action One Piece while the anime has repeatedly failed to do business in the US?

The reason for a proper LA Airbender show is twofold - Get the show to a new audience that would turn its nose up at animation, and bring back the audience that liked LA but was turned away by Korra. Of course, it would be nice to know exactly who’s working on this. They can’t all be new, can they?

Well, most of the main cast must be young and relatively unknown, but I'd expect someone more experienced for, say, Iroh.

Wake me up at your own risk.

If you could pick anyone (dead or alive) to play Iroh, who would you pick?

I'll say Jackie Chan, because of Irohs comedic side.

You lost!

Mako perhaps. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa for an alternate choice.

Having Jackie Chan play Iroh would not only be a great casting choice but also great marketing for the show. People not familiar with the Original Series would probably tune in just for that.