The series creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender have left the currently in-progress live action retelling of the series. Citing creative differences, original show creator Michael DiMartino decided to depart the production in June along with co-creator Bryan Konietzko. The two had initially been brought on to the remake as showrunners and executive producers.
The adaptation, revealed two years ago, has been assumed to be under steady production since then, with little news escaping the project beyond a few rumors. But apparently that may not have been the case, as the two original creators brought on at the beginning of the project have now cut themselves loose. "I realized I couldn’t control the creative direction of the series," said co-creator DiMartino about the departure, "but I could control how I responded. So, I chose to leave the project."
Avatar: The Last Airbender, which recently became one of the most popular shows on Netflix 15 years after its original Nickelodeon run, has had a rocky history when it comes to adaptations. From the lukewarm reception of the game based on its sequel series, The Legend of Korra, to the infamously scorned live action The Last Airbender film from M. Night Shyamalan, it may seem to some that the property itself is cursed. But many assumed (or perhaps hoped) the upcoming live action series would be an exception to that rule, given how the original two creators were on board. Unfortunately, it seems the rest of the production had other plans.
It's worth noting that the co-creators don't appear to harbor any ill will towards the production. Adding to his comments about leaving, DiMartino continued, "And who knows? 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." What that means for the eventual outcome of the series is still anyone's guess. But it may be safe to say that, at this point, it's not likely to be a straight retelling of the original show.
It's unfortunate, to be sure. Part of the appeal of a remake is seeing something you love in a new light, and too many changes can ruin that feeling for some people. But on the other hand, the upcoming retelling could also be seen as simply that: a retelling. Adaptations like the recent Final Fantasy VII Remake have proven that it's possible to take an original property in a surprising new direction while remaining respectful to the source material, so perhaps something different could end up working. After all, if the show ends up being a flop, the original is always there for fans to fall back on.
Of course, one might also ask, why bother remaking something if you're just going to toss away the source material? At that point, why not just make something new while using the original as inspiration? It's a debate that has permeated fandoms since time immortal, or at least since the first Comic-Con. But perhaps at this point, it's best to just wait and see what happens. Best wishes go out to DiMartino and Konietzko, and best hopes go out to those still working on the project.
Source: MichaelDanteDiMartino.com