Michael Dante DiMartino said the upcoming Netflix series would not be what he and co-creator Bryan Konietzko “had proposed as intended to create.”
Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, makers of Nickelodeon’s classic ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’, have left Netflix’s upcoming live adaptation.
DiMartino announced the news Wednesday morning in an open letter on its website, which can be read here.
“When Bryan and I signed up for the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners. In a joint announcement for the series, Netflix said it was committed to honoring our vision for this iteration and supporting us in making 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,” DiMartino said in his open letter.
‘Look, things are happening. Productions are challenging. Unforeseen events arise. Plans need to change. And when these things happen at other points during my career, I try to be an Air Nomad and adapt. I do my best to go with the flow, no matter what obstacle sets in my way. But even an Air Nomad knows when it’s time to cut back on their losses and move on. ”
DiMartino stated that the adaptation of Netflix “has the potential to be good”, but stressed that, whatever happens with the series, it would not be what he and Konietzko “had proposed or intended to do.” He explained that the decision was the hardest professional decision he had ever made, but said it was “necessary for my happiness and creative integrity.”
“We have full respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story they created in the animated series ‘Avatar,’ a Netflix spokesman said in a statement to IndieWire. “Although they have chosen to leave the live-action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation.”
Sources close to the production told IndieWire that there were creative differences between the duo, Netflix and other individuals involved in the project on how to best adapt the animated series to a show of live action. Production continues with Nickelodeon, Dan Lin, and the team added at Rideback.
A few details about Netflix’s live action adaptation, which was announced in September 2018, have been released. Netflix has recently obtained licensing rights for “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Legend of Korra.” The original series has seen great success on the streaming service since its debut in May, and the sequels are among the most anticipated titles in August.
While there has been no shortage of live-action adaptations of favorite animated titles over the years, Netflix’s upcoming adaptation will likely have some control over Shyamalan’s infamous 2010 “The Last Airbender” movie. The live-action film, which was based on the first season of the comic strip, received rave reviews from fans and critics.
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