The last time someone attempted a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender it was M. Night Shyamalan’s 2010 movie and it’s still considered a punchline. But a new series is on the way and headed to Netflix from Albert Kim, original showrunner of the mega-popular animated Nickelodeon franchise, and it looks faithful to what its many fans want.
The new Avatar is led by Gordon Cormier as Aang, joined by Ian Ousley, Kiawentiio, Dallas Liu, and Ken Leung, with Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Daniel Dae Kim.
Here’s the synopsis: Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world. With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope.
But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang (Gordon Cormier), a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka (Ian Ousley) and Katara (Kiawentiio), siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim). But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko (Dallas Liu) determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.”
Netflix will debut Avatar: The Last Airbender in 2024 for an eight-episode first season. This could be a good way to wash away the bad taste fans still have from Shyamalan’s film, because if this fails it’s doubtful anyone will try this again for a long time.
