Related: 10 Must-Watch Netflix Shows If You Enjoyed Patriot Act With Hasan MinhajĪssuming that's the case, the upcoming adaptation will likely feature a cast, not unlike that of The Umbrella Academy Netflix could even borrow an actor or two from the series. How old they want the trio is unknown, though based on Netflix's current trend of YA dramas, it's safe to say the streamer is going with a group of young adults over children. The initial report from FandomWire indicates that Netflix wants to age up the Aang, Katara, and Sokka characters. Nickelodeon and producer Dan Lin are now in charge of the live-action adaptation, although there's one change that has everyone concerned. A spokesperson for the streamer told The Verge that " are confident in the creative team and their adaptation," confirming the project's continued development. They could've compromised with Netflix and agreed to audition actors optioned to them, but that may have opened the door for the streaming giant to pull their weight during negotiations, giving way to terrible casting decisions.Īs problematic as all that seems, the Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender is still moving forward. So after witnessing a virtual "white-washing" of their characters the first time around, DiMartino and Koneitzko are justified in wanting complete control over the new cast. Related: Watch: Netflix Releases Sneak Peek Of Its Upcoming Film ‘The Sleepover’ The central trio in Shyamalan's movie-who are the most integral to the story-was portrayed by Caucasian actors while actors of multiple ethnicities comprised the remaining cast. The problem is DiMartino and Koneitzko didn't want their cast white-washed as Shyamalan did with his 2010 film. Casting actors from all walks of life is always a good thing, which should go without saying. The show's creators weren't arguing with each other, but rather, with the streaming service's directions.įandomWire's sources also reported that Netflix pushed to audition actors of all nationalities-an option that the show's creators rejected. The reason for that is DiMartino and Koneitzko also had conflicting views on casting.
While disappointing, it's probably better the showrunners called it quits now rather than later. Related: Here's Why Nickelodeon Should Make Another Avatar Series All these different factors would make a loyal adaptation of the series quite costly, so there's a valid explanation for the split. These would be massive considering every season of Avatar: The Last Airbender took the main troupe of characters to new locations, changed their appearances multiple times over, and brought them face-to-face with a plethora of hybrid creatures. A reason why the showrunners needed more money is unclear, of course, the logical explanation is that the VFX, costumes, and set designs, contributed to costs they foresaw going into the project. According to FandomWire, their inside sources at Netflix say that DiMartino and Koneitzko requested a bigger budget, which the streaming giant rejected.