When M. Night Shyamalan decided to take on the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, nobody could have predicted that it would end up being the disaster it was. One of the most beloved animated franchises had been turned into an incoherent mess and fans were outraged. The movie didn’t just butcher the story though, it also truncated the title, releasing as The Last Airbender and dropping the ‘Avatar.’
As for why this change was made? Well, in 2009 a certain mega blockbuster directed by James Cameron was released, and it went by the name of Avatar. So, in an attempt to avoid any confusion, Shamalyan’s film just went by the title The Last Airbender. And maybe it’s best that the movie created some distance from the show it’s based on, to ease some of the pain.
A live-action version of the series is getting a second lease of life, though, as a TV show on Netflix. Hopefully this time around it’ll be faithful to the Nickelodeon program and turn out good, if not great. At least they’re making sure no expense is spared on the production side.
The streaming platform even added the original series in its entirety this May and it quickly showed off its staying power by rocketing to the top of Netflix’s charts. It was also made available in HD recently, which was announced with a delightful little tweet.
Whether you’re planning to watch the show for the 50th time or the first, there’s never been a better time to jump in. The world of The Last Airbender and its themes feel just as relevant today as they were back in 2005. Not to mention the amount of heart and spirit that the characters bring to the plot. There’s a reason it’s as universally adored as it is, after all.
Tell us, though, are you hyped for Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, or do you think some franchises should just be left as they are? Let us know in the comments section!
