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'Avatar: The Last Airbender' creators quit live-action show leaving fans pessimistic about Netflix series

The original creators of the animated show, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko announced their departure saying, "it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make"

Fans of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ received some bad news on Wednesday, August 12. The original creators of the animated show, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, are no longer involved with the planned live-action adaptation of the series at Netflix.

“Many of you have been asking me for updates about the ‘Avatar’ live-action Netflix series,” DiMartino wrote in an open letter on his website. “I can finally tell you that I am no longer involved with the project. In June of this year, after two years of development work, Bryan Konietzko and I made the difficult decision to leave the production.”

“When Bryan and I signed on to the project in 2018, we were hired as executive producers and showrunners. In a joint announcement for the series, Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating 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,” he wrote. 

“Unforeseen events arise. Plans have to change,” he wrote about production challenges. “And when those things have happened at other points during my career, I try to be like an Air Nomad and adapt. I do my best to go with the flow, no matter what obstacle is put in my way. But even an Air Nomad knows when it’s time to cut their losses and move on.”

But he assured fans that he is still involved in the ‘Avatar’ universe. “These stories and characters are important to me and the renewed interest and excitement in Avatar and Korra has been inspiring to see,” he said. “Writing this letter has left me with a very heavy heart. I know many of you will be disappointed and frustrated by this news. I get it. I share your disappointment and frustration. I also recognize this creative setback is small compared to the problems we’re all facing as a society right now.”

“And who knows? Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good,” he wrote. “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.”

Following this, a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement, “We have complete respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story that they created in the ‘Avatar’ animated series. Although they have chosen to depart the live-action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation.”

Fans were not happy with the news at all. And many, following the announcement, assumed the worst, despite DiMartino's optimism. “Atla fans when they realize we’re getting another bad live-action remake,” wrote a Twitter user.

Another fan wrote, “The way we don’t know if ATLA live-action is gonna have a culturally accurate cast despite the OG writers leaving the show. If I see one white person, y’all will be dealt with. IF THE WATER BENDERS ARE ANYTHING OTHER THAN INUIT/ INDIGENOUS THERE WILL BE BLOOD.”

In fact, fans quickly moved from pessimistic to antagonistic very soon. One fan wrote, “I pray to God that Netflix’s live adaptation of Avatar The Last Airbender FLOPS since they won’t let the creators have full creative control over the show!”

Another said, “@netflix Y’all might as well not bother with #avatar since it’s not gonna be Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko’s vision. Why sink so much money into something that will surely fail? The ship sails with Michael and Bryan. We could have had something SO amazing.”

Several fans also shared a Change.org petition asking, “Netflix to NOT butcher the ATLA Live-Action Series.” At the time of writing this, the petition had 1,676 signatures. It said, “The show is problematic as it is, but in light of Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino’s decision to leave and not take part in the project, despite working on it for two years, we fear that the show is going to be butchered even worse, and could lead to microaggressions in real life, and contribute to racial injustices because people fail to see minorities as real people with real voices.”

The original animated series ended its run in 2008. The sequel series, ‘Legend of Korra’, aired for four seasons from 2012-2014. The live-action version of the hit Nickelodeon animated series was first ordered at Netflix in September 2018.