First Look at the Live-Action Version of Avatar: The Last Airbender

The new live-action series "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is rocking the boat: During the worldwide fan event Tudum in São Paulo, Brazil, the main characters and a short teaser could be seen. The first shots of the Netflix version of the extremely popular Nickelodon series were met with mixed feelings.

The first attempt at a live-action feature film by M. Night Shyamalan is still regarded as a huge flop. Accordingly, fans are critical of the new effort to adapt the cult series with real humans. The new images show Gordon Cormier as the main character Aang, Sokka actor Ian Ousley, Kiawentiio as Katara and Dallas Liu as Zuko. The latter is the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation and is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming series.

While the costumes and makeup of the four main characters basically reflect the designs of the animated series, many see it more as a failed attempt at cosplay. In spite of the doubts, others do praise the style and look forward to the Netflix adaptation all the more after seeing the teased footage. By the way, one of the central aspects of casting and production, according to those responsible, is the representation of diversity - a subject that showrunner Albert Kim already addressed in an interview in August 2021.

Fans of the original series will be eagerly but skeptically waiting for more information, especially after the creators of the original series, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, left the project. They felt that the Netflix production was heading in the wrong direction. An official release date for the eight episodes of the series is currently unknown, but it is anticipated that "Avatar: The Last Airbender" will be released during 2024.