Avatar: The Last Airbender is a childhood classic for many. It’s three-season run left quite the impression on people. We entered a world full of people that could bend the elements to their whim. A diverse cast of characters gave us humor, drama, and plenty of action. The original creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko put a lot of love into this franchise. It was so popular that Nickelodeon continued with the sequel series The Legend of Korra and continued to tell the stories of the original’s through comics. Sadly, the translation to live action didn’t go as hoped. Director M. Night Shyamalan became infamous after he released his version back in 2010. Now, people were looking to Netflix to give fans the live-action adaptation they’ve been dreaming of. Even better, the original creators were given full reigns to create the series but sadly it seems as if some things aren’t meant to be.
On his personal blog, Michael DiMartino had announced that after two years of development, he and Bryan Konietzko are leaving the production. As such, they have backed down as showrunners for the series. He does not offer any significant details on what may have transpired but it seems to be due to creative differences. This is a heavy blow for the franchise, as many hoped that their vision would help keep this live-action version as close to the original as possible. Sadly, this isn’t uncalled for especially with the current climate. They do remain optimistic about the future of this adaptation, and after two years of investment, Netflix won’t just back away from it so easily. DiMartino also confirmed that he will continue his work in this universe, so the stories of Aang and Korra will continue. Now all eyes will be on Netflix and who they announce as the new showrunner for the show. Whoever it may be, they have some big shoes to fill.
Source: Michael DiMartino Blog
