Twenty years after it first landed on American television, the hit animated series Avatar The Last Airbender has made a comeback on Netflix – and what a comeback it’s been! It is already the #1 show on the platform since its addition on May 15, attracting fans, both new and old.
What’s more, Netflix is also coming out with a live-action adaptation of Avatar, although there is no official date set yet.
Nearly two years ago, when Nickelodeon promised all of its best content, including Avatar, to the streaming giant, a cinematic adaptation of the same was also promised. However, we are yet to hear other official announcements regarding this.
It was also promised that this attempt, which would be the second after the disastrous first in 2010 by M Night Shyamalan, would have the original series’ creators working closely with the film.
It would also be true to the inclusive spirit of the original series in terms of the diversity of its characters.
In their 2018 statement, creators DiMartino and Konietzko had said, “We can’t wait to realize Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast…Netflix is wholly dedicated to manifesting our vision for this retelling, and we’re incredibly grateful to be partnering with them.”
The particular term “non-whitewashed cast” referred to the fact that the 2010 adaptation, a blockbuster film, had all three main characters portrayed by white actors.
This contradicted the fact that the original series was praised the most for its careful integration of cultural, historical, and fantasy elements from across the globe.
The statement further added, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build upon everyone’s great work on the original animated series and go even deeper into the characters, story, action, and world-building.”
A Worthy Investment
In the first week of its release, Avatar was the most-watched show on Netflix. It received more views than the other top 10 titles this week, including Sweet Magnolias, Riverdale, Dead To Me, The Wrong Missy, The Flash, White Lines, Outer Banks, Soul Surfer, Public Enemies.
The show has held a unique appeal for both children and adults alike, given its complex themes and honest yet fun storytelling. Fans have been waiting for the show to come back on a streaming platform ever since it disappeared from Amazon Prime in 2017.
Soon after, Nickelodeon and Netflix came together in agreement to develop animated children’s shows. These shows would be based on old Nick characters with new ideas and stories.
If you have watched Avatar on Netflix recently and it was your first time, comment below to share your experience. If you are an older fan, let us know what your expectations are for the live-action adaptation.
If you are none of the above, we highly recommend this show, because you would soon find everyone around you talking about it and you would regret not watching it while you had plenty of time to kill!
No Comments on Avatar The Last Airbender: Netflix Top 10, Live-action Confirmed