As fans wait for Netflix to announce the cast of their Avatar: The Last Airbender series, all of the main characters have been envisioned in live-action from in this excellent new fan art. While Avatar has found incredible success in the animated medium, it has struggled more in its transition into live-action. M. Night Shyamalan helmed an Avatar film back in 2010, but fans quickly became disillusioned when numerous changes were made to the plot and characters. It didn't help that a good number of the performers were white, while Avatar is heavily based on Asian culture.
It's with Shyamalan's The Last Airbender in mind that fans grew wary with the news that Netflix will produce a live-action Avatar series. At first, it seemed like Netflix's show was poised for success, as Avatar's creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino were involved with the project. However, the two exited the new Avatar in August over creative differences. As a result, fans once again expressed their worries that Netflix won't handle the show with care, particularly when it comes to casting. So far, no one has been announced, and fans hope Netflix won't whitewash the characters like The Last Airbender did.
Fans have spent a lot of time imagining what characters like Aang, Sokka, and Katara could look like in live-action form, and artist 2bsideon has done a brilliant job bringing them to life in this new piece. The aforementioned trio have all been depicted as real people, as well as Zuko, Toph, and Suki. If Netflix casts performers who look just like this, Avatar will be in good hands. Check out the image down below.
There have been few updates regarding Netflix's Avatar series since DiMartino and Konietzko's exits, leading many to wonder where it stands. As seen above, there's definite interest in Avatar getting another shot a live-action, but progress has been so slow that it'll be a while before it comes to fruition. Perhaps Netflix is taking its time getting the casting just right, which would be a relief to hear. After what happened with The Last Airbender, it's important that the characters are cast right, and that includes hiring actors of color to play them.
Avatar's world is among the most inventive and fun fantasy universes out there, and there are a slew of things Netflix needs to work on to make a show that honors what came before. Between the bending, the creatures, and the settings, Avatar is made up of a lot of vital parts that fans have many opinions on. Can Netflix pull it off? Hopefully. If not, fans will surely keep Avatar alive through works like the art above.
Source: 2bsideon/Reddit