Gordon Cormier embodies his Avatar: The Last Airbender character in a perfect new image. Adapted from the popular Nickelodeon animated series of the same name, Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender will bring back beloved characters such as Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko in live-action. So far, many of the series' major characters have been cast, with Gordon Cormier taking on the titular role as the budding master of all four elements. Cormier's casting has already earned major praise from fans of the animated show, who appreciate his similarities to the light-hearted and spiritual Aang.Avatar News recently posted a photo on Twitter offering a glimpse of Cormier in contemporary clothing, channeling Aang with a meditative pose. In April earlier this year, Cormier resembled his Avatar: The Last Airbender character in a similar photo, showing that he has continued his dedication to capturing Aang on- and off-screen. Seated with his fists together, legs crossed, and eyes closed, Cormier mimics his animated counterpart, who often sits in that exact posture while meditating, which eventually helped him unlock his chakras to reach the Avatar state. With a skateboard nearby, casual clothing on, and graffiti around him, users have been quick to point out that the young star is a picture-perfect representation of a modern Aang. See the post below:
Will Netflix's ATLA Live Up To The Hype?
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a highly acclaimed and extremely popular animated series, which was well-received during its original network run and has found a much larger audience since it gained a second home on streaming. Spinoff series The Legend of Korra has had a similar trajectory, though Avatar: The Last Airbender sports a larger following. The animated show's continued relevance can be attributed to nostalgia as well as its ability to appeal effectively to all demographics, retaining entertaining elements to engage a younger audience while not shying away from complex themes and more mature topics.
A live-action film based on the series was created by M. Night Shyamalan in 2010, garnering negative reviews from both critics and audiences due to its erasure of Avatar: The Last Airbender's cultural contexts, effectively whitewashing several characters. In addition, the film sported a drastically different tone from the humorous series and made many unpopular changes to its source material, creating a product that disappointed fans. Since the first attempt at a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender project was an unsatisfying addition to the franchise for many, news of the Netflix series was initially met with mixed reactions.
Originally, Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were attached to the Netflix project, which was a promising indication that it would correct the movie's missteps and become a compelling tribute to the original series. Though the creators later departed from the project due to creative differences, the casting announcements and a few other details released about the series have indicated that the Netflix show will strive for accuracy. While very little information is known about Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender, it's clear that the upcoming show's creators have an understanding of the criticisms levied at the movie, which could set the new series up for success when it premieres.
Source: Avatar News/Twitter