NETFLIX IS TAKING an exciting approach to its business plan: transforming existing properties, especially animation, into live-action versions. It’s a daring move that has seen both successes and failures.
One of the most memorable attempts at this adaptation plan was Cowboy Bebop, starring John Cho. Although the famous anime tried to make a solid adaptation, fans were not pleased, and the show was considered a failure.
On the other hand, Netflix recently turned the One Piece anime into a live-action show, which fared much better than Cowboy Bebop. One Piece received critical and audience praise, leading to an immediate renewal for a second season.
So, what’s next on Netflix’s list of major shows to adapt? It’s arguably one of the greatest children’s shows of all time: Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Originally airing from 2005–2008, the series is set in a vast and fascinating fantasy world where people have the chance to be born with elemental powers: earth, air, fire, and water. Each element becomes integral to the community of people and the kingdoms they build. The only person who can stop conflicts from happening is the Avatar, a being who controls all four elements and maintains peace between nations and cultures.
When the Fire Nation becomes too powerful, they decide to destroy the Air Nation, leaving one Airbender left: 12-year-old Aang. Aang, along with members of the Water Tribes, Sokka and Katara, travels to various elemental villages and cities to learn all four elements to defeat the Fire Lord Ozai.
While the show ran for three seasons, it has lived on in a spin-off chronicling the journey of the next Avatar, Korra, and has continued through ongoing comics. There’s a lot of material for the Netflix show to explore.
Before we delve into the show and Netflix’s plans, we should also address the elephant in the room: M. Night Shyamalan’s attempt to adapt the show into a film trilogy in 2010. With bad CGI, terrible acting, and an incomprehensible plot, the film was a failure. Let’s hope Netflix learns from that endeavor.
Another caveat is that the original creators of the show and comics are involved.