Shut up and stop whatever it is you are doing right this moment, because the only thing that matters right now is that Netflix have FINALLY released the first trailer for their live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) series, and it’s hotter than season three Zuko.
Years since since Netflix’s announcement of the first live-action adaptation of the hit show (Yes, first. We do not accept or even acknowledge the existence of M. Night Shyamalan‘s 2010 The Last Airbender), fans have been drip-fed content from the first poster, to recent cast announcements and first look pictures.
But now we finally have an immaculate two minute series trailer — and a confirmed 2024 premiere date. Time to start counting sleeps!
From impeccable aesthetics and casting, to tea around the original creators’ involvement in the show, here’s everything we know about Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
What is in Netflix’s ATLA trailer?
The first full glorious trailer for Netflix’s live-action reboot of the beloved 2000’s ATLA series was released to it’s YouTube page on November 10, and it’s safe to say that Avatar fans are being very well fed tonight.
The trailer features a bit of everything you could possibly want: plot hints, breathtaking shots of fan-favourite characters, spectacular visuals, some incredible recreations of locations from the original show, and — most importantly — live-action element bending.
Just try and watch it without making any sort of nerdy “woah” sound. I dare you.
The trailer features narration from what fans have assumed to be Aang’s airbending master, Monk Gyatso, lamenting on time.
“The past, the future, it all gets mixed up. There’s only one way to keep it straight,” narrates the ominous voice over shots of key plot moments from the show — war between the Fire Nation and Air Nomads, Katara and Sokka discovering Aang.
The narration closes with Gyatso reminding his listener to, “always remember who you are.”
I remember everything, Gyatso. Everything except for whatever happened in 2010.
When will Netflix’s Avatar reboot come out?
Netflix’s recent ATLA trailer ends with the announcement that fans have been dying to hear for literal years now: a release date.
Thankfully the long wait is over, as we now know that the premiere date for the highly anticipated show to be February 22, 2024. Alert the group chat ASAP.
That means that from the trailer drop, fans have a three month wait. Which is exactly how long it would take Avatar Aang to master an entire element — so get training!
What is Netflix’s reboot of ATLA going to be about?
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is a remake so it’ll follow the general plot of the OG series, but as a live-action adaptation.
For those of you who haven’t see the original ATLA, and therefore have never known joy, here’s a brief summary. The world is split into four nations: Air Nomads, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes. Some people from these nations can “bend”, AKA use the element of their nation as a kind of super power (whose movements and fighting styles are modelled after different forms of martial arts).
Once, the four nations lived in harmony — then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked the other tribes. Normally the Avatar, a person who could master all four elements and was reborn into every generation, would have stopped them and kept the peace. But “when the world needed him most”, the Avatar disappeared. And then, over a century later, he was found: a twelve year old airbender, Aang, trapped in ice as the last of his kind. Despite being just a kid, he becomes the world’s only hope in the fight against Fire Nation supremacy.
Who has been cast in Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Netflix has been steadily releasing information on casting and honestly it looks fkn amazing.
Filipino-Canadian actor Gordon Cromier has been cast as Aang and look! at! that! face!
He was 12 years old at the time of casting, so in the perfect age bracket, and he definitely embodies our eternally positive airbender. We love to see it!
Rounding out the rest of our golden trio is 16-year-old Native American actor and singer Kiawentiio Tarbell from the Mohawk tribe as Katara and 19-year-old Ian Ousley, who is of the Cherokee tribe, as Sokka.
Casting two Native American leads in this franchise is fkn ground-breaking, though it shouldn’t be — the series has always been very diverse.
Our beloved brooding babe Zuko has also been cast and you won’t be disappointed because Dallas Liu is a carbon copy. Is it just me or is it hot in here?
The Fire Nation girlies have been cast as follows: Elizabeth Yu as the villainous Azula, Momona Tamada as our adorable circus freak Ty Lee, and Thalia Tran as monotone bestie with a heart of gold Mai.
The rest of the cast list is stacked with big names too.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as been cast as Uncle Iroh and Daniel Dae Kim is Fire Lord Ozai.
George Takei (!!) has also been cast as Koh, that terrifying predatory spirit that definitely haunted your nightmares as a kid. Look at his vacant smile… I’ve never seen such an excellent choice. Give this casting director a raise!!
Danny Pudi (KING!!!!!) has also been cast as The Mechanist and Utkarsh Ambudkar is King Bumi. TWO icons playing some of the most fun and eccentric characters in the ATLA universe?? It’s Christmas come early.
If you want to get emotional, Amber Midthunder has been cast as Princess Yue. I am going to sob when I see her turn into the fkn moon.
Oh, and the most important casting of the whole franchise: Jamies Sie as the cabbage merchant. Iconic.
Side note, but there is not a white person in sight in this cast list and it is GLORIOUS. No more whitewashing!
You can see the full cast here.
Are there any pictures of the Avatar: The Last Airbender set?
Yes, and they look fkn epic. I’ve had my reservations about this reboot (I think we’re all collectively traumatised from that live action film), but so far, Netflix’s version is looking amazing.
Before these stunning pics were released, we also were blessed with the Water Tribe’s first look *and* a sneak peek at Aang and Zuko in action. Check them below:
Ian Ousley is really nailing that trade-mark Sokka sass, by the way.
How long will the episodes be?
It was initially expected that Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series would consist of 10 hour-long episodes. However, now it’s reported that there will actually be eight.
This reminded me of Game of Thrones‘ final season which was Not Good partially because it was rushed, but I’m remaining optimistic! I mean, the first season of the original Avatar was a total of six hours, so eight hours is more than enough to cover the source material.
Are the original creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender involved?
The original creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender were initially involved in the franchise and everything seemed well and grand, until it wasn’t.
“We can’t wait to realise Aang’s world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast,” Avatar‘s original creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, said in a joint announcement at the time.
However, they’ve since pulled out because they felt they weren’t being listened to during production.
Taking to their respective social media accounts, DiMartino and Konietzko announced their departure from the series.
“When Netflix brought me on board to run this series alongside Mike two years ago, they made a very public promise to support our vision,” Konietzko wrote.
“Unfortunately, there was no follow-through on that promise.
“Though I got to work with some great individuals, both on Netflix’s side and on our own small development team, the general handling of the project created what I felt was a negative and unsupportive environment.”
Oh nooo.
In DiMartino’s statement, things sounded even worse.
“Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good. It might turn out to be a show many of you end up enjoying. But what I can be certain about is that whatever version ends up on-screen, it will not be what Bryan and I had envisioned or intended to make,” he said.
Konietzko made it clear that this wasn’t a simple matter of “not getting our way.”
“Mike and I are collaborative people; we did not need all the ideas to come from us. As long as we felt those ideas were in line with the spirit and integrity of Avatar, we would have happily embraced them,” he said.
“However, we ultimately came to the belief that we would not be able to meaningfully guide the direction of the series.”
But, Konietzko said there are still very talented people working on the series, some of whom he personally hired.
“I hope they get the chance to do their best work on the series,” he said.
“Perhaps the team that remains might still be able to make something fans of the original and an entirely new audiences can enjoy.”
Crying, screaming, throwing up.
Look, am I devastated at this news? Yes. It is never a good sign when the original creator doesn’t have the control they want in their series. Just look at Game of Thrones‘ final season. Or any of the film adaptions of Percy Jackson.
But that being said, the cast for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender looks incredible, so I still have hope. And maybe it being a little different isn’t a bad thing — what would be the point of a reboot if it wasn’t modernised a bit, right? Am I just saying that to comfort myself? Perhaps.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
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