Avatar: Creators Quit Netflix's Live-Action Remake During Pre-Production

Update: Netflix has responded to the blog from Michael Dante DiMartino about leaving the live-action Avatar series. "We have complete respect and admiration for Michael and Bryan and the story that they created in the Avatar animated series," Netflix said in a statement (via The Verge). "Although they have chosen to depart the live action project, we are confident in the creative team and their adaptation."

Original story below...

In 2018, Netflix announced that it would be producing a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, which would feature Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko as showrunners--the duo who created the animated series back in 2005.

However, DiMartino has revealed they've both stepped away from the project in a recent blog post, as production was not going as planned. "Netflix said that it was committed to honoring our vision for this retelling and to supporting us on creating the series," DiMartino wrote. "And we expressed how excited we were for the opportunity to be at the helm. Unfortunately, things did not go as we had hoped."

He went on to explain that plans have to change due to unforeseen events, as productions are challenging, in general. But DiMartino continued writing that he knows when to "cut his losses and move on."

"Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar has the potential to be good," he continued. "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."

DiMartino went on to write that he understands people will be disappointed, as he too is frustrated. However, this will not be the end of him working on stories in the Avatar universe.

Both Avatar: The Last Airbender and the follow-up series The Legend of Korra are available to stream on Netflix.