EntertainmentTVDrama ShowsAvatar: The Last AirbenderNetflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender will depict events never actually seen in the original series, says showrunnerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentTVDrama ShowsAvatar: The Last AirbenderNetflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender will depict events never actually seen in the original series, says showrunnerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Netflix)
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series will bring certain events from the original series' lore to life for the first time, says showrunner Albert Kim.
While opening up about the differences between the animation, which ran between 2005 and 2008, and the upcoming live-action adaptation, Kim candidly tellsSFX magazine: “The original series never shows the Fire Nation attacking the Southern Air Temple, and that’s something we do see in our version.”
During the interview, Kim goes on to reveal that antagonist Azula features much more heavily in the new series' first chapter than she did in the animation’s, since he and the writers “had the advantage of knowing a lot of things that are ahead”. May December’s Elizabeth Yu brings her to life this time around, while Ian Ousley, Kiawentiio, and Gordon Cormier play Sokka, Katara, and Aang respectively.
(Image credit: Netflix)
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“We play to that,” he continues in the new issue, which features Halo season 2 on the cover. “We know how big a character Azula becomes in the series, so we had the benefit of hindsight in fleshing out her character and being able to tell a story with her in it in season 1.”
Elsewhere, Kim explains that the Netflix show will be less ‘adventure of the week’, which is a format the animated series used in its first season, and more of a serialized drama. “We all knew that there were things we wanted to change, but not just for the sake of change. There had to be a reason for the change.” As for what they changed exactly, Kim won’t elaborate, but fortunately fans won’t have to wait too long to find out…
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Avatar: The Last Airbender releases on February 22. The above is just a snippet of our interview, available inthe latest issue of SFX magazine, which features Halo season 2 on the cover and is available on newsstands from Wednesday, January 24. For even more from SFX, sign up for thenewsletter, sending all the latest exclusives straight to your inbox.
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