Albert Kim was left as the sole showrunner of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender when the creators of the original animated series left the live-action adaptation. Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were initially announced as executive producers and showrunners, but they left the project because they couldn’t agree with Netflix’s vision. Kim revealed that he was upset about the original creators leaving, as he enjoyed working on the show with them.
DiMartino and Konietzko were involved in the development of the project for more than two years. They announced their exit on their Instagram that it was a very difficult process for them. Fans still have hope as the creators may return for the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender movies.
Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Showrunner Opens Up About OG Creators Leaving
The live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, dropped on Netflix a few days back. The critical response to the series was disappointing with the series earning a Rotten Tomatoes score of 59% from 56 reviews. The series failed to capture the essence of the original, as they tried to cram too much of the original into 8 episodes of the first season of the series.
Fans almost predicted the series’ failure when the creators of the animated series, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, announced their exit. They had several creative differences with Netflix, which led to their ultimate decision. The responsibility of the series fell on the third showrunner and writer, Albert Kim, who was a relatively new joiner at the time. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kim has finally opened up about DiMartino and Konietzko.
Albert Kim shared that the duo had been working on the series for a long time, and he got the chance to chat with them. Kim immediately caught on to their vision for the series. He shared that he was warming up to them when they decided that they needed to leave the Netflix project, which came as upsetting news. The crew decided to do their best without the OG creators, as Albert Kim told THR:
“They were still involved when I first joined. They had been working on it for a while on their own, but then I came on board, so we overlapped for a little bit. I got the chance to talk to them a lot about the show. Everything from their vision, and what I thought should be done, to me geeking out about being able to talk to the original creators.”
Kim continued, about them leaving:
“So, we worked together for a little while, and then they decided they needed to leave and that was a personal decision on their part. It did bum me out, because I enjoyed working with them and I obviously would have loved to have kept on doing that. But they went through their own process, which started before I was part of the project. And it was a personal decision for them to leave. We just kept on going as best we could without them.”
However, the crew’s best efforts failed to impress the general audience and fans of the original series. The Netflix adaptation was marred by several issues, including a jam-packed adaptation and over-simplified character arcs.
Why Did Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko Leave Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Michael Dante DiMartino revealed in an Instagram post that he was no longer involved in the Netflix project in August 2020. DiMartino shared that things did not work out as they had expected. DiMartino revealed that Instagram circumstances arose during the production of Avatar: The Last Airbender. While the creator had adapted like an Air Nomad in similar situations earlier, this time he knew that he had to cut his losses and move on. DiMartino shared on Instagram:
“Look, things happen. Productions are challenging. Unforeseen events arise. Plans have to change. And when those things have happened at other points during my career, I try to be like an Air Nomad and adapt. I do my best to go with the flow, no matter what obstacle is put in my way. But even an Air Nomad knows when it’s time to cut their losses and move on.”
Bryan Konietzko, too, announced the news on his Instagram with a “Big Sigh.” Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, and Ian Ousley played Aang, Katara, and Sokka in the series respectively. Interestingly, Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series is now available for streaming on Netflix.
