Avatar: The Last Airbender Actress Says Live-Action Show Is Unnecessary
Olivia Hack, who voiced Ty Lee on Avatar: The Last Airbender, calls Netflix's planned live-action show "redundant" because it won't do anything new.
Olivia Hack, who voiced bubbly Ty Lee on Avatar: The Last Airbender, believes Netflix's planned live-action show is unnecessary. Nickelodeon's Avatar only ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2008, but it remains one of the most popular and beloved animated shows of all time. Last year, it saw a major resurgence in popularity when it became available for streaming on Netflix, thus allowing fans old and new to revisit it. Set in a fictional world where people have the ability to "bend" the elements, Avatar follows the titular last airbender Aang as he sets out to put an end to a hundred-year war.
There was an attempt in 2010 to translate Avatar into live-action form with the M. Night Shyamalan-directed The Last Airbender. The backlash against the movie came swiftly, as fans were displeased with the choices made by Shyamalan and others. As a result, there was a weariness among fans when Netflix announced its intention to create a new live-action Avatar series back in 2018. Updates have been slow to come since, and the project suffered a major blow last summer when original Avatar creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino departed over creative differences.
Members of Avatar's original voice cast assembled for a reunion last weekend on StageIt, where they discussed a whole host of topics. Inevitably, Netflix's live-action Avatar was mentioned, and Hack shared her thoughts on the project (via Fandom). The Ty Lee actress stated it "feels redundant." She added, "You’re not adding onto it or expanding the universe. You’re doing the same thing."
Hack isn't the only one to express some apprehension about Netflix's Avatar. Greg Baldwin, who voiced Uncle Iroh during season 3, stated he wasn't sure he trusted Netflix to create a decent Avatar show without Konietzko and DiMartino. Many fans have echoed both Baldwin and Hack's comments. A common fear is that Netflix will whitewash the characters, similar to what happened with The Last Airbender. Others don't feel the live-action series will offer a faithful recreation of the world established in the animated series, which is unique and very well-developed.
Save for Konietzko and DiMartino's exits, there have been few updates regarding Netflix's Avatar show. Zuko voice actor Dante Basco confirmed last weekend he was in talks to serve as a consultant, but hasn't yet joined in an official capacity. At this point, many wonder if Avatar is even in the works anymore. Netflix has yet to say one way or the other, so it remains to be seen. Right now, public opinion isn't exactly favorable; perhaps it would be better for Netflix to leave it alone. On the other hand, maybe the streamer will churn out something that can win over all the naysayers. Only time will tell which way it will go.