'Avatar: The Last Airbender' showrunner vows 'authenticity' in live-action adaptation

There has been controversy surrounding the live-action adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender" ever since it was ordered by Netflix in 2018.

Fans of the classic animated series were wary of another attempt at retelling the adventures of Aang and his friends, especially since the 2010 film was riddled with accusations of "whitewashing."

In a blog on Netflix's website, showrunner and executive producer Albert Kim shared that he, too, was a fan of the original cartoon, and that his initial thought when offered the show had been: "Why? What is there I could do or say with the story that wasn’t done or said in the original?"

However, he said he realized that a live-action version would "establish a new benchmark in representation and bring in a whole new generation of fans."

"This was a chance to showcase Asian and Indigenous characters as living, breathing people. Not just in a cartoon, but in a world that truly exists, very similar to the one we live in," he said.

He also said that he knew what he didn't want to do, which is "change things for the sake of change."

"I didn’t want to modernize the story, or twist it to fit current trends. Aang is not going to be a gritty antihero. Katara is not going to get curtain bangs," he said.

Kim added that while they will expand and grow on the ATLA universe, they tried to be authentic throughout the process.

"Throughout this process, our byword has been 'authenticity.' To the story. To the characters. To the cultural influences," he said.

"Authenticity is what keeps us going, both in front of the camera and behind it, which is why we’ve assembled a team unlike any seen before—a group of talented and passionate artists who are working around the clock to bring this rich and incredibly beautiful world to life," he added.

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" is a popular animated series that aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. It follows Aang and his friends as they hone their skills and attempt to end the Hundred Year War in order to bring back peace among the four nations.

Initially, the original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, were named executive producers of the live-action adaptation, but they quit in August last year.

"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 said. —JCB, GMA News