Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Just Proved Why a Live-Action Legend of Korra Would Be Better

by

Okay, so I just got a peek at the Season 2 trailer for Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it really got me thinking. Honestly, after seeing how well Netflix nailed both Avatar and One Piece, I’m more convinced than ever that a live-action Legend of Korra could absolutely work. Now, don’t get me wrong, these adaptations aren’t flawless – some longtime Nickelodeon fans aren’t thrilled with certain changes to the original Avatar story, and translating animation to live-action always presents hurdles. But this new trailer specifically highlights one of those challenges, and it’s become clear what a Korra adaptation would need to consider.

The new footage understandably highlights Miya Cech as the exciting addition of Toph in Season 2. It also gives us a glimpse of the rest of Team Avatar and hints at the difficulties they’ll encounter. The action appears as captivating as before, but fans have noticed one particularly noticeable issue with the new season. This problem seems unavoidable when adapting The Last Airbender into a live-action series – something The Legend of Korra wouldn’t have faced.

Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Trailer Just Made the Cast’s Age Problem More Noticeable

After the release of the new Last Airbender trailer, viewers have noticed that the young actors playing the main characters look older than they did in Season 1. The show features a time jump, and while the characters are supposed to be the same age, the actors themselves have grown up. This is especially noticeable with Gordon Cormier, who plays Aang. Aang is meant to be 12 years old when he’s discovered, and Cormier was around that age when filming started in 2021. Now, as Season 2 approaches, he’s clearly a teenager.

The young actors have all matured since the first season of the show began. When initially cast, Kiawentiio (Katara) was around the same age as her character, 14, and is now entering young adulthood. Dallas Liu (Zuko) and Ian Ousley (Sokka) were already in their 20s during Season 1, and even making their characters a year older didn’t quite hide that. This is true for the whole cast now. While this doesn’t ruin the show, it can be distracting for viewers. Luckily, the series is using a time jump to address the change in the actors’ appearances (according to Entertainment Weekly).

It’s a common problem for shows on streaming services that feature young actors: as time between seasons increases, the actors grow up noticeably. Viewers have noticed this happening in several series, including The Last Airbender, but Stranger Things Season 5 is probably the most talked-about example. Percy Jackson & the Olympians and Ginny & Georgia are facing similar issues. While reducing the time between seasons could help, it wouldn’t completely solve the problem. Luckily, seasons 2 and 3 of The Last Airbender were filmed together, so they won’t have this issue later on. A live-action version of Legend of Korra would avoid the problem altogether.

A Live-Action Legend of Korra Would Avoid the Current Adaptation’s Biggest Obstacle

As a big fan of the Avatar universe, I’ve been following the live-action adaptation news closely, and one thing that’s really struck me is the age of the original cast. It’s a tricky situation for Netflix, not just because everyone’s talking about it online, but because they’re having to adjust the story’s timeline to account for it. Honestly, it makes me think The Legend of Korra would be a much smoother fit for a live-action series. The characters start as young adults and grow throughout the show, ending up in their twenties. That would avoid the pressure of finding young actors and racing against the clock before they age out of their roles – a real concern with Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Additionally, The Legend of Korra features older characters which allow for more complex and grown-up stories, even compared to the original Avatar. A live-action adaptation of Korra would likely appeal to a wider audience, making it a great choice for a new series. Considering a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is already in the works, it would be fantastic if Netflix also brought The Legend of Korra to life.

This Isn’t the Only Reason The Legend of Korra Is Worth Adapting

A live-action adaptation of Legend of Korra would likely be better received than The Last Airbender remake. While The Last Airbender remains popular even decades after it first aired, a remake felt unnecessary and didn’t offer anything new. It also missed the lightheartedness and optimism that made the original series so special. Korra, however, offers a continuation of the story that could justify a fresh take.

While The Legend of Korra has some flaws, a live-action adaptation could address them. The original series lacks the strong overall storyline that made Avatar: The Last Airbender so successful, but an adaptation could better connect the existing plot points. It could also build up its LGBTQ+ representation throughout the series instead of rushing it in the finale. Furthermore, Korra’s generally more mature and serious tone would actually translate well to live-action, unlike Avatar. Emphasizing this darker tone could make a Legend of Korra series really stand out, and hopefully Netflix will see that potential.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/best-avatar-the-last-airbender-episodes-ranked/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-12 02:12