M. Night Shyamalan to direct "Avatar: The Last Airbender"

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Source: Hollywood Reporter

According to the Hollywood Reporter, M. Night Shyamalan will write, direct and produce the live-action big-screen adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Avatar is set in a world balanced on four nations -- Water, Earth, Fire and Air. In each society, there are masters who can manipulate their native elements -- Waterbenders, Earthbenders, Firebenders and Airbenders -- while the one person who can master all four is the Avatar.

When the current Avatar, a 12-year-old boy still learning to master his powers, seemingly dies, the Fire nation launches a war for global domination. One hundred years later, two teens discover and free the Avatar and his flying bison from suspended animation, and he must fight to restore harmony among the four nations.

Shyamalan, Paramount Pictures MTV Films and Nick Movies all plan to make this a three picture series with Shyamalan staying involved throughout.

This will be the first time Shyamalan will direct a film based on material he didn't create.


KJ's Take:  WOW!!!  Holy flying Pigs!!  This news just came out of left field and boy am I pumped!  I love Shyamalan's work and am thrilled to see him take on fantasy project like this.

I often catch myself watching Airbender when I stumble upon it flipping channels.  It's just a quality, enjoyable show with a great premise and now a great writer/director to bring it to the big screen.


I have a feeling that this film will be PG-13 and aimed at a teen audience rather than the 6-11 demographic of Nickelodeon.  Wow, I'm still a bit shell shocked!  Great news.