Netflix Is Doing a Live-Action Avatar: The Last Airbender Series and Fans Are "Overflowing with Joy"

Did someone say "new geek obsession?" Netflix and Nickelodeon are teaming up for a live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series from original series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The series will be exclusively available on Netflix and will go into production in 2019.

The beloved animated series -- which is about a monk Aang and his friends who must save the world by defeating Fire Lord Ozai and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation -- originally ran for three seasons on Nick from 2005 to 2008, won a prestigious Peabody award and inspired legions of fans. It was adapted into an unsuccessful live-action film directed by M. Night Shyamalan at his career nadir. This new series is being angled as the correct live-action adaptation.

"We're thrilled for the opportunity to helm this live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender," Konietzko and DiMartino said in a statement. "We can't wait to realize Aang's world as cinematically as we always imagined it to be, and with a culturally appropriate, non-whitewashed cast. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build upon everyone's great work on the original animated series and go even deeper into the characters, story, action, and world-building. Netflix is wholly dedicated to manifesting our vision for this retelling, and we're incredibly grateful to be partnering with them."

Fans are "overflowing with joy" at the news, though they're also prepared to be mad at Netflix if the streaming service screws it up.

Netflix released some concept art for the series. What do you think?

Avatar: The Last Airbender will start production in 2019.