Shyamalan described the plot of the series as follows:
The actual plot is in a place where there are four tribes of people. And these people each have people within their tribe that have mastery over one element: water, earth, fire or air. They all live in a balance and harmony and once every generation there is born an individual who can bend - that is manipulate - all four of those elements and thereby keep a balance between all. They are kind of a Buddha figure to some extent. The story is about how, in this particular time, this avatar is born into the airbenders and disappears. Then all hell breaks loose and the fire nation basically commits genocide and eradicates the air tribe in the hopes of killing the avatar and taking over control of everything. This child then re-emerges, which is the beginning of our story. He reappears having been frozen in the ice - there is a whole story about how that happens - a hundred years later and this world is all fucked up and he is the last airbender, but he doesn't want this job. He's forced into the position of putting the world back together again. It actually has a lot of Shakespearean overtones to it. There's lots of family angst, and fathers denying sons in different storylines.
As epic as the scope of the story is, what attracted Shyamalan, known for his philosophical approach to film, was the deeper story in the film. "Buddhist and Hindu philosophies run through the stuff," Shyamalan says. "When I realised that is what it was, it really drew me as the template for putting storytelling on a new level. There is a kind of thread that connects Star Wars and The Matrix - the first one. That same thread is in this story, about a forgotten belief system, or the illusion of the world now."
But the deep story alone won't be all that we see, of course. "Obviously [there will be] some breathtaking visual effects," the director says. "Just imagine if you saw a little girl bending water out of a glass into the air as an extension of her own personal discipline. It's three movies about the hero learning three elements. Live action."
While a film of this scope is different than anything Shymalan has previously worked on, the filmmakers' philosophical approach to movies should blend well with the tale being told in the animated series.
Also, a story from Variety from today reported that Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies will both distribute the film, with a release date slated for July 2, 2010. They will also drop the "Avatar" from the title, to avoid confusion with James Cameron's film, Avatar, which will be released on December 18, 2009.
Comments (85)
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Dan
Lol, reading these old conversations is fun :P
7 months agoby @dan1Flag
Vamp
Hey come visit your favorite vampire sometimes (I know I'm stealing HarryPatch's thing but it's good advertising!!!!!) Drop by and leave a comment!
4 years agoby @vampire2000Flag
Radimus-83
Damn straight!
4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
LeoNiDas' Lover
what?
4 years agoby @thejokerrulesFlag
Radimus-83
yeah, laugh it up Veggie. won't be so funny when your alter ego starts abusing you!
4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
LeoNiDas' Lover
lol
4 years agoby @thejokerrulesFlag
Radimus-83
he is also a poo-pusher of the worst kind!
4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
nitti21
Vegata's a homo, arse stabber.
4 years agoby @nitti21Flag
LeoNiDas' Lover
you hate vegeta you must be a c*cksucker
4 years agoby @thejokerrulesFlag
nitti21
Sounds like a ton of sh*t.
4 years agoby @nitti21Flag
Marcusx
i hate you
4 years agoby @marcusxFlag
LeoNiDas' Lover
WHO'S WTF DO YOU MEAN PRINCE VEGETA
4 years agoby @thejokerrulesFlag
Radimus-83
i can't remember if i commented on this before? if i did, it deff wasn't about the movie, it was prob just taking the piss outta somebody.
and i am soooo not interested in another jap cartoon movie! damn you all to hell!
4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
Marcusx
some moron who changed his name to wtf
4 years agoby @marcusxFlag
LeoNiDas' Lover
who's jr lol
4 years agoby @thejokerrulesFlag
Marcusx
shut the hell up JR
4 years agoby @marcusxFlag
LeoNiDas' Lover
huh?
4 years agoby @thejokerrulesFlag
Marcusx
lol
4 years agoby @marcusxFlag
T.Clark
This isn't the first time you've commented on this, is it? lol
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Radimus-83
what the f*ck is this?.... never heard of the bloody show!
4 years agoby @radimus-83Flag
sirmetro
He's gonna screw up
4 years agoby @sirmetroFlag
T.Clark
It can't be any worse than the show lol
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Marcusx
ya, but can they do it without screwing it up?
4 years agoby @marcusxFlag
T.Clark
If they can do lotr, they can do this
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Pyroknight
very awesome idea but i too think he is the wrong director. all of his movies have this dark tint to them and the show is not dark at all so i think it would go against his directing style. i also think that this would be a very exspensive movie for all the cgi in it, its going to like 90% of the whole movie.
4 years agoby @pyroknightFlag
Major Tom
finally!! this is what ive been waiting for!
4 years agoby @movie-nutFlag
Elessar26
i think people will pay more to see the hounds in eight below perform rather than him.. so please Mr. Shyamalan, no more gigs... Cant w8 4 this movie!! I hope it rocks!! well the story does..
4 years agoby @elessar26Flag
Elessar26
this is great news!! im a fan of both cartoon and director.. although M night is known for making films with unique story, not much action.. and pls, let him not include himself in this movie.. I respect that he is a great director.. but as an actor??
4 years agoby @elessar26Flag
cnote
Nicely put MarcusX... way too much effort for a dead post.
4 years agoby @cnoteFlag
Marcusx
i read just the first sentence of your novella and i just wana say one thing...gay
4 years agoby @marcusxFlag