Last Thursday, when the Netflix live-adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender finally debuted, director Roseanne Liang was still hard at work. Well, sort of. On this most auspicious of days she was talking to me in Ponsonby Central, reflecting on the culmination of two and a half years work bringing the beloved Nickelodeon title to the world of streaming. A bundle of nerves before the inevitable influx of fan reactions, she suggested we visit her favourite quiet spot, which is how I ended up sharing a banana nutella crepe in a corner with one of New Zealand’s most ascendant filmmakers.
Liang tells me her excitement is mixed with some apprehension, especially considering the property”s varied history. Most notably, a reviled M Night Shyamalan live-action adaptation from 2010 is considered by some to be the worst movie ever made. “There’s a sense of ‘Oh no, are people going to like it’? But so far fans have been really appreciative,” Liang says with no small amount of relief. “I feel like I’ve been a part of something kinda epic. And meaningful. I do feel proud.”
