If I were to pointlessly speculate, I strongly suspect the biggest impediment to live action ATLA is the fact that it has as its central character THE DALAI LAMA fighting colonialism in the aftermath of genocide and TIBET is still very much not free.

And yes, of course the air nomads are inspired by Tibet. Aang and Korra's mentors are both even named after the current Dalai Lama. It's not even slightly subtle about this.

Remember how Dr Strange's backstory was rewritten in the movie to not involve Tibet or any Tibetans? https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/8gkwna/hollywoods-latest-whitewash-what-doctor-stranges-casting-of-tilda-swinton-means

I stress that I have literally no idea why the two white dudes left the project and given how they were perfectly happy to stand by the whitewashing of their cast last time round, I don't personally trust their judgement.

In case unclear, I'm bringing this up because I would very much like you to pay attention to the cultural genocide happening right now in China. And you know, Free Tibet. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-53650246

And the more I think about the air nomads being Tibet the more uncomfortable I feel about the fact that they are all gone? That it's so very much in the past tense when they are still super alive right now this very moment. As wish fulfilment, it's seriously lacking.

I should rebrand my twitter to be 100% uncomfortable hot takes about Avatar.