A newAvatar: The Last Airbenderseries is in the works. The franchise began with the Nickelodeon animated series of the same name, which is set in a world where “benders” can manipulate one of the four elements but only the mystical, reincarnated Avatar can control all four. The original series followed Airbender Aang harnessing his skills, while the sequel seriesThe Legend of Korrafollowed his successor, the Water Kingdom’s Korra. The expansive franchise also includes a live-action Netflix remake, a standalone live-action movie, books, comics, video games, and theupcomingAang: The Last Airbender, an animated sequel movie.
Nickelodeonhas now announced that a new animated series titledAvatar: Seven Havensis in development. The Avatar Studios show, which is set after the events ofThe Legend of Korra, will be a 26-episode 2D animated series split into two 13-episode seasons, or “books.” It was created by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the duo behind the original series. The new series is set to follow the Avatar after Korra, an Earthbender in a ravaged world who is destined to be a destroyer rather than a savior, which puts a target on her back. Read the official synopsis below:
Avatar: Seven Havens is set in a world shattered by a devastating cataclysm. A young Earthbender discovers she’s the new Avatar after Korra – but in this dangerous era, that title marks her as humanity’s destroyer, not its savior. Hunted by both human and spirit enemies, she and her long-lost twin must uncover their mysterious origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization’s last strongholds collapse.
DiMartino and Konietzko will executive produce the series alongside Ethan Spaulding, while Sehaj Sethi will be a co-executive producer. Below, reada statement on the project from Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation president Ramsey Naito, who made the announcement, in addition to a statement from DiMartino and Konietzko:
Ramsey Naito:For two decades, the richly crafted world of Avatar: The Last Airbender has introduced audiences to a world of compelling characters and groundbreaking storylines, captivating fans globally. We can’t wait to embark on the next chapter of this epic saga, with a new story set within the Avatarverse, envisioned by the original creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko:When we created the original series, we never imagined we’d still be expanding the world decades later. This new incarnation of the Avatarverse is full of fantasy, mystery, and a whole new cast of amazing characters. Get ready to take another epic and emotional adventure!
What This Means For Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: Seven Havens Resurrects A Franchise Staple After A Decade
While the franchise has carried on in multiple ways sincetheLegend of Korrafinaleaired in 2014,Avatar: Seven Havensmarksthe first new animated series in the franchise in more than 10 years. It is also the first series in the overall franchise since that point that is not retelling the story of the originalLast Airbenderrun. While it is unknown if the show will feature any returning characters from theAvataruniverse, the precedent set byKorraindicates that it could drop hints about how the lives of previous characters played out during the intervening years.
The Legend of Korratook place 70 years afterAvatar: The Last Airbenderbut featured both alive and dead returning characters, including Aang, Earthbender Toph, Waterbender Katara, and Katara’s brother Sokka.
Unless it is renewed for further seasons beyond Book 2,Avatar: Seven Havenswill be the shortest animated series yet in the franchise. However, the originalThe Last Airbenderonly ran for three seasons (with a total of 61 episodes) whileLegend of Korraran for four (with a total of 52). Thus, despite its lower episode and season count, the new show is in keeping with the fact that the previous series have told stories with a specific scope leading toward a particular endpoint.
Our Take On Avatar: Seven Havens
It Could Push The Franchise In A New Direction
Seven Havenswill become the latest show on theAvatar: The Last Airbendertimeline, and the synopsis teases that it might be the darkest installment yet.The premise seems downright post-apocalyptic, which could add a new subgenre to the fantasy-action-martial arts franchise and bring a new texture to the story. The fact that the Avatar herself will be seen as a dark figure is a new wrinkle, which could make the story of the new series feel intriguingly different in a variety of ways.
