AVATAR AANG: THE LAST AIRBENDER Is "Just One of a Whole Slate" of Avatar Projects That Are Coming
The world of Avatar may have taken a few unexpected hits lately, but it doesn’t sound like Bryan Konietzko has any plans to slow things down. Even after a major movie leak and a rocky release schedule, the Avatar franchise is still building toward something much bigger.
According to Konietzko, fans have only seen the beginning of what Avatar Studios has in the works. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the Avatar: The Last Airbender co-creator teased that the upcoming Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender movie is only one piece of a much larger plan.
He said: "The [Avatar] Aang movie was just one of a whole slate. I'm working on another thing, which we'll announce when the time's right."
That’s an exciting tease for fans who have been wondering what Avatar Studios has been cooking up beyond the already announced projects. While Konietzko didn’t offer any hints about what this mystery project could be, it’s clear the creative team has plenty more stories they want to tell.
The franchise has had a rough stretch leading up to the release of Avatar Aang. Earlier this year, the entire film leaked online and was available across social media for nearly 24 hours before it was taken down.
On top of that, the movie's release plans changed dramatically after shifting from a theatrical debut to a streaming premiere on Paramount+.
The film eventually landed on a July 25 release date, which also lines up with this year's Avatar Hall H presentation during San Diego Comic-Con.
Despite everything that's happened, Konietzko says the excitement surrounding the franchise has kept the team motivated.
"I think if we had just been kicked to the curb and felt like no one cared about us anymore, it would be harder to deal with. But they are really excited not only for this but for [upcoming show] Seven Havens – and for the other projects that we’re working on."
That mention of Seven Havens is another reminder that the future of the franchise stretches well beyond Avatar Aang. The upcoming animated series serves as a sequel to The Legend of Korra, although it has also been affected by leaks over the past several months.
Meanwhile, Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation is still moving forward, even though its second season reportedly experienced a noticeable drop in viewership compared to its debut season.
For now, all eyes are on Avatar Aang, but Konietzko's comments make it sound like Avatar Studios has several surprises waiting in the wings. Hopefully, fans won't have to wait too long before that next mystery project is finally revealed.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender premieres on Paramount+ on July 25. It’s a shame we wont get to experience it in theaters.