The Legend of Aang: The Avatar Returns

Michael Dante DiMartino
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***The Legend of Aang: The Avatar Returns*** is an American action-adventure fantasy film directed by Gareth Edwards. Based on the first season of the Nickelodeon animated television series *Avatar: The Last Airbender*, the film stars Forrest Wheeler as Aang, with Ryan Potter as Prince Zuko, Auliʻi Cravalho as Katara and Kekoa Kekumano as Sokka.

The film started development in 2014 as a fan film and officially entered production in 2021. It was co-produced by Moonlight Pictures and Avatar Studios and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. It premiered on May 20, 2022 to rave reviews and is intended to be the first in a trilogy of films.

## Synopsis

*"12-year-old Aang, the current Avatar and last survivor of his nation, the Air Nomads, is joined by Katara and Sokka from the Southern Water Tribe on a journey to the North Pole to find a Waterbending master to teach Aang and Katara. The Fire Nation is waging a seemingly endless imperialist war against the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes, following the genocide of the Air Nomads one hundred years ago. Aang must master the four elements (Air, Water, Earth, and Fire) to end the war. Along the way, Aang and his friends are chased by various pursuers: banished Fire Nation Prince Zuko, along with his uncle and former general Iroh, and Admiral Zhao of the Fire Navy."*

## Cast

* Forrest Wheeler as Aang
* Ryan Potter as Prince Zuko
* Auliʻi Cravalho as Katara
* Kekoa Kekumano as Sokka
* Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as General Iroh
* Fernando Chien as Admiral Zhao
* Blu Hunt as Princess Yue
* Shogen as Fire Lord Ozai
* Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Princess Azula
* Wes Studi as Master Pakku
* Remy Hii as Haru
* Akira Koieyama as Avatar Roku
* Madhav Sharma as Guru Pathik
* Chil Kong as Monk Gyatso
* Cliff Curtis as Hakoda
* Jason Momoa as Bato
* Gerrard Lobo as Combustionman
* Lori Pelenise Tuisano as Kanna
* Karen Fukuhara as June

## Production

### Development

Moonlight Pictures and Raydon Entertainment had been working on a live-action *Avatar* film since 2014 with a draft being completed in mid-2015 under the title of *Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book One: Water* and was intended to be the first in a trilogy of films. A second draft was completed in late-2016 and in 2017 the film was set up at Fanatic Films, a newly formed studio at Raydon dedicated to non-profit fan films and was given a modest budget of $5,000. No further updates were given at the time.

On September 18, 2018, it was announced that original *Avatar* creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko would be teaming up with Netflix to produce a live-action remake of the original series, throwing the future of Raydon's fan film into doubt without any news in a year. The studio responded in October by saying they had placed the film on hold and that they were in negotiations to acquire the license to an "international icon," with that deal being their number one priority. It was announced in December 2019 that the "international icon" was Godzilla and that Raydon Entertainment would produce a series of films utilizing multiple monsters from the Japanese films.

On August 12, 2020, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko both revealed on their social media that they had departed the Netflix show due to creative differences, igniting rumors that the Raydon *Avatar* film could finally be revived.

In February 2021, ViacomCBS announced Avatar Studios, a new division of Nickelodeon centered on developing animated series and films set in the *Avatar* universe, to be distributed via Nickelodeon's linear and digital offerings, as well as Paramount+, theatres, and third-party services. The division is helmed by original series creators DiMartino and Konietzko, who are its co-chief creative officers and report to Nickelodeon Animation president Ramsey Ann Naito. The company also stated the studio would team-up with Raydon Entertainment to immediately begin production of a live-action film for release in 2022. The film is based on the 2017 draft written by Brandon Barker with re-writes being handled by Aaron Ehasz, the head-writer of the original animated series.

### Casting

In March 2021, Forrest Wheeler, Ryan Potter and Auliʻi Cravalho joined the cast as Aang, Zuko and Katara respectively. Later that month, Kekoa Kekumano was announced as Sokka.

The rest of the cast was revealed in May 2021, including Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as (Iroh), Fernando Chien (Admiral Zhao), Blu Hunt (Princess Yue) and Shogen (Fire Lord Ozai).

### Filming

Principal photography began May 31, 2021 in Ketchikan, Alaska and will move to Utqiagvik, Alaska after two weeks. After taking the Fourth of July holiday off, production moved to Vancouver where the majority of the film will be shot. A few shots were filmed in Nanaimo, Canada. Principal photography wrapped on September 20, 2021.

## Release

The film premiere in theaters worldwide on May 20, 2022. It was pushed up from an original July 15 release date. It became available to stream on Paramount+ July 4th, 45 days after its theatrical release.

## Sequels

In June 2021, Raydon and Paramount revealed that they were planning to release multiple *Avatar* films if the first proved successful. A sequel based on the second season of the series was officially greenlit in March 2022, with filming scheduled to begin in late-April. Tentatively titled *The Legend of Aang — Book Two: Earth,* the film is planned for May 2023 with Brenda Chapman attached to direct. A potential third film, *The Legend of Aang — Book Three: Fire*, would then release in 2024.