Key Takeaways:
– Focus on developing immersive narratives to bring back Avatar: The Last Airbender into mainstream media.
– Employing comic books and other media to create prequels and hype around the future installments
– Leveraging popular characters from the series to rekindle fan excitement.
– Planned releases of Avatar films slated for 2025.
Expanding the Avatar Universe
Avatar: The Last Airbender left fans with expectations after its Netflix run. Now, as Paramount and Nickelodeon prepare to expand this remarkable franchise with a dedicated studio, their strategy revolves around channeling the original creators to reignite the series, bringing it back to center stage.
Telling More Stories with Beloved Characters
Prior to this franchise expansion, the creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, authored more stories featuring familiar characters in Avatar Aang, Avatar Korra, and others through Dark Horse comics. This strategy effectively broadened the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender beyond the bounds of the animated series. They could reinstate this tactic to generate audience anticipation and shift their focus from Netflix's adaptation that might misrepresent the image of the IP.
Exploring Interludes with Comics and Novels
The creators have used comics and novels to delve into eclectic periods of Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Post-defeat of Fire Lord Ozai by Avatar Aang and the post-Earth Empire times of Avatar Korra were creatively brought to the fore. These narratives allowed the tales of famous Avatars like Kyoshi and Yangchen to unfurl.
Michael Dante DiMartino, in a 2015 The Mary Sue interview, opined on the potential of comics and other such mediums to drum up fan interest. It nudges the fans to connect with the anticipated cast while stoking their excitement for future releases. They aim to continue telling new stories with fan-favorite characters to keep audiences engaged.
Drawing characters into the mainstream
The focus remains on narrating stories about those characters slated to make an appearance on the big screen and streaming platforms. This allows audiences to familiarize themselves with the characters, stimulating anticipation for the big releases. Creators have the opportunity to inject prominent characters back into the mainstream and stir interest for ensuing installments of the series.
Reviving the Last Airbender in 2025
Avatar: The Last Airbender is all set for a comeback in 2025. As a part of this resurgence, an animated feature film will grace theatres, featuring Dave Bautista as an antagonist. This film will inaugurate a trilogy that introduces a new narrative set in the Avatar world with the adult Gaang.
Plans for the Next Avatar
Gossip mills suggest a 2025 release for the next Avatar installment that follows Avatar Korra. The Avatar cycle puts this Earth Avatar about a hundred years post Legend of Korra events. Consequently, the inclusion of previous show characters appears unlikely.
As Paramount leverages the Avatar IP framework to enhance its media library, there is hope for the Avatar Universe to compete with potent contenders like Star Wars, the Wizarding World, and the Song of Ice and Fire. Paramount is all set to treat the Avatar Universe as a high potential IP, with hopes of significant returns on their investments.
While Netflix is availing efforts to dominate the same space, the onus is on Paramount to divert the limelight on the main installments of the Avatar IP.
