Avatar: The Last Airbender season 1 is available to stream on Netflix
The long-anticipated first season of the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender has just been released on Netflix. Over the next several days, subscribers worldwide will be binging the series. However, we’ve learned that a writer’s room has already been established for the second season, all but confirming that it’s Netflix’s intention to bring Avatar: The Last Airbender back for a season 2.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is the television live-action adaptation of the Nickelodeon cartoon series of the same name created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
The series has been a long time coming. Netflix first announced in 2018 that a live-action remake of ATLA that would start production in 2019. In the time fans have waited patiently for the series release on Netflix, the original creators left the project due to creative differences, which saw Albert Kim take over the project in 2021 as a writer, executive producer, and showrunner, and an exciting young and talented cast announced.
Filming finally began on the series in late 2021, ending in the early Summer of 2022. Fans and subscribers were teased several times with first-look images and trailers.
Has Avatar: The Last Airbender been renewed for a second season?
Official Renewal Status: Pending (Renewal Confirmation Soon) (Last Updated: 22/02/2024)
At the time of writing, Netflix has yet to confirm the renewal of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
There is no indication from Netflix that ATLA has been renewed for a second season ahead of time. We are fully expecting Netflix to announce the renewal of ATLA within weeks of its release, assuming it hits certain metrics, but given the amount of marketing and weight put into it from Netflix’s end, it seems like a given.
However, we have found evidence outside of Netflix to suggest ATLA has been renewed for a second season. We have discovered on LinkedIn that one of the writer’s assistants on ATLA has listed the second season on their profile. Their profile revealed that a writer’s room for the second season was established in January 2023 and has been running through January 2024. Now, it’s worth noting that during much of that period, the WGA strike was ongoing, but either way, it certainly suggests that more is on the way.
LinkedIn profile for a Writer’s Room Assistant on Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender
How has ATLA season 1 performed on Netflix?
We won’t receive performance data for the first season of ATLA until Tuesday, February 28th, when the first four days of data are released. The earliest signs of the series performing well or poorly will come in the daily top ten lists worldwide.
What can we expect Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender?
*SPOILER WARNING FOR ATLA SEASON 2*
Aang to learn Water and Earth Bending
With Katara as the new Master of Waterbending, Aang will learn everything he needs to know about Waterbending from her on their journey. That means he needs to seek either a Master Firebender or Master Earthbender to develop his Avatar powers further.
Naturally, Aang will think of Bumi to learn Earthbending from, but Team Avatar is unaware that Omashu has fallen to the Fire Nation. So unless they can rescue Bumi, Aang must seek a different Earthbending Master. Fans of the cartoon will know that Aang will run into Toph, a.k.a the Blind Bandit, and a Master Earthbender.
Picture: Gordon Cormier as Aang – Netflix
Will Zuko betray Iroh?
Iroh has been the perfect father figure for Zuko thus far, and the young Firebender is slowly learning more about empathy and humility. However, will Zuko’s resolve to capture Aang be increased further as he watches his sister’s success from afar?
If capturing Aang means casting his uncle aside, will Zuko take that opportunity?
Picture: Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko – Netflix
Katara continues to master Waterbending
Katara has proven to be a Waterbending prodigy and has already been acknowledged as the Master of Waterbending from Pakku. There’s still much for Katara to learn on her journey, as Aang will be her first pupil.
Expect to see even more incredible Waterbending mastery from Katara in season 2.
Picture: Kiawentiio as Katara – Netflix
Azula’s deadly ambition
Azula has already proven the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree by showcasing her ambition and conquering the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu.
The last Earth Kingdom stronghold to take on the forces of the Fire Nation is the capital city, Ba Sing Se.
Having proven her tactical prowess, Azula will have Ba Sing Se set firmly in her sights.
Picture: Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula – Netflix
When could we expect a second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix?
Assuming the series is renewed, we can use the first season’s production to speculate when to expect the second season’s release.
Filming for the first season began on November 16th, 2021, and ran for several months before ending on June 6th, 2022. A lengthy post-production didn’t see the series debut on Netflix until February 22nd, 2024. This means it took 27 months between the start of filming and the show’s release.
Suppose the second season follows the same schedule and begins filming the day after publishing this article (February 23rd, 2024). In that case, the next season of Avatar won’t be seen on Netflix until May/June 2026.
Picture: One of many official posters for the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender – Netflix
Will Gorden Cormier Outgrow the role of Aang?
Filipino-American actor Gordon Cormier, who plays the role of Aang, was born on October 9th, 2009. This means he had just turned twelve when filming began on ATLA. This also means he was the same age as Aang at the start of the ATLA story.
Given the time it has taken to film and then subsequently release ATLA on Netflix, there’s a risk that Cormier could outgrow the role extremely fast. Unless filming has been conducted back to back in secret, then there are no issues.
To ensure that Gordon Cormier doesn’t outgrow Aang’s role, time is of the essence. Netflix can’t afford to wait over two years for each season as Cormier will grow up dramatically in between them.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Gordon Cormier arrives at Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” World Premiere Event at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on February 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
To drive home the point about the problem with the first season’s production length, by the time the second season is released on Netflix, Cormier will be over sixteen years old. This means during the production of the third season, he would turn seventeen.
This means there’s a chance that Cormier will turn eighteen years old before we see the release of the third season of ATLA on Netflix.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Ian Ousley, Kiawentiio, Matthew Yang King, Gordon Cormier and Dallas Liu attend Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” world premiere after party at TAO on February 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Please Note: Production schedules and release dates are purely speculative based on the time it took to produce the first season of ATLA.
Would you like to see a second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!