The Avatar universe is expanding. Variety reports that Nickelodeon Children’s Network is launching a newly formed division, Avatar Studios, dedicated to creating content around Avatar: The Last Air Master and The legend of Korra. The creators of the original series and executive producers Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who left Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Air Master remake due to creative differences, will lead the division as creative co-directors under Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon Animation. Avatar Studios content will appear on Paramount +, Nickelodeon’s linear and digital platforms, as well as third-party platforms and in theaters.
“Avatar: The Last Air Master and Korra have grown at least ten times in popularity since their original success was aired on Nickelodeon, and Ramsey Naito and I are incredibly excited to have Mike and Bryan’s brilliant talent on board to run a studio dedicated to expanding his characters and world into new content and formats for fans everywhere, ”said Brian Robbins, president of ViacomCBS Kids & Family. “Creator-driven stories and characters have been the hallmarks of Nickelodeon, and Avatar Studios is a way to give Mike and Bryan the resources and the clue to open up your imagination even further and dive deeper into the action and mythology Avatar as we simultaneously expand that world and the world of content available on Paramount + and Nickelodeon. “
Avatar Studios’ first project is an original animated theatrical film set to begin production this year. For the uninitiated, Avatar: The Last Air Bender competed for three seasons at Nickelodeon from February 2005 until July 2008, winning the Peabody and Primetime Emmy awards. The series was adapted into a highly maligned M. Night Shyamalan film, a successful comic book, and had its own live action remake on Netflix. The legend of Korra, set in the Avatar world 70 years later The last Airbender, debuted in 2012 and ran on Nickelodeon for four seasons. We hope that James Cameron has no idea for his own Avatar Studios.