Several weeks ago, we at Knight Edge Media discovered a Paramount merchandising video from a freelance artist who previously worked at Nickelodeon and Paramount Global, according to Linkedin. The video was uploaded in September 2024 and featured a 9-second clip showcasing a possible slate of upcoming projects by Avatar Studios under the banner Avatar Legends. The slate confirmed the previously announced three theatrical films and the still unannounced Earth Avatar series. Surprisingly, it also featured a new yet completely unknown Airbender series that will be released after the Earth Avatar series. (I should mention that Avatar News rumored in 2022 that an unknown preschool show was in development at the time as well).
Many fans have noticed this new Airbendering series doesn’t actually follow the cycle of TV shows Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. According to the cycle of shows, the next show should feature the next Avatar after Avatar Pavi, an unknown Firebending Avatar. However, this show will be about an unknown Airbender (or a boring concept like Aang or Yangchen). Since we don’t know what the show will be about, as it’s an entirely new development that was unknown before this leak. Fans have theorized what could happen in this new series.
The first thought would be that we would once again go further into the future after Avatar Pavi and, for some reason unknown to us, skip the Firebending Avatar. Many fans have been clamoring for a cyberpunk-type series set in the Avatar universe. This was the original concept for Avatar: The Last Airbender before co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino made the series more ancient (via Reddit). However, what if we don’t go further into the future but return to the beginning?
In The Legend of Korra, fans discover that the first Avatar was Avatar Wan. He was a firebender who lived thousands of years ago and was the first human to merge with the spirit of Raava due to his selflessness. Her spirit allowed Wan to learn the other elements: Air, Water, and Earth. Her spirit also allowed the Avatar to be reincarnated into the next Avatar in the cycle. According to the series, Wan and Korra seem to be the only Avatars (that we know of?) that have spoken with Raava. Wan has a direct connection with the spirit to ask her any questions about his duties as the Avatar, but that doesn’t mean he is tasked with everything future Avatars must deal with geopolitically or socially. Let alone traveling to other tribes to resolve internal or external conflicts. During Wan’s time, there are no nations and only small tribes of benders living on lion turtles.
An interesting concept for this new show would be the second Avatar in the cycle. The second Avatar following Wan would actually be an Airbender. Airbenders have always been revered as monks, pilgrims, or holy men throughout this show’s history. The concept for the second Avatar series could be about a young monk born in a completely different part of the world with zero knowledge of Wan’s existence. He (or she) would be utterly alone in learning that they are a reincarnation of Wan, let alone knowing the term “Avatar”.
They also would have to be the first to learn about other elements from elders of the different tribes that may be hostile. They would most likely not even be able to speak with Wan directly until they discover the Avatar State randomly by some great tragedy that befalls them. As with all subsequent Avatars, they only learn who they truly are once they commune with a previous Avatar. Yet all future Avatars have spiritual guides, historians, and previous Avatar friends to fill in the blanks of their heritage. This is something the second Avatar would not have at all. They could also be asked to use their powers for their tribe alone, and this second Avatar is the one to discover that the duty of the Avatar should be for all people, not just the tribe they are born into. Let alone dealing with all the spirits that are still in the world. Yet, being an airbending monk would also give to the internal struggle of staying humble in this new role as the Avatar and not becoming a tyrannical god over the world’s tribes.
The creators of this new unannounced show can go in so many different directions with the second Avatar concept. It can be assumed it would be more about learning of the reincarnation cycle and keeping the balance between tribes. While a fun idea would have them born without any help whatsoever as many future Avatar’s have their own “Team Avatar”. Yet, this Avatar still stays humble and begins the concept of keeping records of what an Avatar is supposed to do since they are the first in the reincarnation cycle following Avatar Wan. However, since this series has yet to be announced, we must wait and see what the show will be about, as this editorial is complete speculation as a fun fan theory.
Untitled Airbender TV Series has no set release date
