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Netflix will soon be closing the book on its live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation, as production is set to begin on the third and final season. Based on the timeless Nickelodeon animated series, The Last Airbender follows Aang, master of all four elements, who must unite his divided world after disappearing for 100 years and allowing the Fire Nation to wage war for control. The original series is one of the most celebrated TV shows of all time. Netflix's live-action adaptation hasn't received anywhere near as much love from fans after its first season, but it was popular enough for the streamer to greenlight two more seasons to bring the series to a close.

Per Production Weekly, Season 3 of Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to begin shooting this week. The news may come as a big surprise to many, especially considering Season 2 hasn't even been given a release date...

Avatar: The Last Airbender remains a beloved series for kids and adults, standing out as a cultural phenomenon resonating across generations. Its top-tier animation, coupled with its thoughtful handling of mature themes like war, loss, and death — all while remaining accessible to younger audiences — has solidified its place as one of the most well-written and beloved animated series of the past two decades.

Following its success, Nickelodeon launched The Legend of Korra as a sequel, further expanding the Airbender universe. The original show laid the groundwork for what has become a sprawling franchise, with numerous new projects in development. The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to grow even further. While Netflix recently premiered a new adaptation, original creators Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko spearhead the franchise's expansion through films and spin-offs. Here is a closer look at the major projects announced or rumored to be in development.

Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, particularly Book Two: Earth, can look forward to an exciting July, when a brand-new release focusing on a beloved yet scarcely-seen character, will finally drop.

Per Abrams Books, Avatar Legends: City of Echoes, the first in a new line of Avatar Legends novels, will be released on July 22, 2025. Avatar Legends: City of Echoes will focus on Jin, a character who appeared in Season 2 (Book 2: Earth) of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series -- the daughter of Earth Kingdom refugees who were killed by Fire Nation soldiers. Fans of the series may remember her as Zuko’s short-lived love interest who played a key role in his character development, particularly in recognizing the harm that his nation caused. Though Jin held a minor role in Avatar: The Last Airbender, she’ll be the first to launch the new Avatar Legends book series,...

Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbenderand The Legend of Korrahave much to look forward to as the story continues in a new animated series. While Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action remake proved to be a hit in terms of attracting viewers, it was a controversial adaptation, seeing the original series' creators — Michael Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko — walk away early in its development due to creative differences.

Well, now they're back, as Deadline has revealed that Nickelodeon has ordered a 26-episode animated series set in the Avatar universe titled Avatar: Seven Havens from Dimartino and Konietzko. For fans of the series, this will likely come as good news and no surprise. Back in February 2021, the duo formed Avatar Studios at Nickelodeon, intending to expand the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise in its original medium: animation.

This new series will be a continuation of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra,...

Michael Dante Dimartino, the co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, has teased the next arc of the series in a recent reveal, coyly stating, "It’s all gonna be connected. You’ll see."

In a new episode of The Illustration Department Podcast, Dimartino made one of the first official comments from a series creator about the upcoming project. Though sparse with words, Dimartino did respond to a fan’s question about the next Avatar in the series, with the fan asking about whether the next Avatar’s arc would connect to Aang and Korra's.

Related'We Had Other Ideas': Avatar: The Last Airbender Creator Reveals the Story's Original Comedy Concept

Michael DeMartino, the co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, reveals the series was supposed to be a "simple comedy."

Avatar: The Last Airbender Sequel Will Be 'All Connected' With Next Avatar's...

In a recent reveal, the co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, Michael Dante Dimartino, made it clear that the series was initially envisioned as a very different kind of story than what fans have come to know and love.

These details came to light in a new episode of The Illustration Department Podcast, where Dimartino spoke about how The Last Airbender was originally intended to be a "kids in the woods comedy." According to Dimartino, the series came as an assignment from Nickelodeon executives, who were looking for a new action-adventure show. Dimartino and his co-creator, Bryan Konietzko, reportedly started working on their ideas together, initially conceptualizing the series as a "kids hanging out in the woods comedy kind of thing." Dimartino went on to state that the first concept was "actually very simple, because we wanted to make a show that had fun, charming stories.

In a recent panel at MegaCon Orlando, the original voice actor of Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender revealed a key moment from the series that dealt with some of its darkest and most mature themes.

Per Cbr’s coverage of MegaCon Orlando, Mae Whitman and several other Avatar: The Last Airbender voice actors discussed their roles within the series. Whitman, the original voice ofAvatar: The Last Airbender’s Katara, was asked to recall a key moment of the series. In response, Whitman recalled the series’ introduction to bloodbending. "I remember the Bloodbending episode was so big for me because it’s tackling the complexity of trying to control people and outcomes," responded Whitman. "I remember being young and being affected by that and the darkness of it."

RelatedThe Official Voice of Goku Confirms She Won't Be Stopped Until She's 182 Years Old

Goku's iconic anime voice actor, Masako Nozawa, reveals...

Not all fantasy TV shows deliver impressive endings, but some like "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" do. High-budget fantasy projects may not always justify their costs, as seen in canceled Netflix shows and divisive finales like "Game of Thrones." A great fantasy show ending ties up loose ends, provides satisfying character conclusions, and aligns with the series' overarching themes.

Fantasy TV shows have a strong appeal, as they allow viewers to step into the extraordinary but not all of them deliver impressive endings. Sadly, many fantasy TV series never have endings at all. Netflix has canceled many fantasy shows in recent years, and it isn't the only streaming service or network to do so. Such projects often require high budgets to get right, and they don't always prove worth the cost.

Even when fantasy shows do get endings, they don't always stick the landing. Even a...

Vasquez Rocks is located in the northern part of Los Angeles County about 25 minutes away from Downtown L.A. via the 14 freeway. It's close enough to the city to be easily accessed by car, but far away enough to look like a remote wilderness. The park's celebrated rock formations look eerie, ancient, and alien from certain angles, making it a popular place for film and TV productions going back to the 1930s.

Trekkies likely recognize Vasquez Rocks as an oft-reused filming location, serving as a variety of alien worlds for various "Star Trek" projects. The park was featured in the "Original Series" episodes "Shore Leave", "Arena", "The Alternative Factor", and "Friday's Child". Later, Vasquez Rocks would serve as Vulcan "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," released in 1983 and 1984 respectively.

Fans of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" would recognize Vasquez Rocks from the episode "Who Watches the Watchers?...

Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender saw a viewership drop in the second week, but the original animated series gained renewed interest. Season 1 of the live-action adaptation covered book 1 of the animated series, with the original series climbing Netflix's acquired charts. The Nielsen streaming top 10 reported a unique phenomenon with the live-action series drop in viewership, while the original series climbed the charts.

While Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action adaptation saw a dip in viewership in its second week, the original animated series saw renewed interest, climbing Netflix's acquired charts. The 2005 Nickelodeon animated series told the story of a young boy gifted with mastery over the four elements and his fight against the tyranny of the Fire Nation. Season 1 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation covered book 1 of the animated series into an eight-episode fantasy drama in February 2023.

As reported by Variety, the Nielsen streaming top...

This article references fictional suicide within a TV series,

TV adaptations offer more room for storytelling, but changes can hinder the adaptation's success. Negative changes in tone or key elements of the source material can disappoint fans. Overhaul can deter from the original, altering the essence and sabotaging the series.

TV adaptations have the opportunity to create a more comprehensive and full retelling of other source material, due to their episodic storytelling and the total length of a series compared to a movie, but the wrong change can be disastrous. Any adaptation requires some degree of change to make sure that the story being told fits the new format. Whether that means condensing or getting rid of certain events, it's a necessity of making an adapted story which often helps to adjust the story for a new medium.

However, not every change that is made to the source material ends up improving the adaptation,...

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee discusses emotional Uncle Iroh moment in Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender episode 4 "Into The Dark." Lee praises impactful use of "Leaves From The Vine" in Lu Ten's funeral scene, highlighting Dallas Liu's powerful performance. Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender now available on streaming service, based on popular Nickelodeon animated series.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee opens up about Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender episode 4, which incorporated a powerful Uncle Iroh moment from the animated series. The actor portrays Iroh, uncle to Dallas Liu's Prince Zuko, and celebrated general of the Fire Nation's Earth Kingdom campaigns in the Hundred Year War. Despite his status, episode 4 "Into The Dark" saw a captured Iroh look back on a heartbreaking loss that changed his life forever.

When speaking to TheWrap about season 1 of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation, Lee was asked about the use of "Leaves From The Vine" during Lu Ten's funeral.

The live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender will eliminate Sokka's sexist views from his character arc. This change alters Sokka's story and raises questions about how his character development will be portrayed in the adaptation. While Sokka's humor remains, the removal of his sexist views may strip away the nuanced dynamics of his character development.

Avatar: The Last Airbender stars Kiawentiio and Ian Ousley have opened up about a big change for Sokka's character in the live-action version of the show. Sokka (Ousley) is the older brother of Katara (Kiawentiio), accompanying her and Aang on their journey to the North Pole and beyond. In the animated series, part of his character arc involves letting go of his ego, including his sexist views toward women.

However, speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Kiawentiio and Ousley revealed Sokka's sexism won't be part of his character in the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender. The actors explained how,...

A new teaser focused on Aang reveals Gyatso will finally make his live-action debut in the upcoming Netflix series of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The series will adapt season 1 of the original animated show, focusing on Aang's journey to learn waterbending and featuring familiar characters like Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. Aang's original mentor, Gyatso, will be an important part of the story, hinting at a flashback scene in the show.

Avatar: The Last Airbender has revealed a first look at another airbender besides Aang, finally making their live-action debut. The upcoming Netflix series adapts season 1 of the original animated show, which will feature the main character's journey to learn waterbending. Familiar faces like Katara, Sokka, and Zuko will be part of the story, all of whom have been revealed so far.

Now, Avatar: The Last Airbender has posted a video highlighting Aang, but which also features another familiar airbender.

Ready or not,...

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender has unveiled character posters for Fire Lord Ozai, Princess Azula, Iroh, and Commander Zhao. These posters showcase their military power and firebending abilities, giving a glimpse of what to expect in the live-action adaptation. The highly-anticipated series is set to premiere on February 22 and is based on the beloved Nickelodeon animated fantasy epic.

Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender has released four new character posters, introducing the key players of the Fire Nation ahead of their live-action debut. The upcoming Netflix series is an adaptation of Nickelodeon's beloved animated fantasy epic that aired from 2005 to 2009. In the Avatar: The Last Airbender world, the Fire Nation has set out on a hundred-year campaign against the other nations.

In a new Instagram post, Netflix's Avatar account has shared four new posters focused on the Fire Nation. Check them out below:

View this post on Instagram A...

Writer Alex Tse discusses a few of his favorite films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Rrr (2022)

Watchmen (2009)

Superfly (2018)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

Independence Day (1996)

Clueless (1995)

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)

The Goonies (1985)

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)

Infested (2002)

Straw Dogs (1971) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary, Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Joe Dante’s review

Altered States (1980) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary

Return Of The Ape Man (1944)

Major League (1989)

The Sting (1973)

Angels In The Outfield (1951)

Rocky (1976)

Slap Shot (1977) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Eight Men Out (1988)

Heavy Metal (1981)

Fritz The Cat (1972) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

The Killer Snakes (1974)

Zodiac (2007)

Se7en (1995)

Dirty Harry (1971) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary,...

According to sources close to Wgtc – the same ones who told us a Witcher prequel and an Extraction sequel were in the works well before Netflix officially announced them – the streaming giant’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender will reportedly make some big changes to the original story. These include, but will not be limited to, the introduction of new characters and subplots.

Before Avatar diehards begin freaking out, it’s important to remember that most likely, these changes have not been ordered by Netflix or any other money-hungry executives. Rather, we imagine they’re being made by the creators of the original Nickelodeon animated series – Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko – whom the streamer has hired to reboot their own magnum opus.

In the past, Dimartino and Konietzko have already mentioned that they’d make some changes to the live-action adaptation such as the introduction of original supporting characters.

Stars: Constance Towers, Antony Eisley, Michael Dante, Virginia Grey, Patsy Kelly | Written and Directed by Samuel Fuller

The Naked Kiss opens with a fight. And Kelly (Constance Towers) – an experienced escort reclaiming her money from a punter – will never stop fighting. Just for one night it looks like she’s left her worst times behind, as she arrives in Grantville, a small town where no one knows her name. But then she discovers her first customer, Griff (Antony Eisley), is a local policeman. He offers a deal: she can’t operate within the town itself, but he’ll set her up in a brothel outside the limits.

But Kelly is looking for a life more meaningful. So, she finds herself in a hospital for disabled children. She’s a natural. The kids love her. Her colleagues love her. But Griff still can’t trust her – especially when she falls for his enormously wealthy best bud,...

Guest Reviewer Lee Broughton is back, with a rodent roundup of horror, or more accurately, psychological suspense interrupted by a few salacious slayings. What would Mickey say?

The brief synopses of Daniel Mann’s Willard and Phil Karlson’s Ben that appeared in the horror movie books and magazines that kids in the UK loved to pore over during the late 1970s always gave the impression that this pair of killer rat films were hardcore horror shows.

In truth, the actual horror content of both films is relatively mild and infrequent. In spite of this, Willard and Ben still tend to be discussed in terms of their relation to the often more extreme movies that appeared in the “animals attack” cycle of horror films that flourished during the 1970s.

That particular subgenre represents something of a niche interest area that is governed by a pretty tight set of boundaries. The...

He sings, he fixes cars, and he takes punches better than De Niro’s Raging Bull. Elvis Presley excels in one of his few ’60s pictures that shows an interest in being a ‘real movie,’ a remake of a boxing saga with entertaining characters and fine direction from noir specialist Phil Karlson. Plus Charles Bronson, Lola Albright and Joan Blackman in standout roles.

Kid Galahad

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1962 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 95 min. / Street Date August 14, 2017 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95

Starring: Elvis Presley, Gig Young, Lola Albright, Joan Blackman, Charles Bronson, Robert Emhardt, Liam Redmond, Judson Pratt, Ned Glass, George Mitchell, Roy Roberts, Michael Dante, Richard Devon, Jeff Morris, Edward Asner, Frank Gerstle, Seamon Glass, Bert Remsen.

Cinematography: Burnett Guffey

Film Editor: Stuart Gilmore

Original Music: Jeff Alexander

Written by William Fay, Francis Wallace

Produced by David Weisbart

Directed by Phil Karlson

What, a good Elvis Presley picture?...

Cinema Retro columnist Tom Lisanti's new book Dueling Harlows: Race to the Silver Screen has just been released. Here is the press release:

Dueling Harlows: Race to the Silver Screen is the fascinating backstory of the competition to get two rival film biographies both titled Harlow into theaters first that quickly turned into one of the nastiest, dirtiest feuds that Hollywood ever witnessed

In 1965, in a rare occurrence not seen before or since, two motion pictures with the same title about the same subject opened within weeks of each other.

Carol Lynley was Jean Harlow in Bill Sargent’s Harlow a quickie B&W independent production filmed in Electronovision. Carroll Baker was Jean Harlow in Joseph E. Levine’s Harlow a big budget color extravaganza from Paramount Pictures. Both endeavored to tell the story of the legendary thirties blonde bombshell’s passionate love life and her meteoric rise from bit...

By the time Samuel Fuller had made his first film, he'd been a copy boy, fought in the second world war, written a number of pulp novels and screenplays and worked as a crime reporter. His directorial debut, I Shot Jesse James [1] (1949), was already informed by a lifetime's worth of real world experience. His films are personal -- even autobiographical -- and his storytelling is aggressive. His themes are often presented in an austere nature and his imagery can be heavy handed (White Dog [2]), but his earnestness leaves me smiling rather than cringing. It makes sense that Criterion would re-release two Samuel Fuller classics, The Naked Kiss and Shock Corridor, on the same day with matching cover artwork (provided by Ghost World author/illustrator Daniel Clowes). The films share a deep rooted pulp narrative that examines two of cinema's most prototypical social outcasts: hookers and schitzos. The Naked Kiss Directed...

Charles B. Pierce was a popular regional filmmaker who made his feature film debut as director, producer, and cinematographer for the 1972 docu-drama The Legend of Boggy Creek. The low-budget film dramatized the legend of a Sasquatch-like creature known as the Fouke Monster, that was reputed to terrorize the small town in Arkansas near Texarkana. Boggy Creek became a major hit on the drive-in circuit. Pierce also directed and wrote a 1985 pseudo-sequel, The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II, and appeared in the role of Professor Brian C. `Doc’ Lockart.

Pierce was born in Hammond, Indiana, on June 16, 1938, and moved to Hampton, Arkansas, with his family as a child. He operated an advertising agency in Texarkana, and began working in films as a set decorator in the mid-1960s. He worked on numerous film and television productions including Chuck Jones’ animated feature The Phantom Tollbooth (1970), and the films Pretty Maids All in a Row...

Many movies unavailable on DVD are difficult to find, but if you beat the bushes with hard work and patience (online traders, DVD-Rs at collectibles shows, long out-of-print VHS tapes), most “rare” movies can eventually be tracked down. Then there are movies like The Farmer. I saw the violent revenge thriller The Farmer at the I-44 Drive-In movie theatre in Valley Park, Missouri in 1977 on a double-bill with John Flynn’s The Outfit. It’s a vivid memory and I recall my friends and I loving it and talking about it for months after. I began collecting movies in the early 80’s and just assumed The Farmer would one day find it’s way into my collection. But I’ve searched far and wide and here it is 2009 and, after years of it topping my want list, a return visit to The Farmer has eluded me. When I mention the title to fellow movie collectors,...