Avatar How A New Animated Airbender Show Could Happen (Not At Netflix)

Avatar: How A New Animated Airbender Show Could Happen (Not At Netflix)

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Netflix is still developing its live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series, but a new animated show could also be in the cards at Paramount+.

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Avatar How A New Animated Airbender Show Could Happen (Not At Netflix)

As fans wait for updates on Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender remake, there’s a chance another new show set in the universe of Avatar and The Legend of Korra could be on the way elsewhere. The Netflix series was generally met with optimism after the announcement that original show co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino would be helming the project. Unfortunately, that optimism quickly dissipated when the duo left the project, citing a lack of creative freedom in their work with the streamer.

Avatar is undoubtedly one of the most popular franchises of the 21st century. Over the years since it originally began airing on Nickelodeon, the kid-friendly fantasy story has expanded into a sweeping world, spawning an acclaimed sequel series in The Legend of Korra, numerous books and graphic novels, video games, and more. In an era when streaming platforms and media companies are competing to develop transmedia franchises, Avatar: The Last Airbender has become an especially hot commodity and an understandably desirable target for further development by Netflix.

Unfortunately, the departure of Konietzko and DiMartino from the Netflix series has evoked memories of M. Night Shyamalan’s failed Avatar movie and left fans dreading, rather than excitedly awaiting, the new show. That doesn’t mean hope is lost for the series future though. A proper new Avatar animated series could still happen down the line on a different streaming service: ViacomCBS’s rebrand of CBS All Access, Paramount+. To understand how a new show could happen though, it’s important first to understand the current rights and licensing situation for the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise.

Avatar Rights And Netflix Remake Explained

Avatar How A New Animated Airbender Show Could Happen (Not At Netflix)

The greater Avatar franchise and brand are still primarily owned by ViacomCBS – the parent company of Nickelodeon and many other smaller media companies and studios. Netflix’s live-action series is being developed through a licensing deal with ViacomCBS, the details of which are not entirely known. Presumably, the contract allows Netflix to create content based off specific parts of the Avatar universe – most likely the original cartoon, as the show in development has been pitched as a direct remake. The deal would also likely grant Netflix long-term exclusivity rights to the material they create, meaning that Viacom could not co-opt after its release. Even those suppositions are based on common licensing agreement terms, however, and the specifics of the Avatar rights aren’t entirely known.

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Assuming that nothing particularly uncommon was included in Netflix’s Avatar deal, ViacomCBS should still hold overall creative power over the franchise. Both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are available for streaming on CBS All Access as well as on Netflix, and they will presumably carry over onto Paramount+ when it launches on March 4. It’s possible that ViacomCBS isn’t able to adapt specific characters or storylines from Avatar and Korra that are part of the Netflix agreement (which most likely just covers the original cartoon), but even that block wouldn’t last forever. New stories, characters, or expanded content set in the Avatar universe, however, is theoretically just waiting to be developed.

Other Recent Avatar: The Last Airbender And Korra Projects

Avatar How A New Animated Airbender Show Could Happen (Not At Netflix)

Over the past few years, the world of Avatar has continued to expand through various media, most notably the graphic novels published by Dark Horse and the Avatar Kyoshi novels written by F.C. Yee. These side projects have proved a couple of things. First, there are plenty of new stories to tell in the world of Avatar and Korra. Second, both new and old fans are ready and waiting for those stories to arrive. The comics have been generally acclaimed for their stories and style, and for continuing the arcs of the original show’s beloved characters. And the Kyoshi novels have registered as New York Times Bestsellers, despite only featuring one previously seen Avatar character and being set hundreds of years before the cartoons.

Netflix’s decision to remake Avatar: The Last Airbender rather than create a new story makes sense from a publicity perspective. However, the success of Avatar media like the novels and comics show that there’s also a massive fan base that wants new content, regardless of which characters appear. Konietzko, DiMartino and the rest of the teams behind Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra built a world like Star Wars or Marvel – one where many different stories can be told; one that fans clearly want to keep exploring in original ways.

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Paramount+ Could Make A New Avatar Animated Series

It’s no secret that the streaming marketplace is becoming more cutthroat by the day. 2020 saw the meteoric rise of Disney+ to compete with stalwarts like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, and HBO Max is also quickly gaining traction through its planned schedule of major cinematic releases and the future promise of new Harry Potter and Game of Thrones content. CBS All Access wouldn’t be rebranding if it weren’t behind in the race, and ViacomCBS will need major franchise power to compete with the likes of Batman, Star Wars and the MCU.

Avatar is the perfect series to carry the torch for Paramount+. It’s following is larger and more dedicated than almost any other modern franchise, save for the global sensation mentioned previously. Plus, Netflix has played right into ViacomCBS’s hand by pushing out Konietzko and DiMartino. In the wake of the disaster that was Shyamalan’s Avatar: The Last Airbender film, fans are particularly wary of content that doesn’t seem to treat the series with respect. If ViacomCBS were to announce a new animated Avatar series exclusive to Paramount+, it would be a huge boost for the platform. Even if it weren’t to premiere for another couple years, the sheer notion of an “official” successor could instantly deflate any legitimacy Netflix has left with the fan base.

Depending on Konietzko and DiMartino’s contracts with Netflix, it could be a bit more time before they’d be legally allowed to work on a competing Avatar property, but they’ve both stated they’re interested in telling more stories in the world they built. Even if ViacomCBS is legally restricted from using characters or specifics from Avatar: The Last Airbender, there are thousands of years of lore and many unnamed Avatars to choose from in making a new story. A new animated Avatar series would make perfect sense from a business perspective, and it could also give fans the new material they’ve been craving after Konietzko and DiMartino’s split with Netflix.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/avatar-last-airbender-animated-show-happen-rights-explained/

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