At the MomoCon pop culture event held in Atlanta, Georgia on May 2023, Michaela Jill Murphy, also known as Jessie Flower, updated fans about potential casting changes for the upcoming and currently untitled animated Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, set to be released in 2025.
Flower, who voiced the fan-favourite Earthbender character Toph in the original Nickelodeon series (2005-2008), suggested that the original voice cast may not reprise their roles in the new film.
“If you’re an actor, you’re always interested in being called back for a project,” Flower said, “I think they’re going to be recasting for pretty much everything. It’s not like people are going to clamor and be like, ‘Bring back the originals!’”
Flower went on to commend the unwavering commitment of creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino to their future series plans. They have remained firm in their vision since The Last Airbender, even when it clashed with fan expectations, including delivering their chosen ending, not a fan-desired extension.
She mentioned their refusal to create a fourth season despite fan pressure. Although this suggests they won’t bend on recasting, Flower is eager to embrace their upcoming chapter as a fan. “They have a vision, and they execute it the way they want to. I’m sad because I would come love to come back and do stuff, but you know I’ll be cheering from the audience with everyone else!”
The upcoming Avatar film will bridge the gap between the original Avatar series and its follow-up, The Legend of Korra (2012-14). The plot will follow the original team, now maturing into adulthood, as they strive to heal the world in the aftermath of the devastating conflict with the Fire Nation.
In this period, Aang takes on the momentous task of restoring the Air Nomads and lays the foundation of Republic City, thereby driving the world toward the advanced state we see in Korra. This era significantly shapes the evolution of the Avatar universe after the original series.
Original creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino, commonly referred to by fans as Mike ‘n Bryan, will be writing the script for the movie. Lauren Montgomery (The Last Airbender, Voltron: Legendary Defender) will return to direct the movie. Overseeing the project will be Avatar‘s executive producer, Eric Coleman.
This movie is part of a trilogy of animated Avatar films coming from Nickelodeon’s Avatar Studios. The studio aims to produce a wide array of original content rooted in the cherished The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra universe. At this point, it’s unclear whether the movies will connect as sequels or function as individual stand-alones.
Avatar Studios is also gearing up for another Paramount+ exclusive series. According to a tease from Avatar News in December, this new series will track the subsequent Avatar following Aang and Korra, with an expected release in 2025.
The new film, Avatar: The Last Airbender, is set to premiere on 10 October 2025.
Passion and love mean little to the Baroness. No man can ever be her master. Where there’s terror to be sown and coin earned, that’s where she will be with guns akimbo.
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