Paramount and Nickelodeon have announced that three new animated Avatar films are in development under the latter’s Avatar Studios banner. Lauren Montgomery (Avatar: The Last Airbender) is all set to direct the untitled first installment.
Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation announced these new projects during a special presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino, who created the franchise-launching series Avatar: The Last Airbender for Nickelodeon will produce alongside that show’s EP, Eric Coleman. Paramount Animation’s and Nickelodeon Animation’s EVP of movies and global franchises, Latifa Ouaou, will oversee development on the first film, along with Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation VP of Animation Jason McConnell.
Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation president animation and development Ramsey Naito said, “As original creators Mike and Bryan expand the Avatar universe with us, we’re keeping it all in the family with Lauren bringing the same kind of expert, beautiful work she did on the original series to her new directing duties on the forthcoming theatrical.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender aired on Nickelodeon for three seasons, from February 2005 to July 2008.The series is centered around the journey of twelve-year-old Aang, the current Avatar and last survivor of his nation, the Air Nomads, along with his friends Katara, Sokka, and later Toph, as they strive to end the Fire Nation’s war against the other nations of the world. It also follows the story of Zuko—the exiled prince of the Fire Nation, seeking to restore his lost honor by capturing Aang, accompanied by his wise uncle Iroh—and later, his ambitious sister Azula. Nickelodeon followed up that hugely popular series with sequel The Legend of Korra, which aired for four seasons between 2012 and 2014.
The upcoming project for Paramount Animation is Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank. It is set for release on 15 July. Other upcoming titles include a new animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, The Tiger’s Apprentice, an untitled, animated Transformers movie and an untitled Smurfs animated musical.
