When another live-action adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender was first announced, long-time fans were hesitant to jump on board after they were burned so badly by the M. Night Shyamalan movie in 2010. However, Netflix managed to deliver a reimagined version of Aang’s story that mostly satisfied fans and critics alike. The first season was such a hit in fact that the streamer announced a second and third season renewal less than a month after the series premiered. And now thanks to a recent announcement, it looks like things are well under way with the next chapter of the story.
During their Geeked Week 2024 presentation in Atlanta, Georgia, Netflix revealed that production has begun on the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Executive producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani shared their excitement in a press release by saying that they’re “looking forward to working with all of our actors again and digging into the deeper, more complicated relationships that develop as their journey continues in season two.” They also teased that fans will recognize “the real-world versions of iconic scenes from the original” while exploring new and exciting storylines as well.
Earth-Shaking News
Although, revealing that the cast and crew are back to work is only a small part of the festivities. News also broke during the event that Miya Cech would be joining the cast as fan-favorite character Toph Beifong. The 17-year-old actor is no stranger to Netflix as she previously played a younger version of Ali Wong in both Always Be My Maybe and Beef, along with appearing in a supporting role in the coming-of-age comedy You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. But now, she’ll be stepping into the shoes of the master Earthbender and teaming with Aang and company in an effort to defeat the nefarious Fire Nation. Metaphorically, of course since she’s not wearing any shoes in the teaser above.
The showrunners describe Cech as “a brilliant performer who knows how to precisely balance the sarcastic sense of humor, stubbornness, and vulnerability that is Toph.” But for the young Chinese and Japanese American, she is ecstatic to be a part of the incredibly diverse world of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
“Even though the universe is fantasy, it feels like every culture is represented in some way and tied to the history and traditions of that culture or country,” she said in the press release. “Just a few years ago, you might have seen one or two of these actors in a show or movie, but on this show we are all able to represent this world together and work together and collaborate. It’s really amazing and a gift as an actor.”
While no release window for season two has been revealed yet, fans of the franchise should be excited to see Cech join Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu in this expansive and impressive cast. So be sure to stay tuned to That Hashtag Show for the latest news on Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender and more.
You can watch the first season of the live-action series on Netflix now.
