Paramount+ renews Avatar: Seven Havens for Books 3 and 4 at New York Comic-Con

The renewal

Paramount+ has renewed Avatar: Seven Havens for two more seasons, bringing the animated sequel to Seasons 3 and 4, or Books 3 and 4 in the franchise's terminology. The renewal was revealed on Friday, 9 October, during the show's panel at New York Comic-Con, held at the Javits Center in New York. The announcement coincided with the premiere of Book 1, when the first three episodes became available on Paramount+. Co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko made the announcement onstage, joined by executive producer Ethan Spaulding, co-executive producer Sehaj Sethi and the voice actors Saheli Khan, Aishu Devan and Major Curda. Janet Varney, the original voice of Korra, moderated the panel, which also showed a script-to-screen clip from the series. More details on Books 2, 3 and 4 will follow at a later date, and Book 2 does not have a premiere date yet.

The story

The series follows Pavi, a young Earthbender who discovers she is the new Avatar after Korra, in a world shattered by a devastating cataclysm. Her twin sister Nisha and her mentor Jae help her face hunters from both human and spirit enemies, according to the official logline. The New York Times reports that the cataclysm undid much of the technological and social progress shown in the earlier shows, and that survivors have resettled into seven communities known as Havens. The show is set more than 200 years after Korra according to The New York Times, while Gizmodo places it 225 years after The Legend of Korra. Pavi and Nisha must uncover their mysterious origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization's last strongholds collapse.

Avatar Kuruk: Wave of Chaos

Paramount+ also ordered Avatar Kuruk: Wave of Chaos, an animated series about the Water Tribe Avatar Kuruk, who lived three generations before Aang. The series will be produced by Avatar Studios and Nickelodeon Animation Studios, with Bryan Konietzko serving as showrunner. According to its logline, the rebellious teenage Avatar bucks thousands of years of tradition by learning the four elements through globetrotting adventures, staying one step ahead of his angry teacher, rowdy pirates and chaotic spirits. Paramount+ released first-look images from the series, and Knight Edge Media first reported its development.

Release schedule

The first three episodes of Book 1 went live on 9 October, the same day as the New York Comic-Con panel. Episodes four through six follow on Friday, 16 October. Episodes seven through nine arrive on Friday, 23 October. The final episodes of Book 1, 10 through 13, are scheduled for Friday, 30 October. Book 1 therefore runs in weekly batches across the month, and no date has yet been set for Book 2.

Early reviews

Gizmodo describes the premiere as a little rocky but full of potential, saying the show expands its universe in ways that feel strange and ambitious, mostly in the best way possible. It says the series uses real-world discourse about its predecessor as the bedrock for the new show. The Hollywood Reporter calls it a promising addition to a beloved fantasy franchise, describing it as the third animated series in the universe that welcomes diehards and newcomers alike. The New York Times notes that Seven Havens keeps the anime-inspired 2-D animation style that DiMartino and Konietzko established with the previous series.