One of the best scenes in Netflix’sAvatar: The Last Airbenderis a significant change from the animated show, and it proves that one fan-favorite character deserves her own solo movie.Avatar: The Last Airbenderis, without a doubt, one of themost influential TV shows of the 2000s. The serious exploration of war, genocide, and trauma still resonates with audiences twenty years later.
Luckily for fans, the franchise has continued to grow and flourish. In 2022, Avatar Studios announced that they would be releasing moreanimatedAvatar: The Last Airbendermovies and TV shows. At least three films are in the works, the first of which will focus on Aang and the Gaang as young adults. However, the live-actionAvatar: The Last AirbenderTV show on Netflix includes a key change that reminds everyone that the rumored solo movie focusing on fan-favorite character Avatar Kyoshi needs to happen.
Avatar Kyoshi Is A Fan-Favorite Even Though She Barely Appears In The Animated Show
Avatar Kyoshi Has Remained A Fan-Favorite Over The Past Two Decades
Avatar Kyoshi only appears in four episodes of the originalAvatar: The Last Airbenderseries and four episodes ofThe Legend of Korra. However, she’s still a fan favorite past avatar. She’s the first woman Avatar that we learn about, boasting a striking makeup style. Through her heroism and bravery,she inspired a whole generation of women warriors on Kyoshi Island, including another fan-favoriteAvatarcharacter, Suki.
The fact that she uses a battle fan as a weapon and a tool for bending makes her even more memorable as an Avatar.
Based solely on the animated show, Kyoshi is a badass who balances her stoic, wise side with an aggressive, ruthless side. The former is evident in her conversations with Aang, while the latter exists in the flashbacks to her battle with Chin the Conqueror.She also shows a bit of her ruthlessness when she reveals that she would have killed Chinand implies that Aang should kill Ozai.
The fact that she uses a battle fan as a weapon and a tool for bending makes her even more memorable as an Avatar. The two scenes where she’s shown bending in the original Avatar: The Last Airbenderare engrossing. Her movements with the fans are just as much an art form as they are a fighting style.
Even without the expansion of her character in the comics and the books, it’s completely understandable that she would be many viewers’ favorite character. However, the expanded universe only makes her a more lovable character. As such, she was already a prime choice for a solo Avatar movie even without the live-action Netflix show.
The Avatar Kyoshi Battle In The Avatar: The Last Airbender Remake Is One Of The Most Exciting Scenes
The Live-Action Avatar Reminds Viewers How Powerful Avatar Kyoshi Is
In the animated TV show, Aang can channel previous avatars while in Avatar state, but he still appears as himself. However, one of thebest changes in the live-actionAvatar: The Last AirbenderTV showis the fact that the actual avatars he’s channeling are seen fighting. This led to, arguably, the best and most exciting scene of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Rather than Aang appearing as himself while in the Avatar state, everyone else in-universe can see that Avatar Kyoshi is taking on Zuko’s army. The scene was incredibly choreographed and scored, depicting the former avatar in all her glory. Her abilities take center stage, showcasing why she’s considered one of the strongest avatars.
There’s also something moving about Suki getting to see the woman she worships fighting to save her homeland. The scene is truly awe-inspiring and further proof that Avatar Kyoshi deserves her own movie that explores how she grew to be the powerful avatar who could wipe the Firebenders out without a second glance.
The Rumored Avatar Kyoshi Movie Needs To Happen Now
An Avatar Kyoshi Movie Has Been Rumored For Three Years
Whether or not an Avatar Kyoshi movie could happen has been the subject of speculation since Avatar Studios announced its plans to make more TV shows and movies within theAvatar: The Last Airbenderuniverse. Back in 2022,Avatar Newsreported that the three planned animated movies would be as follows: an Avatar Kyoshi movie in 2024, a Zuko movie in 2025, and a Korra movie in 2026.
Avatar fans jumped on this news with excitement, butAvatar Newshas since walked back their statements about the Avatar Kyoshi movie, stating that it’s still in development but undated. Mind you, Avatar Studios and Paramount still haven’t released a statement confirming that an Avatar Kyoshi movie has ever been in the works, meaning that it’s still just a rumor at this point.
Even if the Avatar Kyoshi movie rumors weren’t correct, Avatar Studios needs to jump on the hype surrounding the character and start developing the film. It’s perfect timing. The live-action Avatar Kyoshi scene has only increased the fans begging for a show or movie focused on the fan-favorite character. She’s also a recruitable character in thenew gameAvatar: Realms Collide, which is bound to increase the hype for Avatar Kyoshi.
Avatar Studios Already Has The Perfect Source Material For The Movie
The Avatar Kyoshi Books Would Be Perfect For A Movie
Another prime reason for Avatar Studios to jump onboard with making an Avatar Kyoshi movie is that they don’t even have to work hard to come up with a story. They already have the perfect source for a film. The YA booksAvatar: The Last Airbender – The Rise of KyoshiandThe Shadow of Kyoshiare co-written by F.C. Yee and Avatar: The Last Airbender co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino.
They both became New York Times bestsellers, and they are praised for their strong worldbuilding and themes of political conflict and cultural identity. If they’re going to pick one of the two to adapt, it’s better to go with The Rise of Kyoshi.
The first book essentially functions as her origin story. Some elements of this book were incorporated into Netflix’s live-actionAvatar: The Last Airbenderadaptation. However, The Shadow of Kyoshi is an equally compelling story, packed with tragedy and emotional moments that flesh out the beloved character. Both of these books have a cinematic quality, making either of them the perfect choice for an Avatar Kyoshi movie.
