The elements are once again in motion as Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender barrels forward with its ambitious adaptation. After the first season’s success, the journey didn’t just continue—it accelerated. With Seasons 2 and 3 greenlit together, the team behind the series wasted no time jumping straight into the action. Now, with one-third of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 already filmed, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what’s happening behind the scenes—and fans have reason to be excited.
Filming Status: Where Things Stand with Season 3
Daniel Dae Kim, who portrays the fearsome Fire Lord Ozai, recently gave fans an exciting update. Speaking in an interview with ScreenRant, Kim confirmed that filming for Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 3 is in full swing.
“We’re in the middle of shooting it right now. In fact, I just flew in from Vancouver last night from shooting,” Kim said.
While it may sound like they’re already halfway through, Kim clarified that they’re actually about one-third of the way into filming. This aligns with the production schedule, which saw Season 2 wrap up in May 2025, with filming for Season 3 kicking off immediately afterward.
Back-to-Back Production: No Time for Rest
Following the original animated series’ three-book format, Netflix’s adaptation is keeping pace. The team made the strategic decision to shoot Seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back. This approach helps maintain continuity, keeps the cast in sync, and reduces the time fans have to wait between seasons.
A video shared from the set shows the cast—including Gordon Cormier (Aang), Ian Ousley (Sokka), Miya Cech (Toph), Kiawentiio (Katara), Dallas Liu (Zuko), Elizabeth Yu (Azula), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Uncle Iroh), and Daniel Dae Kim—celebrating the transition from Season 2 into Season 3. The energy is high, the spirit of the show is alive, and as Kim puts it: “We’re just getting started.”
Change in Leadership: A New Creative Vision
As the live-action series evolves, so has its leadership. Executive producer Albert Kim, who helped shepherd the first season, has stepped down as showrunner. In his place, Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani—both executive producers on the project—have taken the reins for Seasons 2 and 3.
This transition marks a new phase for the show, possibly bringing a fresh creative direction as the story dives into the deeper, darker themes of Book 3: Fire.
New Faces Join the Cast in Season 3
Season 3 will not only bring back the original cast but also introduce several key characters from the animated series. Two major additions were announced:
- Jon Jon Briones will play Piandao, the master swordsman who trains Sokka in the ways of the blade.
- Tantoo Cardinal joins as Hama, the Southern Water Tribe waterbender known for her chilling bloodbending technique.
These characters play pivotal roles in Book 3 of the original series and their inclusion signals that the live-action adaptation intends to stay faithful to the original plot while expanding on the lore.
Meet the Season 2 Cast Members You’ll See in Season 3
Some characters introduced in Season 2 will continue into Season 3. These include:
- Terry Chen as Jeong Jeong, the firebending master who teaches Aang.
- Dolly De Leon as the twin sages Lo and Li.
- Lily Gao as Ursa, Zuko and Azula’s mother.
- Madison Hu as Fei (a new character).
- Dichen Lachman as Yangchen, one of the past Avatars.
These additions broaden the universe and bring more depth to the stories fans know and love. With Yangchen appearing, we can expect more spiritual exploration and deeper connections to the Avatar legacy.
Aang’s Journey Continues
At the heart of Avatar: The Last Airbender remains the story of Aang, played by Gordon Cormier. As the young Avatar, Aang must master the four elements—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air—to bring balance to a world in turmoil. Season 3 will likely follow the intense final arc from the original series, where Aang prepares to face Fire Lord Ozai during the arrival of Sozin’s Comet.
Alongside Aang, fans will see the continued growth of Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko. With Miya Cech now portraying fan-favorite earthbender Toph Beifong, expectations are high for emotionally rich character moments and visually stunning bending battles.
No Official Release Date Yet, But Signs Look Promising
As of now, there is no confirmed release date for Season 2, which wrapped filming in May 2025. Based on the pace of production and Netflix’s usual post-production timelines, it’s likely Season 2 won’t debut until sometime in 2026.
Still, Daniel Dae Kim’s positive update assures fans that the production is running smoothly and with purpose. With one-third of Season 3 already filmed, more concrete announcements are expected in the near future.
What to Expect from Season 3
While Netflix hasn’t released any official plot details, the inclusion of characters like Piandao, Hama, and Yangchen hints at a faithful adaptation of Book 3 from the original series. Fans can look forward to:
- Sokka’s training as a swordsman
- Hama’s terrifying bloodbending episode
- Zuko’s continued redemption arc
- Aang’s spiritual journey and confrontation with past Avatars
- The build-up to Sozin’s Comet and the final battle with Ozai
With Fire Lord Ozai’s role set to expand, and Daniel Dae Kim delivering a strong performance, Season 3 is shaping up to be a climactic and emotionally charged finale.
