John Boyega Pitching an 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' Show He Wants to Star In

Avatar: The Last Airbender is not just one of the most beloved animated series of all time, but arguably one of the most beloved TV shows of all time. With wonderful humor, an engaging storyline, pitch-perfect characters, and a nearly flawless collection of episodes, it set the benchmark for what animated television storytelling could be. Some would argue that it has not yet been matched, let alone less exceeded.

With the high quality of the show, it is no surprise that it has its fair share of celebrity fans. One of them is a recent addition to stardom, John Boyega, who starred in popular films like Attack the Block before shooting to fame as the rebel stormtrooper Finn in Disney's Star Wars sequel trilogy. Now that he has publicly expressed that he is definitively moving on from Star Wars, it begs the question of what his next project is going to be.

The Avatar fandom never really died down, but it has experienced a major resurgence with the show being added to Netflix, with the addition of the sequel show The Legend of Korra following shortly. The show is exploding in a way that we have not seen since its initial run. To top it all off, a live-action show is being produced, which, given its longer format, will likely mean that it will be a major improvement over the last live-action Avatar production, the infamously terrible M. Night Shyamalan film.

Given the resurgence, it makes sense that people are thinking about taking it in different directions. Boyega is an admitted fan, and he wants to see that world explored a little bit. It is no secret that the show draws heavily from Asian cultures. Acursory glance at a screenshot would tell you that. He is interested in a possible African angle, saying in a tweet: "When you lot are ready to have the benders in Africa explored let me know!" It would be interesting to go in that direction. As is the case with a lot of rich, complex worlds, there is often a hint that there is something more beyond the borders that we see in the show.

It is not often in TV that we see cultures outside of European or American inspiration, which is another way that Avatar: The Last Airbender breaks barriers for western kid's programming. It was nearly unique to see an Asian-inspired show on that level, so continuing to expand the borders of the world with an African bent (no pun intended) would be especially unique. Most of the TV shows American kids watch are set in America, which is to be expected. However, Avatar: The Last Airbender showed that kids are open to exploring TV shows featuring other cultures. If John Boyega's vision came to light, it would expand children's programming in different directions, which, given the current political climate, could allow the show to explore more adult themes, just as the original show did.

A major draw of a show like Avatar: The Last Airbender is that it treats its audience, regardless of age, as people who are mature enough to handle the stories that it is telling. This is a draw for children, as they do not feel patronized by overly goofy characters using small words for the kiddies, and it is a draw for adults as they can understand and relate to the deeper meanings and themes that the show presents. It is universally beloved, and once children grow up and rewatch it, they can get more out of the show. Exploring beyond the borders of the world that the show takes place in would allow for more themes to be explored, as well as an opportunity to repeat what made the show so amazing in the first place. If John Boyega gets his way, and he ends up being involved in an Avatar show set in an African-inspired culture, we could have another amazing show to enjoy.

Written by Tommy Durbin