Avatar: The Last Airbender season 4 was never going to happen, according to the show's creators. Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko createdAvatarin 2005 and introduced audiences to the world of young airbender Aang.Avatarran for three seasons before ending in 2008, and its finale paved the way for M. Night Shyamalan to adapt the series into a live-action film. 2010'sThe Last Airbenderwas met with terrible reviews from fans and critics alike, leaving fans to wish a fourth season ofAvatarwas created instead. The common belief is thatAvatar season 4 was pushed aside so thatThe Last Airbendercould be created.

Last year, formerAvatarwriter Aaron Ehasz shared the potential story for season 4. According to him, the series would have explored Azula's redemption arc following her climactic battle with her brother Zuko. Similar to the way Uncle Iroh had helped him, Zuko would've shown Azula compassion and patience on her journey to bettering herself. There were many fans who would've liked to see this happen, but DiMartino and Konietzko have now cast doubt on what theAvatarseason 4 plan really was.

In a new interview withPolygon,the two creators were asked about the potentialAvatar season 4 story and whether any part of it was absorbed into the sequel seriesThe Legend of Korra.Instead of addressing the story, however, DiMartino and Konietzko insisted a season 4 was never in the cards at all. As they explained:

Konietzko: There was never going to be a season 4, not from us and not from Nickelodeon. Mike and I planned ATLA to be a three-season arc as far back as our initial pitch in 2002, and in 2008 we finished the story we set out to tell.

DiMartino: We finished the show exactly as we had intended. We hadn't considered continuing Aang's story until Dark Horse Comics approached us with the idea of returning to ATLA in graphic novel form. And at that point we worked with writer Gene Luen Yang to expand the story beyond the animated series.

Avatar Last Airbender poster with Aang Sokka and Katara

To be fair, neither DiMartino nor Konietzko verified theAvatarseason 4 rumors in the past, so it might not be that surprising to hear the truth behind it. In fact, it might even be seen as a good thing that there were no plans for season 4;Avatartruly was able to end when it intended to, which not many shows can do. However, Ehasz's words about Azula's redemption arc was very carefully thought out and made a good case for why a season 4 would've been a good idea. It also makes one wonder where Ehasz got the idea for the season 4 story if DiMartino and Konietzko had never intended for it to happen.

DiMartino and Konietzko were to return to the world ofAvatarfor Netflix's upcoming live-action adaptation, but last month news broke that the two had left the project. For fans who were wary of another live-actionAvatarbut soothed by DiMartino and Konietzko's presence, it came as a major blow. Now many are concerned about how Netflix will adapt the beloved show, though as so little information is known about it, it's hard to say how it will turn out. Fans had hoped Netflix's Avatarcould feature the season 4 plans, but now it seems less certain that it will. Only time will tell how it all comes together.

More: Avatar's Original Plan Would've Ruined Last Airbender's Perfect Ending

Source: Polygon