Migizi Pensoneau helped develop new Avatar Kuruk series for Paramount+

Migizi Pensoneau, a Ponca and Ojibwe screenwriter, producer and actor and a co-founder of the comedy troupe the 1491s, helped develop Avatar Kuruk: Wave of Chaos, the new animated series from Avatar co-creator Bryan Konietzko.

Konietzko wrote on Instagram that he and fellow co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino began working with Pensoneau about eight years ago, that they developed the series together, and that Pensoneau "continues to be a meaningful part of it." Paramount+ publicity pointed IND to the post as confirmation of Pensoneau's role.

Paramount+ announced the series on October 9 at New York Comic Con. It follows Kuruk, a rebellious teenage Water Tribe Avatar who bucks thousands of years of tradition, travelling the world to learn the four elements while staying one step ahead of his angry teacher, rowdy pirates and chaotic spirits. Konietzko said at the convention that Kuruk is 14 at the start of the story.

Konietzko is the showrunner and executive produces with DiMartino. Paramount+ names longtime Avatar collaborators Kihyun Ryu and Tim Hedrick as co-executive producers. Ryu created Kuruk's character art, and Janet Varney, who voiced Korra, is the voice director.

Pensoneau, an alumnus of the Institute of American Indian Arts, has written for Barkskins and Two Sentence Horror Stories and has appeared in Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls. Paramount+ has not announced his title on the new series.

The series also introduces Nikik, Kuruk's pet, which Konietzko described as a "koala-otter." Shemsu Turner designed and drew Nikik's character art.

No premiere date or voice cast has been announced. The series will stream on Paramount+.