“The Last Airbender’ Bypasses Theaters for Direct Release”
The upcoming animated feature, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, will forgo a traditional theater release. Instead, it will premiere directly on Paramount+ in October 2026. This move aligns with the streamer becoming the exclusive home for all animated content from Avatar Studios, the creative powerhouse behind the iconic Nickelodeon series, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The Expanded Avatar Universe
Along with The Legend of Aang, Paramount+ will also debut the new series Avatar: Seven Havens. Both projects are produced by Avatar Studios, which launched in 2021 under Nickelodeon to build a growing universe inspired by the original series and its successor, The Legend of Korra.
Star-Studded Cast
The cast of The Legend of Aang features a mix of new and established talent. Joining the previously announced actors like Dave Bautista and Steven Yeun are:
- Taika Waititi
- Geraldine Viswanathan
- Dee Bradley Baker
- Peta Sergeant
- Freida Pinto
- Ke Huy Quan
Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals for Paramount+, expressed pride in becoming the exclusive streaming destination for the animated Avatar Universe. “These projects represent the next evolution of storytelling,” she noted.
A Rich Heritage
The original Avatar: The Last Airbender series aired from 2005 to 2008, depicting a world of warring nations populated by “benders,” who can manipulate elements like earth, fire, wind, and water. The series earned numerous accolades, including a Peabody Award and an Emmy.
In the film adaptation, the last Airbender seeks an ancient power critical to saving his culture. As he embarks on an epic journey with friends, the plot thickens as they race against time to prevent calamity.
Introducing Avatar: Seven Havens
Avatar: Seven Havens follows a young Earthbender who unexpectedly becomes the new Avatar, a legacy marked by peril in her shattered world. With threats from both humans and spirits, she must discover her lineage and protect the Seven Havens from imminent collapse. The series will consist of 26 episodes split across two seasons, each containing 13 half-hour segments.
Streaming Success
Both new offerings will join The Legend of Korra and the original series on Paramount+, where the latter has ranked among Nielsen’s Top 100 most-streamed titles for 17 of the 139 weeks since its March 2023 launch. It also dominated the Netflix charts in 2020, setting a record for non-Netflix originals.
As these new projects unfold, fans of the Avatar Universe can look forward to fresh narratives and reimagined adventures.
