Co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko introduced the animated film "Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender" at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday. The project, produced by Avatar Studios and directed by Lauren Montgomery, features the main characters of the original series as adults. DiMartino stated that the decision to debut with a feature-length film followed a suggestion from the studio to return to the franchise on a larger scale.
The production follows a change in distribution and recent security setbacks. Paramount Global canceled the film's October 2026 theatrical release, opting instead for a streaming debut on Paramount+ scheduled for July 25. Additionally, the creators confirmed that a full version of the movie leaked onto the social media platform X in April. Bryan Konietzko described the leak as a "harsh" event for the production team.
The creators also announced that a new 26-episode series, "Avatar: Seven Havens," will premiere on Paramount+ on October 9. This series centers on a new Earthbender character following the timeline of the previous series, "The Legend of Korra." The voice cast for the "Avatar Aang" film includes Eric Nam, Dave Bautista, Jessica Matten, and Steven Yeun. Matten, who voices Katara, stated that the role provides representation for the Indigenous community.
DiMartino and Konietzko formed Avatar Studios with Nickelodeon in 2021. The partnership followed their 2020 departure from Netflix's live-action "Avatar" adaptation due to creative differences. The creators stated they intend for the new studio to continue expanding the franchise through various animated projects.