Paramount Faces Backlash as Avatar Fans Demand Cinema Release

When Avatar Studios revealed The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender as their first animated feature back in 2021, fans were buzzing. The project promised a fresh chapter for Aang and his mates, set years after the original series wrapped up. Unlike a rehash or reboot, this was a proper continuation, and punters were keen to see it on the big screen.

But things took a turn when the planned cinema release was quietly scrapped. Instead, the film would head straight to streaming. That move didn’t sit well with the community, who quickly launched a petition that’s now racked up over 34,000 signatures, calling for a proper theatrical run.

Petition Gains Momentum After Studio’s Announcement

The push for a cinema release picked up steam after Paramount’s official word that the film would skip theatres. The petition, started on Change.org, quickly made the rounds, with fans voicing their disappointment and urging the studio to reconsider.

Details about the film have only added to the hype. The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is set within the Avatar universe, picking up the story long after the original series. Lauren Montgomery and William Mata are directing, with a new voice cast including Eric Nam as Aang, Jessica Matten as Katara, Román Zaragoza as Sokka, Dionne Quan as Toph, Steven Yeun as Zuko, and Dave Bautista as one of the villains. The original voice actors aren’t involved this time around.

Controversy Over Comments Fuels Debate

The situation escalated when a comment, supposedly from animation director Steve Ahn, appeared online, criticising studio higher-ups and demanding the film be returned to cinemas. Ahn later clarified:

I am truly grateful for the passion shown in the Avatar petition. However, I must clarify that someone has impersonated me and left a misleading comment. I am not the author of that post, and I hope this official clarification prevents any further rumours or false speculation.

He stressed the importance of not putting the film’s artists in a tough spot over comments they didn’t make, adding:

As the post mentioned ‘continuing to share’ in the future, I felt it necessary to clarify this to prevent further issues. I sincerely hope the dedicated artists of this film are not unfairly criticised or put in a difficult position due to such unauthorised comments.

Meanwhile, animator Tom Barkel, who worked on the film and other animated series, didn’t hide his disappointment about the streaming-only release:

Regarding The Legend of Aang going straight to streaming: I’m devastated. As both a massive fan and an artist on the film, it’s heartbreaking. Everything I’ve seen from this film has been absolutely gorgeous; it really was made to be seen on the big screen.

What’s Next for The Legend of Aang?

The film, which expands the Avatar world and shows Aang as an adult, is set to premiere exclusively on Paramount+ on 9 October 2026. Franchise creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are involved, but the new cast and creative team mark a fresh direction for the story.

With the petition still gathering signatures and fans making their voices heard, the debate over whether the film deserves a cinema release isn’t dying down any time soon.