Paramount has slightly reversed course on their decision to change Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’s streaming release into a limited theatrical run.
The film, a sequel to the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series which follows Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko a few years after its conclusion, was originally slated for a theatrical release this fall. Paramount then decided to make it a Paramount+ streaming exclusive and moved its release date up to next week on July 25th, much to the displeasure of many fans.
Now they have tiptoed back on that decision, but only just as the theatrical run will only last one week beginning on July 24th and only at select theatres in Los Angeles and New York City. There will also be a screening at the San Diego Comic Con on July 24th, but that day until the 30th will be the extent of Avatar Aang‘s theatrical run.
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Per Variety, the decision was made so Paramount can push the film for 2027’s awards season as a theatrical run is needed to qualify for categories such as best animated feature among others. It is a pretty shrewd move for the company after pulling its theatrical release altogether and further adds to the film’s controversy after it was leaked in its entirety by a leaker who has since been arrested.
Based on the animated series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender sees Avatar Aang, the world’s last Airbender, learn of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens to upend the peace they sacrificed everything to achieve.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender features a voice cast that includes Eric Nam (“Aang”), Dave Bautista (“Tagah”), Jessica Matten (“Katara”), Román Zaragoza (“Sokka”), Steven Yeun (“Zuko”), Dionne Quan (“Toph”) and Dee Bradley Baker (“Appa” and “Momo”), alongside Freida Pinto, Ke Huy Quan, Taika Waititi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Ronny Chieng, and Ken Jeong.
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender will premiere globally on Paramount+ on Saturday, July 25th.
