The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is set to make its debut on streaming after Paramount cancelled its theatrical release, but Avatar fans are fighting back with a huge petition.
Serving as a direct continuation of the 2005 animated hit Avatar: The Last Airbender, the new movie was first announced back in 2021 alongside the formation of Avatar Studios – a new Nickelodeon division dedicated to projects set in the franchise.
It takes place 12 years after the events of The Last Airbender and 68 years before The Legend of Korra, centering on Aang as he learns of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction.
Co-director Steve Ahn took to X over the weekend to share his story, saying he was rejected by Nickelodeon the first time round, but now he’s “just wrapped the Avatar: The Last Airbender movie as co-director.” He finished, “Never give up on your dream.”
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender petition receives thousands of signatures
Thousands of fans clearly got the memo, as a change.org petition is hoping to see The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender release in cinemas – and it’s received nearly 40,000 signatures at the time of writing.
In case you missed it, the film was originally set to be released in theaters on October 9, 2026, followed by a streaming premiere. However, last year, Paramount set its streaming service Paramount+ as the exclusive home of Avatar Studios content.
As such, the movie was switched to a direct-to-streaming release, a move that was questioned at the time given the huge success of animated titles in recent months, including Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
But now fans are petitioning to have this changed. Change.org user Ananth T launched the petition, appealing to David Ellison, Paramount Studios Chairman and CEO, alongside other Paramount decision-makers.
“As a lifelong fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, when I heard the announcement that Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender was being removed from theaters, I was extremely disappointed,” they wrote.
“Many of us fans were ecstatic at the thought of reuniting with our beloved franchise on the big screen. It was a chance to relive those adventures on a grand scale and reintroduce this amazing universe to a new generation.
“However, the recent announcement by Paramount to release this highly anticipated movie directly to streaming services has come as a disappointment to the devoted fandom.
“A theatrical release would not only be a service to the fans who have been waiting to see that franchise return, but a way to honor the legacy of the show and the passion of its creators, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, and the rest of the wonderful artists at Avatar Studios.”
They went on to highlight the dedicated following the show earned and the profound impact of its story, before noting the benefits of a cinematic release: creating events opportunities, cosplay gatherings, and discussions that foster community.
“Let’s appeal to Paramount to reconsider their strategy and listen to the fans’ desires. We propose a dual release model, where the film would first debut in theaters, followed by a streaming release,” they continued.
“This approach effectively balances the company’s financial interests while also respecting the cultural legacy and audience’s anticipation.
“Join me in signing this petition. Let’s bring Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender to theatres and give it the cinematic debut that it truly deserves.”
Although the petition has been up for several weeks, fans continue to sign it, with the page receiving 39,050 at the time of writing.
The cancelled cinema drop was also mentioned in the comments section of Ahn’s post, with one writing, “Your dream was for a follow up movie to the most popular cartoon of all time to… go to streaming?”
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