Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender will receive a limited theatrical release in the United States ahead of its streaming debut on Paramount+, Variety has reported.
The animated feature will screen in select cinemas in Los Angeles and New York from 24 to 30 July as part of an awards-qualifying run. The film will play three times daily at AMC Burbank Town Center 6 in Los Angeles and AMC Empire 25 in Manhattan before arriving exclusively on Paramount+ on 25 July.
The theatrical release signals that Paramount is expected to campaign the film during the next awards season, including the Academy Award race for Best Animated Feature.
Tickets for the limited cinema run go on sale on 16 July at 9am ET. As previously announced, the film will also receive a special screening at San Diego Comic-Con on 24 July.
The theatrical engagement gives audiences the opportunity to experience the franchise’s return to the big screen. Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender marks the first feature from Avatar Studios, which Paramount launched in 2021 to develop theatrical films alongside streaming and television projects. Although the film was originally scheduled for a theatrical release in October, Paramount later confirmed that Paramount+ would become the exclusive distributor of all Avatar Studios productions.
The story continues the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The voice cast includes Eric Nam as Aang, Dave Bautista as Tagah, Jessica Matten as Katara, Román Zaragoza as Sokka, Steven Yeun as Zuko and Dionne Quan as Toph.
According to the official synopsis, Aang, the world’s last Airbender, discovers an ancient power capable of saving his culture from extinction. Joined by his friends, he embarks on a global journey to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens the peace they fought to achieve.
Lauren Montgomery directed the film, with Steve Ahn and William Mata serving as co-directors. Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino produced the project alongside Latifa Ouaou and Maryann Garger. Tim Hedrick and Christopher Yost wrote the screenplay from a story by Konietzko, DiMartino, Hedrick and Kenneth Lin.
Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on Nickelodeon in 2005 and ran for three seasons. The acclaimed animated series later spawned the sequel The Legend of Korra, which debuted in 2012 and ran for four seasons.
