Key Takeaways
- Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko unveiled their first Avatar Studios film, 'Avatar: Aang,' at San Diego Comic-Con.
- The film follows Aang as an adult and is set to premiere on Paramount+ in July 2026.
- The creators also announced a new animated series, 'Avatar: Seven Havens,' which will debut on Paramount+ on October 9.
At San Diego Comic-Con, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the creators of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' unveiled their first project for Avatar Studios. Titled 'Avatar: Aang,' this animated fantasy film aims to resonate with long-time fans by exploring a chapter they have eagerly awaited: Aang and his friends as adults.
The film is directed by Lauren Montgomery and follows Aang, a man with the power to manipulate air, later in his life as he continues to grapple with the trauma experienced during his childhood. DiMartino explained that landing on the idea of Aang and friends being grown up felt like a natural progression of the original story.
Despite facing setbacks, including a leak of the entire movie online in April 2026, which led to Paramount canceling its planned theatrical release for October 2026 and shifting it to Paramount+, DiMartino and Konietzko remain optimistic about the future. 'I woke to the news on a Sunday morning,' said Konietzko of the leak, adding that the franchise’s passionate fan base continues to fuel its success.
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 Beifong. For Matten, voicing an Indigenous character is particularly significant, as it directly impacts her Native community by allowing someone to have this role.
In 2021, DiMartino and Konietzko reunited with Nickelodeon to launch Avatar Studios, a dedicated division focused on expanding the world of the original franchise through new films and series. The studio’s first feature film has faced numerous challenges but remains committed to bringing its vision to life.
In addition to 'Avatar: Aang,' the creators also announced that a new animated series titled 'Avatar: Seven Havens' will debut on Paramount+ on October 9, 2026. This series follows a young Earthbender who discovers she is the next Avatar after Korra in a world devastated by a catastrophic event.
The franchise’s first feature film has faced significant setbacks, including a leak of the entire movie online in April 2026 and the cancellation of its planned theatrical release for October 2026. However, Paramount+ will premiere the film on July 25, 2026.
We had a lot of ideas for different projects in TV and film.
Michael Dante DiMartino, Co-creator
'Landing on the idea of Aang and friends being grown up felt like a natural progression of the original story.'
Michael Dante DiMartino, Co-creator
'I woke to the news on a Sunday morning,' said Konietzko of the leak, adding that the franchise’s passionate fan base continues to fuel its success.
Bryan Konietzko, Co-creator
