More than fifteen years have passed since Aang the Last Airbender defeated Firelord Ozai, but the series' hero is returning. Paramount Studios recently announced the development of a film based on the popular Nickelodeon series of the same name, Avatar: The Last Airbender. And for clarification, it's not that James Cameron franchise with the tall blue people.
Get Your First Look at ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Animated Feature: Paramount shared a glimpse of the all-grown-up ‘Gaang,’ including Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, Toph, and Zuko, last week at CinemaCon 2023, while also confirming the film’s October 10,… https://t.co/gJwq3Xvvgu pic.twitter.com/MUuxP6rIG8
— AWN (@ANIMATIONWorld) May 5, 2023
Paramount unveiled its first piece of information about the film at CinemaCon earlier this year. Unfortunately, the event didn't showcase any images or footage, but fans at least know the movie is titled "The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender." The story takes place some years after the events of Book 3, though nothing else is known about the upcoming film at this time.
Even without concrete details on the plot, it’s relatively easy to see where Aang’s journey might lead following the whole Fire Nation debacle, partly thanks to The Legend of Korra companion series. Exposition in the show reveals that Aang reformed the Air Nomads, creating a temple for them. That probably means the upcoming adventure will portray its erection.
Setting up a conflict while Aang and the others are preoccupied with constructing the temple would be ideal. That way, there's some continuity with Legend of Korra. One might question why the plot won't venture further into the future, and the answer lies in previously released materials.
An image shown at CinemaCon 2023 depicts the Avatar team in late adolescence. They're probably in their late twenties, or possibly early thirties. Either way, it stands to reason that the designs will remain intact for the impending feature film.
Per DiscussingFilm at CinemaCon, The Animated Avatar: The Last Airbender film will feature the Gaang in their "Late 20's/Early 30's"
— TRAFON(s Backup Account) (@RiseFallNickBck) April 27, 2023
It is in production at Avatar Studios. pic.twitter.com/SihySnRwme
Assuming that is the case, the Avatar, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph probably have character-driven narratives coming up. They've defeated every kind of villain to speak of—even a crazed Firelord on Day of the Black Sun. The only thing left is for them to reach those critical junctures in every person's life that define them.
For anyone unfamiliar with Legend of Korra, Katara, Toph, and Zuko all appear in the show. During these cameos, they reference significant events that shaped their lives. Toph, for instance, is living in a swamp when the protagonist first encounters her. And poor Zuko loses his smile. He was briefly content at Book Three's end, so to witness him back with a stern look on his face can only mean something else unfortunate transpired. In contrast, Katara seems at ease in old age.
The upcoming flick is pertinent because big things happen between the events of Book 3 and Legend of Korra. And it only makes sense that the upcoming film explores those affairs. Toph's story alone has tons of questions that merit answers, such as who fathered her children. Legend of Korra established that Lin's father is a man named Kanto, but Suyin's birth father is unnamed. Some fan theories point to Sokka, although such a hypothesis has yet to be proven.
Nevertheless, the Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender has all the necessary elements to give fans what they've been campaigning for. Previous live-action adaptations failed to wow audiences, but with Aang and the others returning in animated format—presumably as adults—it's a new opportunity to engage audiences.
Legend of Aang hits theaters on January 30, 2026.