Just before Christmas, Paramount announced it was moving The Legend of Aang, the first animated theatrical film for Avatar: The Last Airbender, from a theatrical release to Paramount+. The reactions to this news ranged from shock and dismay to anger at the proposition, and now fans of the 2005 kids’ series are trying to do something about it.
Avatar fans recently launched an online petition for the studio to put Aang back on its theatrical slate, which at the time of writing has over 17,500 signatures. As the petition’s author, Ananth, wrote, Paramount’s decision was “a disappointment to the devoted fandom. A theatrical release [for Aang]…will amplify its reach, drawing in curious viewers who may not engage with streaming platforms, thus expanding its audience exponentially.”
Comments under the petition are filled with longtime Avatar fans voicing their support for Paramount to put the film back in theaters, with one in particular catching some attention online. That would be one from a user under the name “Steve Ahn”—the same name as the co-director for Legend of Aang—that voiced frustration with the studio. “Worked on this film, first leading one of the teams, and eventually directing. Very frustrated about studio higher-up’s decisions,” the comment reads. Along with calling for a theatrical release, the comment claimed there were “a LOT of frustrating, unfair moves” made by Paramount.
However, Ahn himself has since said on Twitter he didn’t make that “misleading comment” and wanted to make it clear in light of the mention about shedding information on the film’s production. “I hope this official clarification prevents any further rumors or false speculation, and I sincerely hope the dedicated artists of this film are not unfairly criticized or put in a difficult position due to such unauthorized comments,” he added.
I am truly grateful for the passion shown in the Avatar petition. However, I must clarify that someone has impersonated me and left a misleading comment. I am not the author of that post, and I hope this official clarification prevents any further rumors or false speculation.
— Steve 인창 Ahn (@steveahn82) December 26, 2025
Even without the explicit support of Ahn behind them, the Avatar fandom clearly isn’t enthused about Legend of Aang being shifted to streaming. Whatever reason one has for not liking it, it’s exactly not great that a studio can suddenly upend how any film comes out. What’s happening with The Legend of Aang isn’t too dissimilar from when networks were cancelling shows they’d already renewed—and if anything, the move has become even more concerning as Paramount has designs on gobbling up other studios.
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will release sometime in 2026. Whether that also includes a theatrical window is entirely up to Paramount.
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