40k Avatar: The Last Airbender fans sign petition for Legend of Aang to drop in cinemas

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After Paramount decided not to release it in theaters, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is now heading straight to streaming. However, fans of the Avatar series are protesting this decision and have started a large online petition.

So, everyone remembers Avatar: The Last Airbender, right? Well, they’re making a new movie continuing right from where the original series left off! They announced it way back in 2021, and it’s all part of a new studio Nickelodeon created just to make more Avatar stuff – which is awesome, honestly. I’m super excited to see where they take the story!

The story is set twelve years after The Last Airbender and sixty-eight years before The Legend of Korra. It follows Aang as he discovers a powerful, ancient ability that might be the key to preserving his people.

Steve Ahn, a co-director on the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, shared on X that he was initially turned down by Nickelodeon. Despite that setback, he recently finished working on the film and encouraged others to “Never give up on your dream.”

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender petition receives thousands of signatures

It seems many fans want to see Avatar: The Last Airbender back on the big screen! A petition on Change.org asking for a theatrical release has already gathered almost 40,000 signatures.

The movie was initially planned for a theatrical release on October 9, 2026, with streaming to follow. But last year, Paramount decided to make Paramount+ the only place to watch content from Avatar Studios.

Because of this, the movie was released directly on streaming services. This decision was surprising to some, considering how well other animated films like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc had performed recently.

Fans are now asking for this to be reconsidered, and a petition has been started on Change.org by user Ananth T. The petition is directed at David Ellison, the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Studios, and other leaders at the company.

I was a huge Avatar: The Last Airbender fan growing up, so I was really bummed out when I found out they were taking Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender off the big screen.

The movie ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ will now debut on Paramount+ on October 9, 2026, instead of being released in theaters. (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)

— ScreenTime (@screentime) December 23, 2025

Fans were thrilled at the idea of seeing their favorite series return to the big screen. It offered a chance to experience those exciting stories again, now with a bigger and more impressive presentation, and to share them with a whole new audience.

Many fans were disappointed by Paramount’s recent decision to release the long-awaited movie only on streaming instead of in theaters.

As a huge fan, I really think a movie release would be amazing! It’s not just about finally getting to see that world on the big screen after waiting so long, but also a way to properly celebrate everything the original show meant to us. It would be a fantastic tribute to Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the incredibly talented artists at Avatar Studios who poured their hearts into creating it.

Honestly, what really struck me was how much of a fanbase this show built, and how deeply the story resonated with people. And a movie release? That’s huge! It’ll give us all a chance to come together – think premiere events, amazing cosplays, and just a ton of discussions with other fans. It’s all about building that community, and a movie really helps with that.

We should ask Paramount to rethink its plan and consider what fans want. We suggest releasing the movie in theaters first, and then making it available to stream later.

This strategy successfully considers both the company’s profits and the importance of preserving its history and meeting fans’ expectations.

Please sign this petition with me to help bring Avatar: The Last Airbender to the big screen! It’s time this amazing show gets the theatrical release it deserves.

Even after being available for several weeks, the petition is still gaining signatures – it currently has 39,050, as of today.

People also pointed out in the comments of Ahn’s post that the planned cinema release had been cancelled, with one commenter questioning, “So, your hope for a sequel to the most popular cartoon ever was just for it to end up on streaming?”

While you’re waiting for the latest news, you can learn about the upcoming second season of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, discover who the strongest characters were in the original series, and see what movies are scheduled for release in 2026.

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2026-02-23 16:49