The Gaang from Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to return in
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, Paramount Animation, Avatar Studios and Nickelodeon Movies' upcoming animated film set in the world of
Avatar: The Last Airbender, premiering on Paramount+ later this year, and whilst we're still a few months away from its release, we've now got our first look at the adult versions of Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph, as well as Dave Bautista’s villain from the movie!
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| Target |
The first look comes from Target, who have listed several t-shirts featuring the characters.
True-blue Avatar: The Last Airbender fans will know that one piece of adult Gaang official art exists. But that vision of grown up Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, and Toph was only ever used as a marketing image. It never existed in the show.
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| Nickelodeon |
Still, fans universally agree that it was a pretty great vision of what the adult Gaang should look like. So, fans can sigh a breathe of relief that the adult versions of Zuko, Aang, and the rest look EVEN better in The Legend of Aang merchandise. Let’s look at the individual images below. (Target has quite a few shirts.)
First-Look at Adult Aang Shows Him All Grown Up in The Legend of Aang
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| Target / Nerdist |
Compared to the original adult Gaang art, this version of the Gaang retains some of their more familiar characteristics from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and we like it. Aang still has his signature round face in our first-look from The Legend of Aang, but he’s absolutely looking powerful and more mature in this image from the new Avatar movie. We only see air represented here, but undoubtedly, all of his bending has grown much stronger in the time since we last saw him. The shirt is available to buy hereOpens in a new tab.
aang new look from the legend of aang avatar the last airbender movie
Target
Aang also appears to have added a sweet touch to his outfit, blue Water Tribe beads that match the ones in Katara’s hair.
First Look at Adult Katara Reveals Her Air-Nation Ties
First look at adult Katara from the legend of aang new avatar the last airbender movie 2
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Meanwhile, adult Katara is all business. She’s still in her traditional waterbender garb, with signature blues and furs, but there’s something new there. Yes, in this first-look image from the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie, Katara has added a touch of the Air Nomads’ signature energy to her outfit, with an orange sash. Clearly, this represents her continued love for Aang in The Legend of Aang. We know the pair end up together thanks to The Legend of Korra, but we love the subtle touch. The shirt is available to buy hereOpens in a new tab.
First Look at Adult Zuko Promises Flowing Locks in The Legend of Aang
First look at adult zuko from the legend of aang new avatar the last airbender movie
Target
Do not get me started on adult Zuko. Okay, I’ve started. ZUKO LOOKS AMAZING in his The Legend of Aang first look. Given that it takes place several years after the cartoon ended, Zuko will truly BE the king of the Fire Nation in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. So he must really look the part. And he does. We love his royal look, his powerful energy, his crown, and how he appears perfectly wind-swept. This is an iconic glow-up for Zuko. We bet as soon as he opens his mouth, the effect will be ruined, but we’ll enjoy it in t-shirt form for now. The shirt is available to buy hereOpens in a new tab.
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Zuko and Iroh’s Relationship Is Even Better in Live-Action AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDEROpens in a new tab
First Look at Adult Sokka Gives Us His Signature Club
First look at adult gaang from the legend of aang new avatar the last airbender movie
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We bet boomerang is hiding just out of sight. But, for now, Sokka’s weapon of choice appears to be his trust club in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie. We hope The Legend of Aang gives Sokka his meteorite sword back as well. He deserves it. But we’ll have to wait and see. Despite not having any bending powers, Sokka looks ready for battle here. And his smirk is very charming. The shirt is available to buy hereOpens in a new tab.
First Look at Adult Toph Is Smashing
First look at adult Toph from the legend of aang new avatar the last airbender movie 2
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Toph is all grown up and ready to smash in our first look at her from The Legend of Aang. We love how her original Avatar: The Last Airbender outfit has translated into this version of her. And, more than ever, she looks like someone you should not mess around with. Those guns have been WELL honed! The shirt is available to buy hereOpens in a new tab.
First-Look at Dave Bautista’s Villain From The Legend of Aang… Also Reveals Air Nation Ties!
First look at adult gaang and dave bautista villain from the legend of aang new avatar the last airbender movie
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Last, but certainly not least, is our first look at Dave Bautista’s villain from The Legend of Aang. Shockingly enough, it looks like he has Air Nomad markings, just like Aang. Could that mean the villain of the new Avatar: The Last Airbender movie is a lost member of Aang’s people? The movie does seem to be about saving the Air Nomads from extinction, after all. It’ll be interesting to learn how Bautista’s baddie plays into it. The shirt is available to buy hereOpens in a new tab.
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Dante Basco and Zach Tyler Eisen Dive Into Zuko & Aang’s Friendship and Talk 20 Years of ATLAOpens in a new tab
Appa and Momo Also Return in The Legend of Aang
appa and momo are back in the legend of aang first look image
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It couldn’t be an Avatar: The Last Airbender movie without Appa and Momo. We’re thrilled to see them back in action in The Legend of Aang. They haven’t aged a day!
The Legend of Aang will continue the story begun in the critically acclaimed Nickelodeon animated series,
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005), which is set in a world divided into four nations — Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads — where beings called Benders have the power to control their realm’s element. A figure known as the “Avatar” is the only one who can control all four elements. The series introduced a 12-year-old named Aang, the long-lost Avatar.
Set in the seven decades between the events of
Avatar: The Last Airbender's series finale and the beginning of its sequel series,
The Legend of Korra, the new movie will pick up with the grown-up Aang (now in his early twenties) and his companions.
In the movie, Avatar Aang, the world's last Airbender, learns of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens to upend the peace they sacrificed everything to achieve.
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ in Fall 2026 and features an all-star cast including newly announced Taika Waititi; Geraldine Viswanathan; Dee Bradley Baker likely as team pet companions Appa and Momo (and probably more!); Freida Pinto and Ke Huy Quan, joining previously announced Dave Bautista as an still-to-be-revealed villain; Eric Nam as Aang; Jessica Matten as Katara; Dionne Quan as Toph; Román Zaragoza as Sokka; Steven Yeun; and Peta Sergeant.
The film is being directed by Lauren Montgomery with Steve Ahn and William Mata co-directing. Latifa Ouaou, Maryann Garger, along with original Avatar: The Last Airbender co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, serve as producers. Award-winning composer Jeremy Zuckerman returns to score the film.
Wrap messages from the movie's production crew started being posted to social media in mid-February 2026. Production designer Jake Panian wrote on
Instagram: “For 4 years I’ve been lucky enough to have been the production designer for this movie. I’m so thankful for the opportunity and the experience. I learned a lot and can’t wait to celebrate all the amazing work from the immensely talented artists who worked on this movie. There was so much passion from so many teams and I’m just proud.” He thanked them and more, including director Lauren Montgomery and series creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino.
In an Instagram Story,
Konietzko shared the post, and thanked him for his “incredible vision” and “impeccable leadership”. With so little officially released material, Panian had used the film’s only released logo, so Konietzko noted that it was the old logo and title, and promised the new of both would be announced soon. Except that he did not anticipate social media postings of the wrap party and cast and crew screening on Saturday, March 7. Pictures posted included speakers on stage in front of the screen that reveal the film's new title to be
Avatar: Aang, The Last Airbender.
"Aang movie is officially wrapped. We screened the final film for the crew and celebrated the end of a 4 year journey. Now it waits in limbo until its release in October. I’ve never worked on an Avatar project that was easy and this was no different. But it was worth it. I’m so proud of everyone who was a part of this and the amazing thing we built together. The movie is amazing!!! That might not mean much coming from the director. I might have some bias, but I feel the need to put that out there."
Montgomery also acknowledged Paramount Skydance Corp.'s decision to
pivot the film from theatrical to streaming as a Paramount+ Original, saying:
"The recent decision to move us from theatrical to streaming might give the impression that the quality wasn’t sufficient, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. This movie deserves to be seen on a big screen!!! Can’t wait for you all to see it!"
When the movie’s release pivoted, it was never explicitly stated that the film had kept its last theatrical date, Friday, October 9, 2026, but this may confirm that Paramount+ may be planning to premiere Avatar: Aang, The Last Airbender around the same time as that release date.
Montgomery’s photos reveal that Dante Basco, the voice of Prince Zuko on Avatar, previously erroneously reported to be reprising the role later revealed to be voiced in the film by Steven Yeun, attended the screening.
The biggest name-leakers were most certainly the stars, Eric Nam, the new voice of Aang, and
Ghosts star Roman Zaragoza, the new voice of Sokka. Nam
wrote: "I watched
Avatar: Aang, The Last Airbender for the first time last night and I am still in awe. The visuals are astonishing. The music, the score, the sound design are titillating. Yes i said titillating. Every detail pulls you deeper into this incredible world. This is a film that reminds you how powerful storytelling can be when passionate people dedicate years of their lives to building something beautiful. To the entire cast and crew, congratulations. Your work is breathtaking. I am so deeply honored to have been a part of this journey and I cannot wait for everyone to experience it. This deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can possibly find. And please, turn the speakers all the way up." Signing off in character, he finished with a "Yip Yip!".
Zaragoza, meanwhile,
said: "I saw
Avatar: Aang, The Last Airbender last night and I’ve been buzzing. The movie is so beautiful and epic. This team poured their heart and soul into this project for the last 5 years and I can’t wait for you all to see it. Congrats to the entire cast and crew! I’m honored to be a part of this badass film. In a time when real art is becoming more and more scarce, it’s so beautiful to see something like this come to life. Go find the biggest screen and loudest speakers you can find to watch this movie when it comes out. Spread the word. We’re getting the Gaang back together. #teamavatar 🕺🏽 Much love 🌊"
Alfred Hsing, whose credits include
Train Dreams and the still-unreleased
Legend of the White Dragon, also has a role in the making of the film, therefore attended the film as well. In a post on
Instagram, the actor and World Wushu Champion wrote: "The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is wrapped! The film looks amazing! The music, characters, animation, and visually is just beautiful. Of course (and I might be bias) but the action, bending concepts, and martial arts look great! Haha! Deserves to be seen in theaters on the big screen! I was introduced to our director @thebestlaurenmontgomery and brought on to this film what is now 4 years ago! Wild to think about. We started brainstorming and doing some reference moves since then. So glad to see all the hard work and care for the Avatar world we put into this film appear on screen. Shoutout to my stunt team on this that came in to help me put concepts together. 🙏🏼 I have a lot more to say, but for now I’ll just say this is a project I’m very proud to be a part of working with wonderful people. Hopefully the fans will get to see this in theaters because it would be an epic event!"
