Paramount Delays 'Aang: The Last Airbender' and 'Transformers One' Films, Announces Star-Studded Voice Casts

Paramount Pictures has announced postponements for two of its highly anticipated animated films. 'Aang: The Last Airbender' has been pushed back from its original October 10, 2025 release date to January 20, 2026. Meanwhile, 'Transformers One' will now hit theaters on September 20, 2023, a week later than previously scheduled.

'Aang: The Last Airbender' is being developed by Paramount and Nickelodeon Studios as part of the Avatar Studios division, which was launched in 2021 to focus on animated projects based on the popular 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and 'The Legend of Korra' series. The film will follow an adult Aang on fresh exploits set after the events of the original Nickelodeon show. While plot details have not been revealed, the voice cast includes Dave Bautista as a villainous character and singer Eric Nam as Aang.

Lauren Montgomery, who directed episodes of the 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' TV series, is helming the film alongside William Mata. Series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are serving as executive producers. Two additional animated films in the series are also in the works at Paramount and Nickelodeon.

'Transformers One' is a prequel to the blockbuster 'Transformers' film franchise, exploring the origin story of the heroic Optimus Prime and his future nemesis Megatron. Directed by Josh Cooley, the movie boasts an impressive voice cast led by Chris Hemsworth as a young Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron. Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm round out the ensemble.

A trailer for 'Transformers One' reveals that Optimus Prime and Megatron, known as Orion Pax and D-16 respectively, were once friends who worked together as worker bots before gaining superpowers and becoming bitter rivals. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura explained that the decision to make the prequel an animated film was due to the financial challenges of depicting the Transformers' origins in a live-action setting.

Why this matters: The delays and casting announcements for these high-profile animated films underscore the ongoing trend of major studios investing heavily in established franchises with built-in fan bases. The star power attached to both projects also reflects the increasing willingness of A-list actors to lend their voices to animated features, recognizing the potential for box office success and the opportunity to reach a broad viewership.

Paramount's decision to delay 'Aang: The Last Airbender' and 'Transformers One' comes as the studio aims to capitalize on

Key Takeaways

• Paramount delays 'Aang: The Last Airbender' to 2026, 'Transformers One' to 2023.
• 'Aang' film features Dave Bautista, Eric Nam; creators DiMartino, Konietzko involved.
• 'Transformers One' is a prequel with Chris Hemsworth as young Optimus Prime.
• Animated format chosen for 'Transformers One' due to financial challenges of live-action.
• Delays reflect studios' focus on established franchises with built-in fan bases.