Aang is headed for the big screen! April 18th, 2008
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies have greenlit the live-action feature film M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender, an adaptation of Nickelodeon's hit animated TV series Avatar: The Legend of Aang.
Shyamalan, the creator of the Oscar-nominated movie The Sixth Sense, will direct and produce the action-adventure film based on a script that he penned. The movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on Friday, July 2, 2010.
The live-action feature film is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. The Fire Nation is waging a ruthless, oppressive war against the other three nations. The film's hero, the reluctant young Aang, is the 'Last Airbender' and also the Avatar who, according to prophecy, has the ability to manipulate all of the elements and bring all the nations together. Aided by a protective teenage Waterbender named Katara and her bull-headed brother Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world.
"I was drawn to the series because of its influences: one being Hayao Miyazaki," added Shyamalan. "I've always been a huge fan of Miyazaki's work. He is one of the greatest storytellers in the world and makes anime films in Japan. His combination of spirituality and supernatural elements have brought depth and meaning to his art form... I see an opportunity to make a live-action version of a Miyazaki film."
