Nickelodeon and Paramount Animation announced during a presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival that Lauren Montgomery (“Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Voltron: Legendary Defender”) is attached to direct an untitled, animated Avatar film currently in development under the Avatar Studios banner. This will be the first of three planned Avatar films. Creators Bryan Konietzko, Michael DiMartino & producer Eric Coleman will produce.

Avatar Studios is a newly formed division designed to create original content spanning animated series and movies based on the beloved world of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra.”

Says Ramsey Naito, President, Animation & Development, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, “As original creators Mike and Bryan expand the Avatar universe with us, we’re keeping it all in the family with Lauren bringing the same kind of expert, beautiful work she did on the original series to her new directing duties on the forthcoming theatrical.”

Latifa Ouaou, Executive Vice President of Movies and Global Franchises for Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation will be overseeing development on the film, alongside Jason McConnell, Vice President of Animation, Nickelodeon Animation & Paramount Animation.

Other upcoming Paramount Animation titles include Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (7/15/22), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Animated (8/4/23), Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (10/13/23), The Tiger’s Apprentice (12/20/23), Untitled Transformers Animation (7/19/24), and Untitled Smurfs Animated Musical (12/20/24).