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Total Film
Total Film
Entertainment
Bradley Russell

Avatar creator reveals why Suki is absent from The Last Airbender movie: "We only have 85 minutes to tell the story"

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender.

After months of controversy surrounding social media leaks and a surprise shift from a theatrical release to streaming on Paramount Plus, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is finally available for fans to watch – legally and at home.

But that hasn't stopped early complaints from a passionate audience wondering where one of the OG animated series' cult favorites, Suki, was during the vast majority of its runtime.

"I know fans are going to be upset. Suki's not in the movie," Avatar co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino lamented to Variety.

"We did try versions where Suki was in the movie. You just have to make these decisions where it's like, we only have 85 minutes to tell the story. We were already having a hard time giving our beloved main characters their spotlight and enough screen time."

Despite that, DiMartino confirmed that Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors weren't just sitting around during the events of The Last Airbender, a sequel feature that saw an all-grown-up Aang face down another cataclysmic threat alongside the 'Gaang'.

"The Kyoshi Warriors are out there! They were off saving somebody else while the events of this movie were going on," DiMartino said. "Doesn’t mean they’re not around. They have their own comic book series now, so they are busy ladies."

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender director Lauren Montgomery also hinted that there were more plans afoot for Suki in alternate versions of the movie, a parade in Republic City.

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender is now streaming on Paramount Plus. For our verdict, read the Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender review.

Then, see what other movie release dates you will have to look forward to in 2026.

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