First Look at Shyamalan's The Last Airbender

USA Today has published these first two photos of Noah Ringer as Aang and Dev Patel as Prince Zuko in writer/director M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. Paramount Pictures will release the big screen adaptation on July 2, 2010.

Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, 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 (Noah Ringer), is the "Last Airbender" -- 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 (Nicola Peltz) and her bull-headed brother Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world.

Thoughts:

This is a series that has generated a cult following and almost every little kid knows about it. I'm unfortunately one of the few who hasn't seen the series on TV or know anything about it. I'm curious to see how Shyamalan tackles this project. I'm hoping this is the film that brings his career back after the disappointing release of his last film, The Happening.