Authorities in Singapore have arrested a 26-year-old suspect in connection with the digital piracy of Paramount+’s highly anticipated animated film, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender.
The arrest follows a massive security breach where unauthorised remote access to a media server allowed the suspect to download and distribute the full film on X months before its scheduled release.
Under local laws, unauthorised access to computer material carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and/or a fine of up to Sh6.4 million ($50,000).
Singapore police confirmed they seized several electronic devices, including a digital copy of the unreleased movie.
The leak sparked outrage among fans and the creative team, particularly after the project was moved from a theatrical debut to a streaming-only release.
The film, animated by Australia’s Flying Bark Productions, features a high-profile voice cast including Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun, Eric Nam, and Taika Waititi.
“It was heartbreaking to see footage from ‘The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’ leak online. This leak did not originate from Flying Bark,” a spokesperson said. “Our studio proudly partnered on the production until the very end, and we acknowledge the filmmakers, cast, artists and animators who worked tirelessly.”
The breach began with a user claiming the film was “accidentally emailed” by someone at Nickelodeon, eventually threatening to release the full movie unless a trailer was dropped.
Despite swift copyright notices, the footage spread rapidly.
Artists who spent years on the project expressed their frustration over the unceremonious leak.
Animator Julia Schoel wrote, “We worked on the Aang movie for years with the expectation that we’d get to celebrate all of our hard work in theatres…just to see people unceremoniously leak the film and pass our shots around on Twitter like candy.”
Director Lauren Montgomery, who previously voiced disappointment over the shift to streaming, emphasised the film’s quality.
“The recent decision to move us from theatrical to streaming might give the impression that the quality wasn’t sufficient, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Montgomery wrote.
“This movie deserves to be seen on a big screen!!! Can’t wait for you all to see it!”
The film is currently slated for an October release on Paramount+.