Summary
- Paramount has greenlit a live-action adaptation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin comic series.
- The movie is expected to aim for an R-rating, a first for the franchise, with Tyler Burton Smith penning the script.
- Walter Hamada will produce the movie under his 18hz production banner, signaling a new direction for TMNT fans.
As the franchise continues its plans in the animated sphere, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is returning to live-action with an adaptation of The Last Ronin. The five-issue series that ran from October 2020 to April 2022 was based on a story by franchise creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and is set in a dark alternate future in which attempts to make peace with the Foot Clan after Shredder’s death resulted in the deaths of Casey Jones, Splinter and all the turtles, except Michelangelo. After initially living in solitude, Mikey returns to enact revenge and take down the Foot clan once and for all.
The Hollywood Reporter has brought word that Paramount has officially greenlit the development of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin. The movie will be a live-action adaptation of the bestselling comic miniseries of the same name, and is also expected to aim for an R-rating, a first for the franchise thus far. Boy Kills World scribe Tyler Burton Smith is onboard the pen the script for the movie, while Walter Hamada, who recently signed a multi-year deal with the studio, will produce via his 18hz production banner.
The Last Ronin Comes At A Weird Time For The TMNT Franchise (But Could Be Perfect)
Interestingly, the R-rated live-action movie isn’t the only adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin in the works, as Destroy All Humans!‘s Black Forest Studios and THQ Nordic announced plans in mid 2023 for a third-person action-RPG game based on the comic. The reveal that the movie is being developed now and taking the approach it is may come as somewhat of a surprise considering the franchise is fresh off the success of 2023’s Mutant Mayhem, which has launched both a sequel show and movie slated for 2024 and 2026 releases.
Related
Every Live-Action & Animated Version Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ranked Worst To Best
There have been many versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles between both animated and live-action appearances, with varying degrees of quality.
Despite the odd shift in tone and format, though, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin has many reasons it could be a hit for the franchise. The source material quickly became a bestseller for IDW Publishing, including being in the Top 5 for best-selling comics of 2023 with the prequel/sequel Lost Years that ran from January to August of that year. Furthermore, The Last Ronin‘s darker twist on the beloved property and character development were widely hailed by critics and readers alike, becoming one of the best-reviewed story arcs to date.
The other major factor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin has that could lead it to success is that it’s the first R-rated adaptation of the comics for the screen. Early issues of the comics were generally considered warranting this rating, only for studios keen on selling merchandise to lead to watered-down incarnations with the first live-action movies and animated shows. Additionally, with the story featuring parallels to that of Logan, which was also a notable departure in tone and style from the rest of the X-Men franchise and became a massive critical and commercial hit, there is precedent for The Last Ronin‘s upcoming arrival working.
Source: THR