TMNT’s The Last Ronin Movie Would Have Brought Back the Original April

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Though not as established as iconic heroes like Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are still incredibly popular. The recent animated film, Mutant Mayhem, successfully rebooted the franchise, proving there’s plenty of potential for new stories and that the Turtles can stay relevant for modern audiences.

Paramount has had mixed results with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The animated movie was a hit, but the live-action films produced by Michael Bay weren’t well-received. The franchise has found success again in its original comic book form with a storyline called The Last Ronin, which features a lone ninja turtle nearing the end of his life. While fans were initially disappointed when plans for The Last Ronin were cancelled, a recent announcement has made the situation even more frustrating.

The Scrapped TMNT Film Would’ve Revived the ’90s Series

Over the years, there have been several popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and movies, including the recent Nickelodeon reboot and the 2003 animated show. Many fans feel the 1990 movie was particularly special, successfully bringing the Turtles to life in a way no other live-action film has managed to replicate, even though the sequels weren’t as well-received.

In the last ten years, Hollywood has increasingly relied on sequels to older movies. Many hoped the adaptation of The Last Ronin would recapture the feel of the original live-action film using practical effects and by featuring a well-known actor. Tom Waltz, a writer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, had previously suggested bringing Judith Hoag back to play April O’Neil, recognizing her importance in the comics. It seems that idea almost became a reality.

Judith Hoag has said she’s been asked about returning as April O’Neil and is interested in the possibility. She was originally replaced during filming of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Seeing Hoag reprise the role in a new live-action film, particularly one based on The Last Ronin storyline, would connect the new movie to the original, much like Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, and Tom Cruise have done by revisiting their famous roles after many years.

The Last Ronin Was Also Aiming for a Darker Tone

Although the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies are often remembered as fun and light, they did occasionally touch on darker themes, staying true to the more serious tone of the original Mirage comics. The Last Ronin movie would have amplified this, telling a much grimmer story set in a ruined future. The film also intended to establish a shared universe, a tactic that’s proven successful for other comic book franchises like X-Men.

I was really excited to hear a little more about that cancelled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles project. Apparently, Tyler Burton Smith had penned a script, and Ilya Naishuller, the director of Nobody, was being considered to helm it. What got me most hopeful was the idea of Naishuller bringing his incredible action style to the Turtles – and combining that with a grittier story and the return of April O’Neil as she should be. It felt like it could have finally given fans the intense, dynamic action we’ve been craving in a TMNT movie for so long.

Paramount is now working with Neal H. Moritz, the producer of Sonic the Hedgehog. Although the film The Last Ronin is currently paused, its established story keeps the idea of a movie adaptation alive for the future.

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2026-02-13 06:38