‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’ Getting R-Rated Live-Action Movie

The Last Ronin is getting the live-action treatment!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin

Paramount Pictures is set to extend the legacy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with a new live-action movie, following the success of the animated feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The Hollywood Reporter has announced the development of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, a live-action film that will explore the darker and more mature themes of the IDW Publishing comic book series. The movie will be rated R.

The screenplay for The Last Ronin is in the capable hands of Tyler Burton Smith, whose credits include the R-rated Boy Kills World and the reboot of the horror classic Child’s Play. Walter Hamada, known for his tenure as the head of DC Films and his influential role in New Line Cinema’s horror successes, such as The Conjuring and It series, is set to produce the film under his 18hz production banner.

The plot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, explained

A five-issue comic book miniseries from IDW Publishing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin dives into a hauntingly dystopian future New York City. Created by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, with artwork by Esau and Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Eastman himself, The Last Ronin explores a dark scenario where the Turtles and their master Splinter are tragically killed by the Shredder’s grandson and an army of synthetic ninjas. One Turtle barely survives and commits to a path of bloody vengeance, carrying the weapons of all his fallen brothers — a detail that conceals his identity for much of the series.

The dark, dystopian story of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin has extended its reach beyond the original miniseries, spawning sequels such as The Last Ronin – Lost Years and The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution. Its popularity has even led to the development of a video game adaptation by Black Forest Games and THQ Nordic.

Throughout the years, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has continued to captivate audiences with a slew of animated series, each bringing its unique spin to the beloved characters. Paramount Pictures also released two live-action films in the mid-2010s, produced by Michael Bay and featuring Megan Fox and Will Arnett. However, it was Mutant Mayhem, with Seth Rogen’s Point Grey at the helm of production, that revitalized the franchise, earning over $180.5 million at the worldwide box office. A Mutant Mayhem sequel is in development.

Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Rick Lemoine

Rick Lemoine

Raised on a hearty dose of Marvel and DC comics, Rick combines his love for superheroes with a knack for writing about Hollywood's brightest.