The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are switching out one sensei for another. Following earlier news that a live-action/CG animation hybrid project based on the R-rated comic novel series, The Last Ronin, was in development, it’s now back in the pizza box, with Paramount opting for a family-friendly approach.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Neal H. Moritz, known for Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog series, is in talks to direct a new live-action film in the beloved franchise. Toby Ascher, who works with the filmmaker at the Original Films banner, will serve as producer, although no other details have been confirmed at this time.
The project will mark the first live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles feature since 2016’s Out of the Shadows, which was a critical and commercial failure at the box office. The studio then pivoted to animation in 2023 with Mutant Mayhem, earning a modest worldwide haul of US$181 million against a US$70 million budget and a 96 percent Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel from producer Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, as well as director Jeff Rowe, is slated for release on 17 September 2027.
While story details remain under wraps, the pic is set to introduce the franchise’s most popular villain, Shredder, with a fresh touch. Shredder is just a great character. He’s an iconic, classic, loved character. He’s like the Joker,” said Rowe.
“You know who he is, even if you’re not a fan of the source material. I think we definitely wanna do a villain-forward film. We’re currently trying to make decisions about that, but those decisions for us as filmmakers are always going to come from the place of what tells the best story, specifically about our main characters, the Turtles.”
As for The Last Ronin, it was originally being developed by former Warner Bros. chief Walter Hamada and screenwriter Tyler Burton Smith, with Nobody helmer Ilya Naishuller in talks to direct. The project’s status is currently unclear, however — sources say there are plans to revisit it down the road, but not anytime soon.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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