A New Live-Action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Is in the Works at Paramount, But ‘Last Ronin’ Gets a Grim Update

Paramount is making a big push to bring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back to the big screen.

The studio is developing a new live-action movie produced by Neal H. Moritz, who is known for working on the Sonic the Hedgehog films. While few details have been released, the Hollywood Reporter says Paramount wants the movie to be family-friendly, focusing on the four turtle brothers: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

This approach has put the R-rated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin on hold. That darker live-action project, based on the intense graphic novel series, was announced in 2024 and had former Warner Bros. chief Walter Hamada and screenwriter Tyler Burton Smith attached, Variety reports.

Director Ilya Naishuller, known for Nobody, was in talks to lead the film. Sources say the project is still in development but will likely not move forward anytime soon.

Fans haven’t seen a live-action TMNT movie since 2016’s Out of the Shadows, which struggled at the box office, earning $245 million worldwide against a $135 million budget. Paramount then turned to animation, releasing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem in 2023.Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, it made $181 million globally on a $70 million budget. A sequel, Mutant Mayhem 2, is planned for release on September 17, 2027.

It looks like Paramount is betting that a fun, family-friendly live-action movie could reinvigorate the franchise for a new generation.

My take is that focusing on a kid-friendly approach seems smart after past live-action struggles, but longtime fans of the darker stories may be disappointed. Do you want the turtles to stay kid-friendly or see the darker Last Ronin story come to life? Share your thoughts in the comments.