New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action reboot
Everything is going to be different!
The Turtles are back – and this time everything is going to be different! As The Hollywood Reporter reports, a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" reboot in the form of a live-action film is in the works.
Paramount was originally planning a dark film adaptation of the popular comic series "The Last Ronin", but this has now been put on hold. The reasons for this are unknown, but all indications are that a completely new strategy has been decided for the brand.
"The Last Ronin" is now being replaced by a live-action reboot aimed at a broad family audience. Producer Neal H. Moritz, known for the "Fast and Furious" series, is to get the franchise back on track. The "Sonic the Hedgehog" films, which have proved to be a complete success for Paramount, are apparently serving as a model. According to current information, the new "Turtles" film will follow a similar hybrid style: While human characters – such as reporter April O'Neil or the iconic villain Shredder – will be depicted in real life, the Turtles are to be completely animated.
Details on the plot or a start date are still under wraps. First up is "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2", which is due to be released in cinemas on September 17, 2027.
The most famous "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" films: A journey through three decades of cult cinema
Hardly any other brand has been as enduring in pop culture as the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Since the late 1980s, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael have accompanied generations of fans – first in comics, then on television and finally on the big screen. The way in which the Turtles have been portrayed has changed fundamentally over the decades. Sometimes the makers relied on puppet technology, later on CGI, then on blockbuster action and finally on stylized animation. A look at the most famous Turtles films not only shows the development of a franchise, but also how Hollywood itself has changed over the years.
The big bang of 1990: the first live-action film
Probably the most important milestone is the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film from 1990, which is still considered by many fans to be the most authentic cinematic portrayal of the heroes in half-armor. The mix of Jim Henson's impressive puppet technique, a surprisingly serious tone and humorous moments struck a chord with the times. The film tells the classic origin story: four mutant turtles, their master Splinter and their fierce opponent Shredder clash on the streets of New York.
Despite a comparatively small budget, the film became a sensational success and for a long time the most successful independent film in history. Its realistic look and the courage to deal with darker themes clearly set it apart from later versions. For many fans, it remains the definitive Turtles film to this day.
The sequels of the early 90s: from dark to family-friendly
The success of the first film quickly led to two sequels: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze" (1991) and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III" (1993). While the first part still had a rather serious tone, the sequel took a lighter, more humorous direction. The second film produced iconic moments, such as the infamous scene with Vanilla Ice and the song "Ninja Rap".
The third installment finally abandoned the basic premise entirely and sent the Turtles to feudal Japan with the help of a mysterious time travel artifact. Although both sequels were commercially successful, they were unable to match the quality of the original and marked the end of the Turtles in cinema for the time being.
2007: The Turtles return as CGI figures
With "TMNT", a completely animated film was released in 2007 that offered a modern interpretation of the well-known characters. Stylistically, it was based on contemporary CGI adventures and focused on dynamic action. The emotional confrontation between Leonardo and Raphael was particularly well received.
"TMNT" was more independent in terms of content and refrained from continuing the cartoon or film world of the 90s. Instead, it told a new story that appealed to both younger viewers and older fans. Although the film received solid reviews, it remained a standalone project and did not lead to a planned film series.
Michael Bay's blockbuster era: explosions, gloss and controversy
In 2014, Paramount ventured a new attempt and brought the Turtles back to the cinema with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" – this time as a large-scale summer blockbuster produced by Michael Bay. The Turtles and Splinter were fully digitally animated and integrated into a real-life environment.
The film focused on spectacular action, a modern look and a more comic-like exaggeration of the characters. The result divided audiences: while many praised the effects and humor, others criticized the Turtles' designs and the heavily mainstream action style.
Nevertheless, the success was big enough to justify a sequel. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of Shadow (2016) focused more on the classic cartoon elements and brought popular characters such as Bebop, Rocksteady and Krang to the big screen. For many fans, the second part was closer to the spirit of the old original, but this series also came to an end after two films.
2023: "Mutant Mayhem" brings a breath of fresh air
With "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem", a film was released in 2023 that reinvented the brand once again – this time in the style of hand-drawn, experimental animation, similar to the Spider-Verse films. Produced by Seth Rogen, the version focused more on youthful perspectives, authentic dialog and a raw, artistic look.
The film received excellent reviews and was praised for its creative visuals and humorous, heartfelt storytelling. For many, Mutant Mayhem is proof that the Turtles once again find their greatest strength in unusual aesthetic approaches.
