The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Heroes in a Half Shell continue to expand across all corners of media, with the long-running IDW comic book series still going strong and new projects keeping the brand visible globally.
This year, the 1991 sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze is set to return to theaters for its 35th anniversary (releasing March 13-19). As for new films, Paramount is moving ahead with Mutant Mayhem 2, set to arrive on September 17, 2027.
What About The Last Ronin?
Despite that wide slate, however, Paramount now appears to be steering the franchise almost exclusively toward a younger audience. That shift comes as plans for a darker live-action adaptation of The Last Ronin have been scrapped.
The project was based on the popular IDW comic book series from TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, which follows a lone surviving Turtle in a dystopian future.
The story earned strong fan interest for its mature tone, but it no longer appears to fit the studio’s current direction. Instead, The Last Ronin is now moving forward in other ways. Per Variety, a prose adaptation of the story aimed at adults is set for release in June, from publisher Abrams and writer Erik Burnham.
The property also continues to exist in the virtual space, with a Last Ronin video game still reportedly in development, suggesting the storyline remains an important part of the brand even without a film version.
Related: Fan-Favorite ‘Stranger Things’ Actor Could Lead New TMNT Reboot | Disney Dining
New TMNT Projects Aimed at Younger Fans
Aside from those two projects, Paramount is now seemingly committed on building out more family-focused projects.
The studio has an untitled live-action and CG hybrid Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot set for November 17, 2028. That film replaces the now-canceled Last Ronin adaptation.
At the same time, the franchise is expanding into television and merchandising in new ways. According to the same report, a new project titled Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles, described as “a 30-episode CG-animated series consisting of four-minute installments” that focus on younger versions of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, is set to stream exclusively on YouTube later this year.
There’s also a middle-grade illustrated novel releasing from Scholastic titled Splinter’s Dojo, which is set to release in September.
Alongside all that new content, Paramount has entered a new licensing partnership with Mattel, which will produce toys and related merchandise tied to the franchise.
The agreement is expected to cover action figures, vehicles, playsets, and other consumer products, marking a significant shift in how TMNT merchandise is handled moving forward as the brand continues to expand its reach with younger fans.
In addition to all the new content and merchandise, Paramount also announced themed pizzerias opening in Santa Monica, Monterrey, Mexico and São Paulo, Brazil later this year.
Are you excited about all the upcoming TMNT content? Or are you disappointed that The Last Ronin film has been canceled? Share your thoughts below!
