The announcement of a live-action movie based on the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin” comic series sent waves through the TMNT fanbase, but fans have had little to go on since then. With no director or actors confirmed yet, many are left wondering what direction the film will take.
However, the latest issue of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution” has provided a fascinating clue: the film could be much more closely tied to the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film than anyone anticipated.
First revealed in 2022, The Last Ronin movie has been eagerly awaited by fans, especially given the stellar success of the comic series. Produced by Walter Hamada’s 18hz company and written by Tyler Burton Smith, the movie has been shrouded in mystery, with little information released about the project since its initial announcement. But the latest issue of “Re-Evolution”, released on January 8, confirms that the Roninverse, the universe that The Last Ronin exists within, directly references the 1990 film’s timeline.
In “Re-Evolution” #4, the story picks up with the struggles of the four new turtles—Yi, Odyn, Moja, and Uno—alongside their mentor, Casey Marie Jones. In a powerful flashback narrated by a much older April O’Neil, the comic references several familiar locations from the 1990 movie, including the O’Neil farmhouse and the 2nd Time Around thrift store. These references seem to suggest that the events of the 1990 film exist within the Roninverse’s continuity, a fascinating move for the creators to tie the film’s lore to the original live-action movie.
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This connection might come as no surprise to fans who have speculated that “The Last Ronin” could be rooted in one of the many TMNT origin stories. But with the Roninverse seemingly drawing inspiration from the 1990 movie, fans are left wondering: will the upcoming movie adaptation follow suit and pay homage to the original film?
Tom Waltz, co-writer of the comic, has expressed interest in bringing back Judith Hoag as April O’Neil, which would further cement the connection between the Roninverse and the 1990 film. If Hoag reprises her role, it could signal that the film is not just a reboot, but rather a continuation of the franchise that honors its roots.
Whether or not this happens remains to be seen, but the possibility of blending the rich history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise with the darker, more mature themes of The Last Ronin has sparked excitement among fans. As we wait for more news on the film’s development, it’s clear that the Roninverse has found a way to honor the legacy of the original TMNT film while pushing the story forward in a bold new direction.
There’s no release date for The Last Ronin movie.
Do you want The Last Ronin movie to act as a sequel to the original 1990 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Let us know in the comments!