The Last Ronin: TMNT R-Rated Film “Just Delayed” Says Creator Kevin Eastman

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As a big TMNT fan, I was really bummed when The Last Ronin seemed to get canceled last summer. But recently, Kevin Eastman, one of the show’s creators, gave us some surprisingly good news! Apparently, it hasn’t been completely scrapped – it’s just on hold for now. So, there’s still hope we’ll see this darker, more mature take on the Turtles eventually!

According to a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Eastman hasn’t ruled out the possibility of The Last Ronin movie. Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Peter Laird in 1984, says discussions with Paramount Skydance executives have led him to believe the project is still being considered. He shared this update while also announcing a comic book prequel to Training Day.

He explained that, after talking with people at Viacom, Paramount, and Nickelodeon who are passionate about the Turtles and have consistently delivered great work – from the 2012 series to Mutant Mayhem – he’s confident a continuation will happen. Beyond support from his colleagues, Eastman also believes the enthusiastic fan base gives him confidence that a Last Ronin film is possible.

Everyone I’ve spoken to at these companies knows fans are incredibly passionate about Last Ronin, just as they are about Point Grey Pictures, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and everything related to Mutant Mayhem. We’re very optimistic about the future.

This comic book series takes place in a different universe where Michelangelo seeks revenge for the deaths of Master Splinter and his fellow turtles. It ran from October 2020 to April 2022, and in 2024, Paramount announced plans to make a movie based on it. Although the project was still confirmed to be in development as of August 2025, the company changed its mind shortly after merging with Skydance.

Neal H. Moritz, known for The Fast and the Furious, will now lead a new live-action movie series for the media company, replacing his work on The Last Ronin. Though it’s unknown how far along development had progressed, there were discussions about bringing back Judith Hoag, who originally played April O’Neil, for the project before it was put on hold.

Timing — And The Economy — Will Determine Whether The Last Ronin Will Ultimately Reach Production

According to Tom Waltz of IDW Publishing, who is collaborating with Kevin Eastman on the Training Day prequel, the success of The Last Ronin will depend on two main factors: the overall economic climate—with larger companies also hesitant until they see which direction things are heading—and simply when it’s released.

Waltz explained that if the events of the movie were happening today, the story wouldn’t have already been told in other forms of media – unlike what happened with George R.R. Martin’s work. He and his team now have the opportunity to share the complete story and finish it, without being overtaken by adaptations or expansions in other formats.

All this preparation should really benefit both Training Day and The Last Ronin. Because of the work we’ve already done, Training Day is in a stronger position. We now have more options and material to work with, potentially allowing us to include scenes that wouldn’t have been possible before – things that are uniquely ours.

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2026-02-18 01:36