Scrapped TMNT: The Last Ronin Movie Would've Connected to Past Films

The planned film adaptation of the adult-oriented Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic was set to tie into the original 1990s movie trilogy.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Fans were disappointed to learn that Paramount had scrapped plans for a film adaptation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book story "The Last Ronin." But now, actress Judith Hoag, who played April O'Neil in the 1990 TMNT movie, has revealed that the scrapped film was going to directly connect to the original TMNT film trilogy.

Why it matters

The revelation that the planned "The Last Ronin" movie was going to be a legacy sequel to the original TMNT films has left fans even more disappointed that the project was shelved. Many were excited at the prospect of seeing a darker, more adult-oriented take on the Turtles' story, especially one that would have brought back characters from the beloved 1990s movies.

The details

According to Hoag, she had been approached about reprising her role as April O'Neil in the "The Last Ronin" movie, indicating that the film was going to be set in the same continuity as the original 1990 TMNT movie, if not the entire original film trilogy. The comic book story "The Last Ronin" takes place in an alternate future where the last surviving Turtle seeks revenge against the grandson of their arch-nemesis Shredder.

  • The five-issue comic book series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin" was published from October 2020 to April 2022.
  • The planned film adaptation of "The Last Ronin" was ultimately scrapped by Paramount.

The players

Judith Hoag

The actress who played April O'Neil in the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

Ernie Reyes Jr.

The actor who played Keno in the 1991 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

Tom Waltz

The writer who co-created the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin" comic book story.

Kevin Eastman

The co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who co-created the "The Last Ronin" comic book story.

Peter Laird

The co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who helped craft the "The Last Ronin" comic book story.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, I've been approached, and I'd be happy. It would be a great bookend for me. And maybe that happens and maybe it doesn't. We'll see.”

— Judith Hoag, Actress who played April O'Neil in the 1990 TMNT movie (Collider)

What’s next

Paramount has not indicated any plans to revive the scrapped "The Last Ronin" movie project at this time. Fans will have to wait and see if the studio changes course in the future.

The takeaway

The revelation that the planned "The Last Ronin" movie was going to directly connect to the original 1990s TMNT film trilogy has left many fans even more disappointed that the project was ultimately shelved. The prospect of seeing a darker, more adult-oriented take on the Turtles' story that brought back beloved characters from the past films had generated significant excitement among the fanbase.