Live-Action Last Ronin movie in the works

[Tortuglio]

I'm ok with this. Not super excited for it but that's because i wasn't that crazy on the comic to begin with. I'm actually way more intrigued in why Andy Kuhn left after they showed some pages as teaser, apparently there were some schedudling issues but that's was weird.

For the ones that say it's a shame the others are dead, yes, true, but they still appear and interact as ghosts. That could easily be amplified for a movie and have larger roles overall than in the comic. We would miss them fighting but that could be shown with some flashback. Although that would mean more money, so, doubtful.

However, i am skeptical if it's ever gonna see the light of day. I hope it does but i wouldn't have my hopes up.

[jignat]

Originally Posted by Sabacooza

Stop making sh*t up. Just because a few people bring up a valid point about not wanting to see everyone of the main characters dead, doesn't mean they want to see a kiddy movie either.

I've only been on this site since 2007 ,but if I had a dime for every time Andrew NDB has called for a hard-hitting R rated adaptation of Mirage or decried a new film or tv show bc its too childish, I'd have a fortune by now.

You guys must not have watched Logan, Avengers Endgame etc or other comic films where characters die poignant, meaningful deaths.
The general public on Twitter/etc are reacting well to certain episodes of the X-men '97 show.

Did "Same As it never was" of 2003 get as much vitriol as me?
I doubt it lol.

Plus, there is still MM sequel and the upcoming show for the family friendly fare.

[IndigoErth]

Originally Posted by BornAgain

I mean I can understand a little skepticism if you don’t accept the fact that the book was the top-selling graphic novel of 2023. Read that again. Not Batman, not Spider-Man, but ninja turtles.

Not just that -- it also made it to New York Time's Bestseller list, which I imagine probably doesn't hurt for grabbing the attention of potential film folks looking for ideas.

Originally Posted by jignat

You guys must not have watched Logan,

I did eventually catch that one. Yeah, he dies, but I don't care about that character. That's kind of the difference, speaking for myself, so I'm a bit torn.

At the very least, well at least I know to expect it and prob little about a Ronin movie will be a surprise.


edit: Logan/Wolverine is just some character to me. Sad in the movie, sure, but whatever. The Turtles on the on the other hand, I've "known" and loved these guys so long that they're about as close to being like old friends as fictional characters can get. So depicted on-screen deaths of them would be way different. If it makes me weird, then so be it, but I'd bet I'm far from alone.

Even if we know it's just a fictional depiction of one story and they're fine, that the franchise will go on, they're still "alive" elsewhere, that pain is still gonna be real and I don't look forward to it if they really try to drive it in there... lol (Where is that smile/tear emoji my phone has.)

But turning around and doing a prequel movie -- or series?? -- could make that pain worth it if we can see more of those Turtles alive later.

[Aaronardo]

Originally Posted by jignat

You guys must not have watched Logan

The entire basis of TLR is that three of the four brothers start the story dead. That's not comparable. Logan is a sendoff for that character over the course of an entire film. Watch a trailer for Logan, then try and imagine similar marketing except "Wolverine is DEAD before the events of this movie and so is everyone else except Xavier and f*cking Caliban."

Wolverine on his own can carry a big-budget movie, this was already clear long before Logan released. Can Michelangelo alone carry a big-budget movie? Personally, I think so, but I also post on The Technodrome Forums so it's not me you should be asking. Try convincing the general public that Captain Cowabunga is a leading man. If this movie doesn't make it into production, that'll be a chief reason why.

Originally Posted by BornAgain

I mean I can understand a little skepticism if you don’t accept the fact that the book was the top-selling graphic novel of 2023. And it wasn’t even the first year it went on sale. That’s a huge deal.

This is true, but there are several massive breakout graphic novels that have received adaptations, and I can't think of a single one in the "superhero" category that was a live action theatrical release (TMNT's not "superhero," but I'm getting in the head of someone with the money to make this happen).

The Last Ronin is a great success, but it's still "just" a graphic novel, understood as a medium with a niche audience compared to big-budget live action film. Sure, we understand that a TMNT book selling that much is insane, but execs throwing $150m at it insane? I don't know. As a result, such projects tend to be relegated to animated DTV releases, and I believe if we ever see a completed adaption of TLR that's not the last of a trilogy, or an epilogue to a series of films, that'll be it.

TLR, and stories like it, are a much easier sell and generally just work better when there is something prior. Look again at Logan. That followed nine X-Men films (including two Wolverine solo films) in which Hugh Jackman played the character in six. Endgame, similar deal.

TLR itself is intentionally written to function as a follow-up to either the Mirage canon or IDW canon to appeal to as many readers as possible. Unless you're appealing to a niche (like you would be with lower-budget animated DTV films), you're asking for failure in this scenario because you're asking general audiences to care about the deaths and suicide mission of an iteration of comic book characters they haven't been given a reason to care about yet.

All this to say, I'm not getting excited just yet. There have been so many quietly-shelved comic book movie projects in the last ten years (and it's not just Zaslav) and this one sounds a lot more like those than the ones that make it to the final cut. It seems to me there's much more reason to be skeptical than there is to get hyped, at least when it comes to this specific adaptation of this specific story. All my hype is reserved for the fact that Paramount is open to mature TMNT, which is outstanding news that TLR's success absolutely inspired.

And of course, I'd love to be wrong. I love TLR, and I wait eagerly for any good adaptation of it. In a perfect world, this movie makes it to the big screen, adapts the comic perfectly and improves on its shortcomings while retaining all of what made it great, the marketing is so incredibly good that even people who don't give a sh*t about TMNT connect with it, it's the first big profit a TMNT film has turned in a long time, and TMNT is now back in the cultural conscience with a fresh new tone and look. I just believe all of that is way more likely if we start from square one here, with the four brothers in a bittersweet coming-of-age story, and after this attitude shift towards TMNT I think the people with the money will believe the same thing.

[Allio]

I can definitely see any issue with the Last ronin, personally would have built up to it. Say if it was a 90’s resurrection, do a back to basics film (possibly a Bishop/Baxter film) with a tease to a resurrected shredde (can make reference to 2007 film) the. You can have a duology if City Far War/City Fall, have a turtle die in the first part, and have two more die in the second part. Then you can have your Last Ronin film.

[frank_one]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

This is never going to get off the ground either. Just think of the huge budget they'd have to make for a live-action movie set in a future dystopian setting. It would basically be a sci-fi movie with robot ninja's and some weird flashbacks to the "present" with the modern Turtles all dying off.

They aren't putting that much budget into a TMNT movie

I agree. I understand The last ronin sold well but I can't see a Ninja Turtles movie bringing THAT many people to the theatre to justify a big modern-day sci-fi movie budget.
The majority of people out there still think the Turtles are the goofy ones from the FW cartoon and they will only raise their eyebrows seeing them in a R-rated trailer.

[Wildcat]

I just noticed this news last night.

I like the idea of a more mature TMNT but I don’t think I want a rated R one. I definitely do not want 3 turtles dead either. I would do it similar to the first live action movie. Make it a little darker with more elaborate fights.

I’m probably gonna get backlash for this but I think Mortal Kombat (95) would be a good example. Legitimate threat (doesn’t have to be end of the world), everyone has their own personal matters to overcome and a lot of cool fights that are not overly violent.

I’m NOT against violent movies. I just don’t like this direction for TMNT. I get this comic was really popular but this is extreme. This is too far the other way.

I know it’s just speculation but...making it a continuation of the 90s movie? People really want a follow up to that where 3 turtles are dead? That sounds awful to me. At least make it it’s own thing.

[BornAgain]

Mortal Kombat 95 has a perfect tone for a Mirage TMNT adaption. That film is awesome, straight up. It’s cheesy fun but it manages to balance a sense of danger with comedy. Even the drama works well enough.

I think TMNt can go for something a tad edgier if it wants to, but yeah I’d be fine with that. I guess I’m okay if they overshoot a bit with “R” because there’s no way it’s going to be neutered at some point during production. They’re allowing it to go as far as needed.
Doesn’t mean it’ll be gratuitous.

[Cowabung-Gal]

I think the real question here is, will the producers actually remain loyal to the source material?

You all know what I’m implying here.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Cowabung-Gal

I think the real question here is, will the producers actually remain loyal to the source material?

You all know what I’m implying here.

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qi...70378751fb5-lq

I honestly don't. The page you posted is just the confirmation that Mike is the Last Ronin, if you're implying they're going to stick to him being the Ronin in the movie as well then I don't see a reason to change that. I think it's a pretty safe assumption they won't change that.

If you are implying they'll keep the idea of April being a scientist who will create more Ninja Turtles at the end, weirdly enough, I can see them changing that pointlessly. "Durr, April is reporter!" is a dumb idea that keeps perpetuating the movies just because that's what she was in the first cartoon, even the first movie didn't escape it despite otherwise being closer to the comics, or even the latest one where she is too young to even have a serious career. Hopefully they'll realise it makes no sense to make her a reporter in this and just keep the scientist angle, but I do understand such a superficial determination to always make her a reporter exists...

If what I fear you are implying, that Casey Marie ended up born a mutant due to her parents' exposure to mutants, then... Maybe? I know some people were immature enough to think this means April and/or Casey banged the Turtles at some point and maybe they're afraid the audience for this movie might assume the same. However, as long as they make it clear the Turtles emit low level radiation or something, I don't think it will be a problem.

[TheLabRat]

It's weird that this didn't have any negative effects on April or Marie. If they write some Innsmouth-like stuff, as Mary get older, her body would slowly transform into more reptilian or turtle attributes, and eventually becomes a non-human mutant. At least it shows why she insists on seeing herself as a member of turtles family and wants to create new mutant turtles.

[Anarchistguy]

Originally Posted by neatoman

I honestly don't. The page you posted is just the confirmation that Mike is the Last Ronin, if you're implying they're going to stick to him being the Ronin in the movie as well then I don't see a reason to change that. I think it's a pretty safe assumption they won't change that.

If you are implying they'll keep the idea of April being a scientist who will create more Ninja Turtles at the end, weirdly enough, I can see them changing that pointlessly. "Durr, April is reporter!" is a dumb idea that keeps perpetuating the movies just because that's what she was in the first cartoon, even the first movie didn't escape it despite otherwise being closer to the comics, or even the latest one where she is too young to even have a serious career. Hopefully they'll realise it makes no sense to make her a reporter in this and just keep the scientist angle, but I do understand such a superficial determination to always make her a reporter exists...

If what I fear you are implying, that Casey Marie ended up born a mutant due to her parents' exposure to mutants, then... Maybe? I know some people were immature enough to think this means April and/or Casey banged the Turtles at some point and maybe they're afraid the audience for this movie might assume the same. However, as long as they make it clear the Turtles emit low level radiation or something, I don't think it will be a problem.

I think she's wondering if they'll race swap April again...

[Cowabung-Gal]

Originally Posted by neatoman

I honestly don't. The page you posted is just the confirmation that Mike is the Last Ronin, if you're implying they're going to stick to him being the Ronin in the movie as well then I don't see a reason to change that. I think it's a pretty safe assumption they won't change that.

If you are implying they'll keep the idea of April being a scientist who will create more Ninja Turtles at the end, weirdly enough, I can see them changing that pointlessly. "Durr, April is reporter!" is a dumb idea that keeps perpetuating the movies just because that's what she was in the first cartoon, even the first movie didn't escape it despite otherwise being closer to the comics, or even the latest one where she is too young to even have a serious career. Hopefully they'll realise it makes no sense to make her a reporter in this and just keep the scientist angle, but I do understand such a superficial determination to always make her a reporter exists...

If what I fear you are implying, that Casey Marie ended up born a mutant due to her parents' exposure to mutants, then... Maybe? I know some people were immature enough to think this means April and/or Casey banged the Turtles at some point and maybe they're afraid the audience for this movie might assume the same. However, as long as they make it clear the Turtles emit low level radiation or something, I don't think it will be a problem.

No. No. And no.

Originally Posted by Anarchistguy

I think she's wondering if they'll race swap April again...

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Anarchistguy

I think she's wondering if they'll race swap April again...

You guys better hope this does turn out to be a 1990 legacy sequel, then. Because that'd be the only hope there.

[IMJ]

To be honest, given her age in the Last Ronin it would be pretty awesome if they cast Judith or Paige again as April in this.

I know, I know the likelihood of that.....

[Autbot_Benz]

Originally Posted by IMJ

To be honest, given her age in the Last Ronin it would be pretty awesome if they cast Judith or Paige again as April in this.

I know, I know the likelihood of that.....

yes that and Elias as Older Casey Jones too please

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IMJ

To be honest, given her age in the Last Ronin it would be pretty awesome if they cast Judith or Paige again as April in this.

I know, I know the likelihood of that.....

Originally Posted by Autbot_Benz

yes that and Elias as Older Casey Jones too please

If this ends up being a 1990 legacy sequel -- of which the odds of it turning out to be are at least decent (it's that or it's a sequel to nothing, and if it's nothing they'd just be leaving the good will of the 1990 movie on the table) -- then the likelihood of Judith and Elias being in the movie is close to 99%.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Anarchistguy

I think she's wondering if they'll race swap April again...

Originally Posted by Cowabung-Gal

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2...VGtH/giphy.gif

Oh, that. Honestly, I don't know. They have yet to do this in live-action.

[CyberCubed]

I do hope we get April O'Neil in the movie and not Shoshana O'Neil. I don't know if Judith Hoag would be up for reprising her role but who knows.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I do hope we get April O'Neil in the movie and not Shoshana O'Neil. I don't know if Judith Hoag would be up for reprising her role but who knows.

Of course she would. She turned up for this crap, didn't she?