Get ready for a thrilling update on the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of The Last Ronin! This R-rated movie, which seemed to have hit a roadblock, has received a ray of hope from none other than Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Entertainment Weekly, via Toonado.com, has confirmed that the 'Roninverse' universe is expanding with a brand-new prequel comic, The Last Ronin: Training Day. This exciting development puts the focus back on Michelangelo, one of the beloved Turtles.
But here's where it gets controversial... In the original comic, The Last Ronin, we learned that Mikey, as his friends called him, was the sole survivor of the four Heroes in a Half-Shell. The story followed his quest for vengeance against the deaths of his brothers, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello. Set in a future inspired by Frank Miller's masterpiece, The Dark Knight Returns, Mikey faced off against Shredder's grandson, the new leader of the Foot Clan.
And this is the part most people miss... Despite Michelangelo's ultimate demise, the story didn't end there. A prequel/sequel series, The Last Ronin: The Lost Years, delved into his dark transformation and introduced a new team of Turtles: Odyn, Moja, Uno, and Yi, trained by the formidable Casey Marie Jones, daughter of Casey Jones and April O'Neil.
The narrative continues with The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution, which chronicles April's death, and fans can look forward to The Last Ronin III, currently in the works. However, it's The Last Ronin: Training Day that will shed light on the unique bond between Mikey and Casey Marie.
Kevin Eastman shared, "There were so many untold stories and back alleys we couldn't fit into the 200 pages. One of them was Michelangelo spending time with Casey Marie Jones."
He added, "Mikey saw the spark, the light, and the beauty in what Casey Marie Jones believed in. He wanted to embrace Splinter's teachings and become the protector of the city, just like the original Turtles."
Co-written by Tom Waltz and illustrated by the talented Escorza brothers, Ben Bishop, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Shawn Lee, The Last Ronin: Training Day arrives amidst news that Paramount Pictures has temporarily shelved plans for an R-rated live-action version.
But Eastman remains optimistic, "I don't think the movie is off the table. I think it's just delayed. I have faith in Viacom, Paramount, and Nickelodeon, who have done an amazing job with the Turtles franchise. I believe it will happen."
He further emphasized, "The fans' love and support for all things Last Ronin are undeniable, just as another group of fans adore the Mutant Mayhem series produced by Point Grey Pictures. We're not discouraged at all."
Last November, it was announced that a new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was in the works, with Fast and Furious franchise producer Neal H. Moritz at the helm for Paramount. The vision is to give the franchise a 'Sonic-fied' twist.
Director Ilya Naishuller was initially attached to The Last Ronin, but the project faced challenges when the new regime expressed concerns about a bloody, adult-skewing story for the first non-animated Turtles movie in a decade.
Additionally, Judith Hoag, who played April in the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, was in talks to reprise her role.
Check out a first look at The Last Ronin: Training Day below, ahead of its release this July.
Will The Last Ronin live up to the hype? Will the live-action movie ever see the light of day? Share your thoughts and join the discussion in the comments!
