Get ready for a thrilling update on the highly anticipated The Last Ronin movie! The fate of this R-rated masterpiece has taken an exciting turn, and it's all thanks to the co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kevin Eastman.
After a period of uncertainty, it seems that The Last Ronin is back on track, and Eastman is here to shed some light on the project's future. But here's where it gets controversial...
Entertainment Weekly, via Toonado.com, has confirmed that the Roninverse, a beloved expansion of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, will continue its journey with The Last Ronin: Training Day. This prequel comic puts the focus back on Michelangelo, one of the iconic Turtles, and explores his story in a unique way.
The Last Ronin revealed that Mikey, as he's affectionately known, was the sole survivor of the original four Heroes in a Half-Shell. It follows his quest for vengeance against the deaths of his brothers, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello. Set in a futuristic world inspired by Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, Mikey faces off against Shredder's grandson, the new leader of the Foot Clan.
And this is the part most people miss... Michelangelo's journey doesn't end there. Despite his ultimate demise, a prequel/sequel series, The Last Ronin: The Lost Years, delves into his dark transformation. The story introduces a new team of Turtles - Odyn, Moja, Uno, and Yi - trained by none other than Casey Marie Jones, the daughter of the legendary Casey Jones and April O'Neil.
The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution continues the narrative, chronicling April's death, and fans can look forward to The Last Ronin III, which is officially in development. But for now, The Last Ronin: Training Day will delve deeper into the relationship between Mikey and Casey Marie.
TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman shares, "There were so many stories and paths we couldn't fit into the 200 pages. One of them was having Michelangelo spend time with Casey Marie Jones."
He adds, "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 a 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 put the brakes on their plans for an R-rated live-action adaptation of The Last Ronin.
However, Eastman remains optimistic, stating, "I don't think the movie is off the table. I think it's just delayed. I believe it will happen, especially with the fantastic work done by Viacom, Paramount, and Nickelodeon on the Turtles franchise."
He continues, "The fans' love and support for all things Last Ronin are evident, just as another group of fans adores Point Grey's Mutant Mayhem series. We're not discouraged at all."
It was last November when we first heard about a new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in the works, with The Fast and the Furious franchise producer Neal H. Moritz at the helm for Paramount. The idea is to give the franchise a "Sonic-fied" twist.
Director Ilya Naishuller was initially attached to The Last Ronin, but recent reports suggest that the new regime wasn't keen on an adult-skewing, bloody 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 this comic book series satisfy fans' appetite for more Turtles adventures? Only time will tell!
So, what do you think? Are you excited for The Last Ronin's future, or do you have reservations about the direction it's taking? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
