The upcoming movie “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin” will be an R-rated version of our favorite heroes on the half shell. Tom Waltz, co-creator of the comic book it’s based on, wants to see actress Judith Hoag return as April O’Neil.
Hoag portrayed reporter April O’Neil in the 1990 live-action adaptation of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” Despite the movie’s rubber-masked hokiness, it holds a special nostalgic spot for many fans. Even though she did not return for 1991’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.” Hoag did make a cameo in a deleted scene from the 2016 reboot, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.”
Waltz’s Thoughts
“For much of the Ninja Turtles audience, [Judith] Hoag’s portrayal of April had a formative impact on their attachment to the series,” said Waltz.
Even if she doesn’t make it into “The Last Ronin” movie, there is a video game based on it in development. “My dream is for the lovely and talented Judith Hoag to be a part of something we do in other media for THE LAST RONIN,” Waltz adds.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin”
This latest installment of the TMNT franchise will be set in the future, among a battle-ravaged New York City. It is based on comics created by Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Andy Kuhn. The series started in 2020 and ran for five issues, telling the story of the city falling to a descendant of Shredder.
The upcoming live-action adaptation will follow a lone surviving turtle, as they embark on a mission, to seek justice for the family they lost. The film is produced by Walter Hamada for Paramount Pictures, from a script by Tyler Burton Smith (“Boy Kills World”).
At this time, no director or cast members have been announced. But when they are, we hope Hoag will be amoung the cast.
We will keep you posted on updates about “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin” as they become available.
