The iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise is making its return to the big screen, but this time with a darker and more mature twist. Paramount Pictures is venturing into new territory by targeting adult audiences with a live-action adaptation of the intense graphic novel series, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin.”

Under the helm of screenwriter Tyler Burton Smith ("Boy Kills World") and Walter Hamada's 18hz production company, Paramount is delving into the gritty world crafted by original Turtles creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Set in a dystopian future dominated by Oroku Hiroto, grandson of the Turtles' arch-nemesis Shredder, the story paints a bleak picture of New York City under totalitarian rule. With most of the Turtles and their mentor Splinter slain by Hiroto, the lone surviving Turtle embarks on a quest for vengeance, wielding all four signature weapons against his enemies.

This project represents a bold departure for the beloved Turtles franchise, which began as a comic book series in 1984 and has since evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Initially conceived as a parody of popular comic book tropes, the series quickly gained its own devoted following, spawning a multitude of merchandise, an animated television series, numerous video games, and seven previous film adaptations spanning live-action and animation since 1990.

While the most recent film, 2023’s animated “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” enjoyed moderate success at the box office, grossing $118.6 million domestically and $180.5 million worldwide, "The Last Ronin" represents a significant departure in tone and target audience. Drawing inspiration from its graphic novel source material, which achieved considerable acclaim and ranked second on Circana BookScan’s list of top-selling graphic novels in 2023, this new adaptation aims to captivate adult audiences with its darker narrative and intense themes.