In a major shake-up for the pizza-munching heroes in a half-shell, Paramount Pictures has officially shelved the planned R-rated adaptation of the popular comic book The Last Ronin.Instead, the studio is now moving forward with a new live-action/CG hybrid TMNT film aimed at a broader, more family-friendly audience.Per The Hollywood Reporter, producer Neal H. Moritz (of Fast & Furious and Sonic the Hedgehog fame) has been tapped to lead the franchise’s next live-action iteration.The report also notes that sources say that Paramount wants to “Sonic-fy” the TMNT films, with one insider saying, “If you want Sonic, you go to the guy who did Sonic.”But with The Last Ronin on ice, the decision may spark activity outside the studio system.Credit: Inside the MagicWe Could Still Get TMNT: The Last RoninGiven the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ enduring fanbase and the franchise’s cult status among comic book readers, fans themselves might attempt an adaptation. Without studio constraints, such a project could aim for the darker tone TMNT: The Last Ronin promises.It’s early days yet, but once the dust settles, fans willing to put together a project may see this as their moment to pay tribute—or tell the story the fans feel has been sidelined. Fan-made films are also becoming more common, and with the right talent behind them, much better.Credit: Nickelodeon / THQ Nordic / Black Forest GamesRecently, the fan-made Halloween: Aftermath surprised many fans who felt that it was better than the last two official Halloween films from Blumhouse.Whether a fan-made Last Ronin film could capture the graphic novel’s bleak tone and emotional weight is uncertain, but with a vacuum now left by Paramount—and a crowd of disappointed TMNT enthusiasts hungry for something grittier—the idea bears watching.Oddly enough, there may even be a greater chance of The Last Ronin happening now — albeit in fan-made form — than there ever was under Paramount.Credit: Paramount Animation / Nickelodeon MoviesRelated: TMNT Movie Sequel Officially Canceled, Franchise Hits Reboot AgainTMNT’s Official Future on the Big ScreenFor now, TMNT’s official future lies with the newly green-lit family-friendly film. And for those following the larger slate, this new reboot isn’t all that’s coming.Next week brings the animated short Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey (releasing December 19 with Paramount’s new SpongeBob movie), which is set in the same universe established in 2023’s Mutant Mayhem, and the official sequel to that film remains scheduled for September 17, 2027.The untitled live-action film is scheduled for theatrical release on November 17, 2028.Would you like to see The Last Ronin brought to life as a fan film? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!The post R-Rated TMNT Film Now Likely To Happen Following Paramount Announcement appeared first on Inside the Magic.