Credit: New Line CinemaWhile the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have lived through countless designs since they emerged from the New York City sewers way back in 1984, spanning cartoons, comic books, video games, movies, theme park appearances, and more, there’s no denying that the most beloved iterations are the practical suits from the original 1990 film.
Those Turtles were famously created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop, and they continue to be praised by fans.
While its sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) mostly retains the same design (they look friendlier than they do in the original), by the time we get to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), they’re replaced by new designs — and not for the better.
That’s the last time we ever saw the heroes-in-a-half-shell in practical suits on the big screen. The next film, TMNT (2007), though widely considered the fourth entry in the original series, is a fully 3D animated adventure. Then, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) and its sequel and Out of the Shadows (2016) utilized CG and motion-capture performances.
Most recently, Mutant Mayhem (2023) opted for a more trendy style of 3D animation.
Countless fans have been hoping for a true sequel to the 1990 film for decades. Not only do the practical suits still hold up, the film itself remains a fan-favorite. And despite all the sequels and reboots that followed, it’s still the darkest entry in the film series.
Unless you’ve been living in the sewers recently, you’ll know that we almost got an R-rated live-action movie with a planned big-screen adaptation of the popular IDW comic book series The Last Ronin. However, Paramount has now shelved that project in favor of a “family-friendly” reboot they hope will recapture the success of their Sonic film trilogy.
Fans were secretly hoping that The Last Ronin would double as a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). Not only could the future-set story serve as a follow-up to any TMNT film, there were also rumors original April O’Neil actress Judith Hoag would reprise her role.
Sadly, we’ll never know whether the film would have also brought back those iconic Jim Henson designs. But fortunately, someone else has.
Emmy Award-winning director, designer, and animator John Likens has done it again. Three years ago, Likens uploaded a conceptual video to YouTube, which shows Donatello fighting Foot Soldiers. The “test footage”, which depicts a photorealistic Donnie with the 1990 film’s design and wonderful choreography, earned instant praise from fans:
A new video followed a year later, this time with Leonardo fending off the Foot amid burning vehicles in a dark alleyway:
Now, Likens has finally shared his third video, this time with Raphael at center stage, where he takes on a group of Foot Soldiers on the New York City Subway.
This is easily the best short so far. Not only does it scream “sequel” to the original 1990 film, but its VFX and choreography are even sharper than the last two videos (which are already pretty flawless):
Related: Paramount Confirms 3 New TMNT Movies, First One Releases in Theaters This Month
“This is Raphael Unleashed. The version of the Ninja Turtles I’ve always wanted to see on the big screen. Enter into the darker side of the TMNT universe,” Likens writes in a caption.
“A world where brotherhood is tested, violence has consequences, and Raphael’s rage is both his greatest weapon and his greatest flaw,” he adds.
“It’s TMNT pushed to its limits: visceral, dramatic, and a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Let’s honor the iconic roots of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles while viewing it through a darker, cinematic lens. A grounded action thriller packed with chaos, conflict, and brutal martial arts, while carrying the emotional depth and high-stakes drama of a prestige series.”
Like the first two, the new teaser is nothing short of cinematic. The video has already amassed over one million views since being uploaded two days ago, and naturally, fans have taken notice and are praising it, calling for Paramount to hire Likens for a gritty live-action sequel to the original 1990 film.
“I want two hours of this,” one writes.
“Love how you kept the classic look of 90’s TMNT movies!” another says.
Other comments like “This guy NEEDS to direct a TMNT movie” and “For the love of God, someone hiring this man to make a movie or something in this style!” are just two of many calling for Likens to be hired for an official project.
The hugely talented creator himself is even candid in the caption beneath the video, saying, “A long standing goal of mine is to create a TMNT film or episodic series. Paramount Pictures, if you’re listening… Let’s talk.”
Likens is no stranger in the entertainment industry. According to his official website, not only has he created commercial films for clients like Apple, Meta, Shiseido, US Army and more, he also made the title sequences for Marvel blockbusters such as Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool 2, Eternals, and Iron Man 3.
Sadly, this new short arrives at a time when Ninja Turtles fans have been forced to face the harsh reality that The Last Ronin has been put on the back-burner. But here’s hoping the studio takes notice of Likens’ work and the fans’ reactions and finally give us what we’ve all been waiting for: a dark take on the world’s most fearsome fighting team on the big screen.
For now, at least we’ll be happy knowing that Likens’ Michelangelo short will happen.
What do you think of Likens’ videos? Would you like to see him direct a feature-length TMNT reboot under Paramount Pictures? Share your thoughts with us!