One of the most frequently adapted properties is, hands down, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Since their debut in 1984, the Heroes in a Half Shell have gone through dozens of different iterations of themselves, from the popular 80's animated series to their more recent movie efforts. Currently, fans can catch them in animated form over on Nickelodeon but the ole winds of change are blowing once again. The series in its current form is ending, but the Turtles won't be gone for long at all. An all-new animated series is in the works and it's already taken strides to separate itself from its predecessor.
Nickelodeon announced at its upfront presentation (via Variety) that an all-new Ninja Turtles series is in development. Unoriginally titled, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the new series will return to the Turtles television roots and be 2D animated (the current series is CG). Not only that, but the new cartoon reboot will "take the characters in a different direction with more humor, a younger and lighter feel." The new 2D series is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (who did character designs for Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward, who is also a supervising producer of the current series.
The current CG series will air its fifth and last season on Nickelodeon, premiering Sunday, March 19. The series first began in 2012 to favorable reviews from fans and critics. The show was an updated take on the Turtles and their friends as they battled villains new and old while traveling to strange and fantastical locations outside of New York City. Much of Season 4, for instance, took place in outer space.
The new 2D cartoon has already been ordered for a 26 episode first season to air starting in fall 2018. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo through all-new adventures as they discover a secret mystical side to New York City. The brothers will have to discover and master new magic ninja powers while battling bizarre mutants and learning how to cooperate as a team. And, of course, there will be pizza. There's no word on what characters we can also expect to return in the reboot, but it wouldn't be Ninja Turtles without Splinter, April, Casey Jones, or The Shredder.
All in all, this still sounds like pretty standard Turtles affair, but it could quite possibly be a nice breath of fresh air. The magic powers angle is certainly interesting and should help set this adaptation apart from the many, many other Turtles adaptations. Besides, the more Ninja Turtles tends to change, the more often it stays the same.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is looking at a premiere in fall of 2018 but you can bet there will be plenty more updates until then, so stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest new information.
