Original Live-Action April O’Neil Almost Returned for ‘TMNT’ Film

Okay, this is a bit of a downer for anyone who grew up with the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Apparently, Judith Hoag – you know, the first April O’Neil – was actually asked to come back for a new animated film called TMNT: The Last Ronin. She was excited about it, but sadly, the project got canceled. Total bummer, honestly – I would have loved to see her return!

At a comic convention over the weekend, actress Hoag shared that she was offered a role in TMNT: The Last Ronin before the project was cancelled in 2025 due to the merger of Paramount and Skydance. Hoag appeared on a panel with Ernie Reyes Jr., who served as the stunt double for Donatello in the 1990 and 1991 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films.

The actress said she’s been asked about doing another project and would be thrilled to participate, calling it a perfect way to conclude her career. However, she added that it’s still uncertain whether it will actually happen, and they’ll have to wait and see, according to Collider.

Despite hope from the creator and strong fan interest, it appears the animated movie TMNT: The Last Ronin won’t be made. The film would have been based on the comic book series of the same name, telling the story of Michelangelo, the last surviving Ninja Turtle, in a future New York City controlled by the Foot Clan and Shredder’s grandson. He teams up with April O’Neil and her daughter to fight back.

Originally announced in 2024, a planned live-action movie—intended for mature audiences with an R rating and possibly connected to the films from the 1990s—had Ilya Naishuller, the director of Nobody, in discussions to take the helm.

During the discussion, Hoag complimented the “wonderful story” of TMNT: The Last Ronin and suggested that the Paramount executives who cancelled the project should attend a comic convention and connect with fans.

While many fans have fond memories of Judith Hoag as April O’Neil in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, she wasn’t in the sequels – Paige Turco took over the role. In a 2014 interview with Variety, Hoag suggested she wasn’t asked back because she had previously voiced concerns to the filmmakers about the long shooting days, unsafe working environment, and the level of violence in a movie aimed at children.

There was a lot of fighting between everyone on set, and I felt it negatively impacted the movie. I raised my concerns with the producers, but they seemed to think I was asking for too much and didn’t address it. The shoot was really difficult. They brought in stunt performers from Hong Kong who weren’t covered by union safety regulations, and people were getting injured. Once someone was hurt, they were immediately sent home. It wasn’t a safe environment to work in.

I was really disappointed when she wasn’t in the second movie – my kids were too! When they started planning the third one, the producers actually reached out to see if I’d be interested in coming back. I immediately said yes, but then they changed their minds. They were worried that if the young audience didn’t understand the story the first time around, they’d be confused again if I reappeared.

Guilty Pleasure Movies From the ’90s

Guilty as Sin (1993)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.9, Guilty as Sin is a surprisingly enjoyable film. Director Sidney Lumet, known for realistic crime dramas, teamed up with exploitation film expert Larry Cohen – an unusual pairing that somehow works. The movie flips the script of films like Basic Instinct, focusing on a lawyer who becomes attracted to the handsome suspect in a murder case. Lumet largely lets his actors lead, turning the film into a showcase for Don Johnson, who plays a hilariously awful, yet charming, gigolo. He’s a character you simultaneously root for and want to scold! While the 90s erotic thriller genre wasn’t known for quality, Guilty as Sin stands out as a surprisingly clever and entertaining gem.

Escape From L.A. (1996)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.9, Escape From L.A. was initially considered a disappointment compared to John Carpenter and Kurt Russell’s earlier hit, Escape From New York. While that’s fair, Escape From L.A. has a unique energy. It’s less a tense action movie and more a playful sci-fi parody, almost as if Carpenter was enjoying the absurdity of it all. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously – even moments like Snake Plissken surfing are just part of the fun. If you approach it as a self-aware comedy, even its flaws, like the outdated special effects, become endearing.

Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.8, Johnny Mnemonic isn’t exactly a critical darling. Roger Ebert famously called it deserving of “no serious analysis” but acknowledged a certain “idiotic grandeur” – the hallmark of a guilty pleasure. Interestingly, the film’s 2021 vision of the internet, while not entirely accurate, feels surprisingly relevant today. It depicts a world controlled by powerful, unforgiving corporations, filled with masked individuals, and featuring warnings about the dangers of unchecked technological advancement. The film’s technology – like Johnny’s VR gear, which looks a bit like black licorice – is undeniably silly. But that’s part of the fun! Dated and goofy future gadgets only enhance the enjoyment of a good guilty pleasure.

Disclosure (1994)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.8, Disclosure is already a bit of a guilty pleasure – the idea of a man being sexually harassed is surprisingly engaging. But what really makes the movie stand out is its incredibly over-the-top climax. It takes place in a virtual reality world so wild, it makes Johnny Mnemonic seem realistic. It’s pure, peak 90s camp!

Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)

As a big Mel Brooks fan, I always feel a little bad for Dracula: Dead and Loving It. It didn’t do well at the box office and was his last film, so a lot of people seem quick to dismiss it. Now, it’s true it doesn’t reach the heights of classics like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, or even Spaceballs. But just because it’s lower on his list doesn’t mean it’s bad. I think it’s really underrated! It’s his only movie with Leslie Nielsen, and it has some genuinely hilarious moments. There’s one scene, in particular, where Steven Weber tries to stake a sleeping vampire and gets absolutely drenched in a huge spray of fake blood, while Mel Brooks, as Van Helsing, cheerfully yells encouragement from a safe distance – “She’s almost dead!” – and it still cracks me up.

Trial and Error (1997)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.7, this movie stands out as a surprisingly enjoyable oddity. Many sitcom stars from the 90s didn’t succeed in film, but this one is different. It’s a funny, quirky courtroom comedy—similar in spirit to Kindergarten Cop—starring Michael Richards of Seinfeld. He plays a man who has to pretend to be a lawyer when his best friend (Jeff Daniels) is too hungover from his bachelor party to make it to court. It’s a clever, lighthearted concept you don’t often see, and it also features an early film role for Charlize Theron.

Alien Resurrection (1997)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.6, this Alien installment is often considered a mess – but that’s almost expected when Xenomorphs are involved! Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet injects a playful, quirky humor into the usually dark Alien universe. It’s the only film in the series where you’ll see a scientist playfully ‘kiss’ a Xenomorph through glass. This version of Ripley is truly unique – a clone who’s half-human, half-alien, even sporting black and green nails! – and Sigourney Weaver’s performance as this unusual character might be her strongest in the entire franchise. The story, about mercenaries battling Xenomorphs at a military outpost, is fairly standard. However, Jeunet’s vision and Weaver’s captivating performance elevate this film above its often-negative reputation.

The Phantom (1996)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.6, The Phantom is best described as a fun, if flawed, guilty pleasure. Based on the classic comic strip, the movie stars Billy Zane as the titular hero, and he’s quite charismatic in the role. It also boasts a delightfully over-the-top performance from Treat Williams as the villain and an early appearance by a beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones. Adding to the film’s unique charm, the Phantom is accompanied by a horse and a wolf as sidekicks—they even seem to communicate with each other! It’s a delightfully silly and over-the-top adventure.

Congo (1995)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.6, Congo is a fun, if somewhat cheesy, attempt to capture the magic of Jurassic Park. Based on another Michael Crichton novel, it replaces dinosaurs with intelligent apes. The script, by John Patrick Shanley, doesn’t take itself too seriously, leading to a deliberately silly thriller – highlighted by a memorable hippo attack sequence – that also manages to be surprisingly touching. (Tim Curry’s scene in the Lost City of Zinj is a prime example!) Congo is pure, unadulterated schlock, and it embraces that wholeheartedly.

Junior (1994)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.4, Junior didn’t quite live up to expectations as a follow-up to the hit comedy Twins, despite reuniting director Ivan Reitman with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. While it’s not particularly funny, the film is undeniably bizarre. Schwarzenegger plays a fertility doctor who takes the extreme step of impregnating himself to get a new drug approved—and that’s just the beginning of its strangeness. It’s a film that deserves attention from those interested in the gender dynamics often found in 1990s romantic comedies; it’s truly a unique and thought-provoking movie.

Super Mario Bros. (1993)

The recent animated Super Mario Bros. Movie successfully brought the popular Nintendo games to life, unlike the 1993 live-action version. That older film, while not actually good, is strangely enjoyable because of how bizarre it is. It features Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as heroes who get transported to a strange alternate reality called “Dinohattan,” where Dennis Hopper, sporting bleached blonde, dinosaur-like hair, rules. A big franchise like Super Mario Bros. wouldn’t be allowed to get this weird today, and that’s likely why I keep rewatching it, despite its flaws.

Batman & Robin (1997)

With an average Letterboxd score of 1.9, this movie is widely considered bad, but surprisingly enjoyable. It’s strangely heartwarming to see so much money spent on something so intentionally silly. George Clooney plays Batman while battling Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze, who delivers constant ice-related puns. While a franchise only consisting of movies like this would be exhausting, after two decades of very serious Batman films, this one feels refreshing. It’s safe to say this movie and I have a good relationship – we’re cool with each other.

2026-02-11 11:58