How a time-traveling scepter sent the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to feudal Japan

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1993, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise took a bizarre detour into 1603 Japan. Seeking to revitalize the series with an edgier tone, filmmakers utilized a mystical scepter to swap the heroes with samurai. Despite a number one debut, the film struggled to escape the shadow of its predecessors.

Released in March 1993, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III marked the third installment of the live-action series. Directed by Stuart Gillard, the film was an American-Hong Kong co-production that moved the action away from modern New York to a feudal Japanese setting. The plot centers on a magical scepter that transports the Turtles back in time to 1603, where they encounter a rebellion against the tyrannical Lord Norinaga. The film was designed to be edgier than its predecessors, following a mandate from co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird to avoid bringing back the villain Shredder.

The production process involved extensive collaboration between Gillard and the franchise creators, who reviewed multiple script revisions before settling on the time-travel concept. While the scepter was loosely inspired by the character Renet from the original Mirage comics, the team ultimately decided against including her. The film featured a complex technical setup, utilizing both in-suit performers and remote facial puppetry to bring the Turtles to life. Principal photography for the project was completed in a relatively short window, spanning from June 15 to August 5, 1992.

Critical reception was largely negative, with many reviewers suggesting the franchise had exhausted its creative potential. Critics pointed to a lack of familiar villains and a tired reliance on time-travel gimmicks. While the film achieved moderate box office success, grossing $54.4 million worldwide, it remains the lowest-grossing entry in the original trilogy. Plans for a fourth film, including a project titled The Foot Walks Again, never materialized, eventually leading to a shift toward television and later reboots. Today, the film serves as a curious footnote in the history of the franchise, reflecting the challenges of maintaining momentum in a rapidly changing cinematic landscape.

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