TheTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleshave become a huge cultural success ever since their first comic book appearance back in 1984. Originally created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a parody of superhero comics of the day, they went on to star in their first live-action movie just six years later. Since then, the franchise spawned seven more films over the next thirty years, not to mention the plethora of animated series and made-for-TV movies that went along with it. It’s easy to see how these fun-loving, pizza-eating turtles have cemented their cultural impact as one of the most beloved franchises of all time.
Updated June 28, 2025: Cowabunga, dude! This article was recently updated byAmanda Minchinfollowing the recent Turtle-mania in the wake of the release of the latest film,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
Many a dastardly villain has fought against the brothers over the years. The evilgo-to of Shredderand his Foot Clan, for example, have made repeated movie appearances. Whether this is due to issues with the original IP or the feasibility of recreating these characters for the big screen is yet to be seen. With so muchTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescontent and merch to choose from, there are a ton of antiheroes and villains from the series that have not yet been given their time in the spotlight. Even though the latest film,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, is an animated entry, there is still talk of another live-action film in the work at Paramount Pictures, and there are plenty of villains who would make great live-action antagonists. These are ten TMNT villains that would be great in live-action.
10The Rat King
One of the very first villains the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ever fought,The Rat Kingmade his first appearance back inTales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles#4. Like the Turtles and Splinter, the Rat King also makes his home (and his army) in the sewers beneath New York City. The Rat King can summon his army of rats to destroy his enemies, which include, of course, the turtles.
Related:The Best Villains from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Franchise, Ranked
The reason for his live-action appearance is the level of dedication IDW comics put in to make Rat King a more serious villain. Recently in theTMNTcomics, the writers showcased an event calledThe Armageddon Game, in which the Rat King is the main villain, alongside his Trio of Terror.Depending on the success of the event, and Rat King’s evil machinations during it, now would be the ideal time to bring this maniacal character to a live-action film.
9Madam Null
While her fellow Trio of Terror members Krang and Baxter Stockman have each enjoyed their time in the live-action spotlight,Madam Nullhas yet to reap the benefits. Null is the CEO of the Null group, who has their hands in some below-board experimental mutation. Her appearance is not quite human, with some definitely devilish qualities. She is already the primary antagonist of theMutanimalsminiseries and has played a key role inThe Armageddon Gamestoryline. An actor like Karen Gillan would be practically a shoo-in for the partafter her time as Nebula is through.
8Max Winters/ Yoatl
Max Wintersis a fascinating villain who would make for a new spin on TMNT live-action film. An immortal being who led an ancient, evil brotherhood from 10,000 years ago, Yoatl (his real name) used a prophetic star constellation in order to gain immortality. In doing so, he turned his four sibling into stone and accidentally released thirteen horrific monsters into the world. The guilt of his actions led him to wait out for the next constellation in order to save his friends and end the monsters.
Though he has already made an impactful animated appearance in the 2007 animated TMNT film, the story and the setting of his world would be beautiful to see in a live-action flick.
When the series leads are a group of anthropomorphic super amphibians, one would expect them to be up against their fair share of animal-esque villains. One of the more well-known of these humanoid creatures isAlopex. Another mutant ninja, this fox first appeared in the 2011Raphaelminiseries. Since then, Alopex quickly shot up the ranks as one of the best TMNT villains with an appearance in the 2012 TMNT Cartoon. A rival equal to the turtles in both skills and ferocity, Alopex and her brother (Tiger Claw) sure do have a habit of making life difficult for the turtles as part of Shredder’s entourage.
6Tiger Claw
Tiger Claw, the brother of Alopex, would be another fantastic villain to use in live-action TMNT films. First appearing in the second season of the 2012 animated series, Tiger Claw and his sibling have possibly the most heart-breaking backstory in the universe. Tiger Claw became an assassin (and TMNT villain) after Krang, another TMNT villain who made his first live-action appearance in 2016, conducted brutal experiments on him.
Having a villain with layers of depth and understanding is always good for a film. Tiger Claw is a deep villain with a sad backstory, one that would work well in live-action so long as the character creation is on point. Teaming him up with his sister, Alopex, could make for an interesting and dynamic storyline.
5Leatherhead
Leatherheadhas been a TMNT staple for years as one of the few characters to play the role in nearly every TV series. Starting out as an animal at a pet store who escaped during a robbery attempt, he has since grown into a Gator of epic proportions thanks to a healthy dose of mutagen. While it would take a bit offinagling to get the CGItogether for this imposing creature, we are finally at a point in the film industry where this could feasibly be done (and still look good).
There is also the opportunity for a teamup with fan-favorite Krang, who used Leatherhead as a vessel for a time. This was received with about as much enthusiasm as one would expect froma cantankerous reptile. He even went on a self-imposed hunger strike in hopes of ferreting out the wayward brain. While Rose Byrne voiced a version of Leatherhead in the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, there is still a desire to see the character in live-action.
4Lord Dregg
One of the reasons the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are so loved is because of the wackiness and absurdity of their concept. Mutant ninja turtles? A giant rat as their trainer? Fighting a man in a metal suit and his army of ninjas?
One of the more wacky characters is part of the darker storyline from the original 1987 cartoon.Lord Dreggisan alien invaderfrom another universe. He has attempted to conquer Earth multiple times with his bug-like alien army, only to be thwarted by, you guessed it, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. With the science-fiction genre and big alien supervillain bads on the rise, featuring Lord Dregg in aTMNTlive-action movie seems like a no-brainer, even with the elaborate costume.
As the leader of the street gang The Purple Dragons,Hunis a crime boss through and through. A primary antagonist of the 2003 series, his affiliation with Shredder is on decidedly back-and-forth terms. At the end of the day, his allegiance is to his gang. In a decidedly less out-there genetic twist, he also has a former conjoined twin for a brother.
Related:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Why Seth Rogen Is the Perfect Fit for the Franchise
One thing to note is that Hun has changed in appearance during his various iterations. In 2003, he appeared as a hulking brute with a long blonde braid. Almost a decade later, he reappeared as a slender comparison Chinese American with an open button-up shirt and a gold medallion. One thing they both have in common, however, is their prominent tattoos, which are a sign of their affiliation. One good thing about this is that casting a wide net would be possible for a live-action remake. Thankfully, the essence of this character is still ripe for the picking, as is his opposition to fan favorite Casey Jones.
2Oroku Hiroto
Oroku Hirotois the main villain in the infamousThe Last Ronin miniseries. This story arc is set in a post-apocalyptic future where Mikey is sadly the only surviving member of his family. This edgy take on the series has been popular ever since its inception. Why it hasn’t developed past fan film andinto its own spinoffis nothing short of bizarre.
In this new favorite, the leader of the Foot Clan is none other than Oroku Hiroto. This mature take on the franchise showcases Hiroto as the grandson of the evil Shredder, who rules New York City with an iron fist. Upon finding out that a member of his sworn enemies is still at large, Hiroto engages in an all-out manhunt to finally get rid of the turtle menace once and for all. With this compelling motivation at its core, Hiroto would not only be simpler to bring to life than many of the others on this list, but he would also introduce a fresh take on a familiar rivalry.
1Spike/Slash
Why not add one more turtle to the mix?Slashis thesometimes evil, mostly misunderstoodbackwoods cousin of the group. One storyline sees him turn from Raph’s pet into one of the guys after meeting with some mutagen. Before then, the pet turtle named Spike was a beloved confident of Raph’s, who still has a sweet spot for him even after he changes.
Voiced by Corey Feldman (who previously voiced Donatello in the early 90s), his alliance skews between the Foot Clan or the Mighty Mutanimals, though he is often portrayed as being, well, not quite all there. That being said, his on-again, off-again relationship with his step-brothers would be rife with tension. Either way, a reunion with his motley crew of a family is 100% in order!
