Paramount is pushing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand into more corners of the entertainment world than ever before — and now, fans are daring to dream of the heroes in a half-shell landing their first-ever major theme park attraction.

While the TMNT franchise has conquered toy shelves, video game consoles, television screens, and movie theaters over the decades, it has never truly established a foothold in the theme park world. The closest it came was a Ninja Turtles meet-and-greet street entertainment experience at what was then Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, which ran for five years between 1990 and 1995 — right at the peak of so-called "Turtle-mania" — on the then-known New York Street.

A TMNT-Themed Pizzeria and a Brand-New Live Stage Show

As part of a sweeping initiative to expand the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, Paramount has already launched the franchise's first-ever themed pizzeria in Los Angeles, which opened on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade in June. Two more locations are set to follow later this year in Monterrey, Mexico and São Paulo. The pizzerias are directly inspired by the beloved 1987 cartoon series.

The expansion doesn't stop there. Paramount has also officially announced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Live on Stage!, a new live production set to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original 1987 cartoon series that helped ignite Turtle-mania in the first place. The show is set to arrive next year, alongside other upcoming projects including a YouTube miniseries, an untitled film reboot, and new books and novels.

According to Variety, the stage production will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo from their comic book origins to becoming global pop culture icons, battling familiar villains along the way. The show will blend martial arts choreography, parkour, hip-hop dance battles, projection technology, and humor to create a fast-paced spectacle for all ages.

"We're thrilled to reimagine TMNT for the stage through a one-of-a-kind live experience that brings together an exceptional team of creative talent. The caliber of award-winning artists behind this production speaks to the enduring power of the franchise and its impact across generations. Together, we're bringing the Turtles to an exciting new storytelling platform while staying true to the energy, humor, and heart fans have loved for more than four decades." — Josh Silverman, President of Global Products & Experiences for Paramount

Could Universal Studios Be Next?

With so many major TMNT announcements dropping in quick succession, it's natural to wonder whether a theme park attraction could eventually follow — perhaps at Universal Studios. To be clear, there is currently no indication that Universal and Paramount are in discussions about any such plans. But the question is an intriguing one.

The upcoming Universal United Kingdom Resort, set to open to the public in Bedfordshire, UK, in 2031, has yet to announce any lands or attractions. That leaves plenty of room for speculation. Online rumors have hinted at potential attractions or lands based on Jurassic World, The Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, and James Bond — though none of this has been officially confirmed.

Although Paramount hasn't confirmed the visual direction of the new live stage show, the emphasis on the 1987 cartoon's anniversary — combined with the fact that the new pizzerias are directly inspired by that same classic incarnation — strongly suggests the franchise's current expansion is leaning heavily on that beloved era. If a theme park attraction ever did come to pass, there's every chance it could draw from that same Saturday morning cartoon legacy.

For more on the new TMNT pizzeria in Los Angeles, visit the dedicated interactive website at tmntpizzeriala.com. For updates on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Live on Stage!, head to TMNTLiveOnStage.com.

Would you like to see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show up at Universal United Kingdom Resort? Share your thoughts in the comments below!