Mattel's TMNT toy line: what we know

What we know

On February 10, 2026, Paramount and Mattel announced a global, multi-year licensing partnership that makes Mattel the master toy licensee for TMNT beginning in 2027, per the joint announcement and Deadline.

Per the announcement, the range covers action figures, playsets and accessories, vehicles, games, collectibles and role play, rolling out at retail from 2027. Mattel will build the toy lines for both upcoming films: the animated Mutant Mayhem 2 (August 2027) and the untitled live-action/CG hybrid (November 2028).

The deal is part of a wider Paramount push on the brand that also includes new digital series, books and themed pizzerias, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The end of the Playmates era

Playmates Toys has held the TMNT master license since 1988, the line that carried the franchise through the original cartoon boom. Playmates and Paramount confirmed the agreement concludes at the end of 2026, per The Toy Book, with a sell-off window running into early 2027 per The Nerdy.

The Playmates catalogue is the backbone of this site's archive: browse the vintage Playmates line (1988-1997) or the full Playmates maker hub.

What it means for collectors

• Vintage and current Playmates product becomes end-of-line. Once the sell-off window closes, everything Playmates is finite. Carded modern reissues and the remaining retail stock are the last of it.
• Mattel is not new to the Turtles. Its crossover Turtles of Grayskull line (TMNT x Masters of the Universe) has been on shelves since 2024, and gives a sense of Mattel's TMNT sculpting and price points.
• Collector-focused licenses are a separate question. The announcement covers the master toy license. What happens to collector lines from NECA, Super7, The Loyal Subjects and other current licensees has not been addressed publicly.

Timeline

• 1988: Playmates launches the original TMNT toy line.
• December 2025: Paramount dates the live-action/CG hybrid film for November 17, 2028.
• February 10, 2026: Paramount and Mattel announce the multi-year global licensing partnership, starting 2027.
• December 31, 2026: Playmates' license concludes, with a sell-off window into early 2027.
• 2027: First Mattel TMNT product at retail, including the Mutant Mayhem 2 line.
• 2028: Mattel line for the live-action/CG hybrid film.

What's not confirmed

• Scales, price points and wave contents of the first Mattel line.
• Whether Mattel does a collector-grade TMNT line alongside the kids' ranges.
• The fate of existing collector licenses (NECA, Super7, The Loyal Subjects and others) after the master license changes hands.
• Exact launch timing in 2027.

When any of these firm up, this page gets updated and the story runs on the news page.

Common questions

When do Mattel TMNT toys hit shelves?

2027, per the Paramount and Mattel announcement. No month has been given.

Is Playmates done making TMNT toys?

The Playmates master license concludes at the end of 2026, with a sell-off period into early 2027. After that, Mattel is the master licensee.

Will NECA and Super7 keep making TMNT figures?

Unknown. The Mattel deal covers the master toy license; nothing public has been said about the collector licenses.