Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Leonardo and Michelangelo sent Casey Jones back in time because Earth in 2044 had fallen to Krang's invasion, and they were running out of options. They made a desperate choice to send their apprentice to the past with a mission to find the mystical key that originally allowed Krang to invade. This required sacrificing their own lives in the process humanity a chance to, but it gave prevent the catastrophe from ever happening.

• casey jones
• time travel
• leonardo
• michelangelo
• future
• krang invasion

The mystical key is an ancient artifact that once enabled the alien Krang to open portals and invade Earth. It was used by a group of warriors long ago to banish the Krang back to their dimension. The Foot Clan wanted to use it to summon the Krang, while the Turtles needed to secure it to prevent the invasion. Whoever controlled the key controlled the ability to either bring the Krang to Earth or keep them banished.

Foreshadowing: Splinter reveals that warriors once banished the Krang using this very key.

• mystical key
• krang
• foot clan
• portal
• artifact

The Krang invaded Earth using the mystical key, which allowed them to open dimensional portals and bring their forces through. In the alternate timeline of 2044, the invasion was successful and plunged the planet into chaos. The key was the mechanism that connected their dimension to Earth, making it the most important object to secure or destroy.

• krang
• invasion
• mystical key
• earth
• dimensions

Casey Jones is the Turtles' apprentice in the dystopian year of 2044, where he trained under Leonardo and Michelangelo. He was chosen for the time-travel mission because he was young enough to survive the journey and determined enough to complete the task. His personal stake in the mission intensifies when he reveals that his family, including his mother, died in Krang's invasion, giving him deep personal motivation to prevent that future from happening.

• casey jones
• future
• apprentice
• family
• time travel

When Raphael was captured by Krang One during the battle, he was possessed and used as a conduit to locate the Turtles' lair. The Krang essentially used his body as a tracking device, leading the Foot Clan directly to their headquarters. Eventually, the Turtles had to confront the possessed Raphael and wrestle the key away from him to prevent the invasion from completing.

• raphael
• captured
• possessed
• krang
• foot clan

The Foot Clan, led by Shredder previously, had aligned with the Krang for power. Even after Shredder's defeat, the remaining Foot soldiers continued with the plan to open a portal and summon the Krang, believing the aliens would grant them dominance over New York City. They seized the mystical key from the Turtles specifically to complete this summoning ritual.

• foot clan
• krang
• shredder
• summon
• portal

Michelangelo gained newfound portal abilities during the final battle against the Krang. When the Turtles were thrown from their ship and facing defeat, Mikey's latent mystical powers emerged, allowing him to create portals that saved his brothers and turned the tide of the battle. This power was previously undiscovered, likely connected to his energetic and unpredictable nature.

• michelangelo
• portal powers
• abilities
• battle
• krang

At the film's conclusion, Casey reveals that his family has a surprising connection to the Foot Clan, his ancestor is Cassandra Jones, a former Foot Clan recruit. This creates an emotional twist, showing that the family lineage that fought against the Foot Clan in the future actually descended from someone who was once part of the organization. It adds depth to Casey's character and suggests a legacy of redemption.

• casey jones
• cassandra jones
• foot clan
• family
• twist

The Krang were banished from Earth long ago by a brave group of warriors who used the mystical key to close the portals and trap the aliens in their own dimension. Splinter shares this history with the Turtles, explaining that the key was Earth's only defense against the Krang. This ancient battle motivated the Turtles to retrieve the key and repeat history by banishing the Krang once more.

Foreshadowing: Splinter reveals the Krang's history and how they were previously defeated.

• krang
• banished
• warriors
• mystical key
• history
• splinter

Leonardo demonstrated strong leadership throughout the crisis by making crucial decisions under pressure. He reclaimed the mystical key from Krang One in the heat of battle, managed the team's retreat when outmatched, and led the charge to rescue Raphael. His willingness to make hard choices and put himself in danger for his brothers solidified his role as the team's leader, even earning recognition from his siblings.

• leonardo
• leadership
• heroics
• key
• raphael
• turtles

The Technodrome was the Krang's massive mothership, a massive war machine they attempted to bring through the portal once it was opened wide enough. It represented the full might of the Krang invasion force. The Turtles and their allies had to prevent the portal from fully opening to stop the Technodrome from reaching Earth, which would have meant total domination.

• technodrome
• krang
• ship
• portal
• invasion

During the subway ambush, Casey revealed the devastating truth that his family, including his mother, perished in Krang's invasion of 2044. This personal loss explained why Casey was so desperate and committed to the time-travel mission. It also added emotional weight to the stakes, showing that preventing the invasion meant saving not just the world but countless families like his own.

• casey jones
• family
• future
• death
• krang
• subway