When news about Seth Rogen’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie first dropped, I was at first filled with mixed emotions. At the time, I was still reeling from the fact that we may never see the continuation of Nickelodeon’s amazing “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series (yes, it’s a long mourning process) and received the Twitter announcement of the project with an equal amount of skepticism and excitement. Of course, I’d never deny myself any new iteration of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s TMNT (I’d go as far as admit that Michael Bay’s version had its good bits) but I greatly curbed my enthusiasm knowing that it was going to be helmed by Rogen as its executive producer.
Now, the trailer is finally out. And boy, was I shell-shocked.
First, let’s talk about the animation style. Ever since “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” certain movies have adapted its sketchy, comic-book style animation, namely “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “The Mitchells VS The Machines”—the director of which will also be taking on the role for this film. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” will likewise be adapting this style, and that alone tells us just how kooky, creative, and deliriously thrilling the whole movie will be!
Another great thing to note is that the four turtles actually look like teenagers this time and they’re voiced by teenagers too. It’s like they took the TMNT of the 2012 TV series and injected them with a lot more personality. The trailer shows the four brothers playing around and having a great time while figuring out how to be the superheroes they’re destined to be. Master Splinter makes a brief cameo in the trailer too (with an afro, no less), as well as April O’Neil (African-American rep!) and the franchise’s famed villains like Bebop and Rocksteady.
As revealed towards the end, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” will also feature a star-studded cast of voice actors, namely Jackie Chan as Master Splinter, Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil, Seth Rogen himself as Bebop, John Cena as Rocksteady, Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog, Rose Byrne as Leatherhead, Ice Cube as Superfly, Post Malone as Ray Fillet, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom, Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut, and Giancarlo Esposito, as Baxter Stockman. Voicing the turtles, meanwhile, are Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, and Brady Noon as Raphael.
Interestingly enough, it’s unknown if Shredder or Casey Jones will be making an appearance in the film or if they’re both being held for a potential sequel. I guess only time will tell and fortunately the wait won’t be that long!
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” will premiere in August 2023 under Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, and Point Grey Productions, and will be shown in local cinemas through Columbia Pictures. It will be directed by Jeff Rowe who, apart from directing “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”, is known for writing “Gravity Falls” and “Disenchantment.”
The movie follows the four turtles who set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts after years of being sheltered from the human world. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
Are you excited about this new TMNT movie? Sound off in the comments below.
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