Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an upcoming American computer-animated superhero film directed by Jeff Rowe (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Brendan O'Brien. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, it serves as a reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series and is the first theatrical animated film since TMNT (2007). In the film, the Turtle brothers — Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael (voiced respectively by Nicolas Cantu, Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., and Brady Noon) — set out to be accepted as normal teenagers while taking on a notorious crime syndicate and an army of mutants. The ensemble voice cast includes Jackie Chan, Ayo Edebiri, Seth Rogen, John Cena, Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Ice Cube, Post Malone, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, Natasia Demetriou, and Giancarlo Esposito.

Nickelodeon first announced the film in June 2020, with Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver attached as producers (through the Point Grey Pictures banner), and Rowe and O'Brien as director and screenwriter, respectively. The main cast was publicly announced in March 2023. The team sought to explore the teenage aspect of the Turtles more than previous films and television series. The design and animation were inspired by sketches Rowe drew in his school notebooks as a teenager. The animation was provided by Mikros Animation and Cinesite.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is scheduled for release in the United States on August 4, 2023, by Paramount Pictures.

Premise

After years of being sheltered from the human world, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers — Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael — set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O'Neil helps them take on a notorious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Voice cast

• Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo
• Micah Abbey as Donatello
• Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo
• Brady Noon as Raphael
• Jackie Chan as Splinter
• Ayo Edebiri as April O'Neil
• Seth Rogen 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
• Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman

Production

Development

Vorlage:Quote boxIn June 2020, a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, using computer animation, was revealed to be in development for Paramount Pictures. Jeff Rowe was set to direct the film, with Brendan O'Brien writing the screenplay. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver would produce the film through their company, Point Grey Pictures, who previously worked with O'Brien on Neighbors (2014) and its sequel Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016). Brian Robbins, the president of Nickelodeon, said that "adding Seth, Evan and James’ genius to the humor and action that's already an integral part of TMNT is going to make this a next-level reinvention of the property." Rowe said that it is an "absolute pleasure" to direct the film, having been a fan of the franchise since childhood. While promoting his film An American Pickle in August of that year, Rogen said that the film would both feature elements from the franchise, of which he's been a lifelong fan, and "kind of hone in on" to elements from his previous teenager-centered movies.

In June 2021, Rogen revealed a teaser image through his Twitter page, which contains school notes written by Leonardo, the movie's original release date, and details about the image. Later in October of that year, the film was under the working title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Next Chapter. The film's production designer, Yashar Kassai, elaborated on the project by saying, "you anchor yourself enough in the familiar elements of it so that it is easily recognizable but then you either add or enhance some of the existing charm of the franchise." In February 2022, concept art was released featuring a first-look at the designs of the titular team. In July of that year, Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, expressed his support for Rogen and praised him for his vision for the film. The following month, the official title was revealed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. J.J. Villard, best known for his work with Adult Swim, was commissioned to design the film's logo.

Casting

The four Turtles' voices were performed by teenagers for the first time in the franchise, per Rogen's request to emphasize the film's teen-focused authenticity. During the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards in March 2023, Rogen revealed the teenage actors who will be performing the Turtles in film, consisting of Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo and Brady Noon as Raphael in attendance. The remainder of the cast was announced in the same presentation after the principal cast members, including Rogen himself voicing Bebop. The remaining cast members include Jackie Chan as Splinter, Ayo Edebiri as April O'Neil, John Cena, who previously voiced Baron Draxum in the first season of the animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018–20), now voicing Rocksteady, Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog, Rose Byrne and Natasia Demetriou as female versions of Leatherhead and Wingnut, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, Rappers Ice Cube and Post Malone as Superfly and Ray Fillet, with the former being an original creation for the film, Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom, and Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman.

Animation

The film was animated by Mikros Animation, in Montreal and Paris, alongside Cinesite's Vancouver facilities. Work had already begun by September 2021. The film's design was inspired by sketch drawings Rowe drew on his school notebooks as a teenager.

Music

Rogen said that Rowe likened the film's soundtrack to that of the 1999 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and revealed that it will incorporate songs from the title. He described it as a "random assortment of music" that fits together well and shares the "same energy and spirit."

Marketing

Rowe showed a sneak peak of the film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2022. Rafael Motamayor of /Film compared the film's visual aesthetic to Arcane, both having a "punk" style that he described as fun for the film. To accompany the title announcement in August, a mural promoting the film went up in New York City. A preview was unveiled at the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards on March 4, with the release of a teaser trailer two days later, featuring the song "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest. Charles Pulliam-Moore at The Verge called the animation ''gorgeous'', highlighting its ''sketch-like art direction and the gritty, grimy texturedness.'' Writing for The Escapist, Matthew Razak noted the Turtles' more teenage nature compared to previous portrayals of the characters.

That same month, Playmates Toys revealed a new toy line based on the film, consisting of action figures, vehicles, and role-play toys.

Release

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on August 4, 2023, by Paramount Pictures. The film was initially announced for release on August 11, 2023.

Future

Robbins later revealed in June 2022 that the film is the first installment of a potential franchise.

External links

• Vorlage:Official website
• Vorlage:IMDb title