Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has a fairly stacked solid: John Cena as Rocksteady, Ice Dice as Superfly, Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil, Seth Rogen (who additionally co-wrote) as Bebop, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, Rose Bryne as Leatherhead, Submit Malone as Ray Fillet and, nicely, the record goes on.
However the greatest star of all? That in all probability has to go to Jackie Chan as Splinter, the Turtles’ mentor and father determine. And director Jeff Rowe was simply as shocked as anybody that they have been in a position to get him, he advised IGN in an interview throughout our San Diego Comedian-Con dwell present.
“We wished him to do that and we had no concept,” he stated. “We have been like, ‘he’ll by no means say sure to this however let’s attempt it.’ However he was in. He was aware of the franchise.”
When requested what Chan provides to Splinter, Rowe stated he provides “humanity” and “numerous heat” to everybody’s favourite mutant rat.
“We wanted Splinter to be this loving dad character and Splinter’s acquired some loopy notions about people, and he’s additionally fairly strict with the children,” he went on. “And also you want somebody who’s simply so likable and loveable that even when Splinter’s being onerous, the viewers doesn’t activate him. You continue to like him and love him.”
And whereas Splinter has at all times acted as a paternal determine to the youngsters, Mutant Mayhem has actually leaned into this. As IGN’s Brian Altano factors out in the course of the interview, the turtles even say “sorry, Dad” in one of many early trailers.
“It felt vital to actually make them a household and discover that model of household, the place it’s single dad, 4 youngsters,” Rowe stated. “He’s making an attempt his greatest and it’s actually onerous as a result of he didn’t count on to change into a father.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hits theaters on Aug. 2.
Alex Stedman is a Senior Information Editor with IGN, overseeing leisure reporting. When she’s not writing or enhancing, yow will discover her studying fantasy novels or enjoying Dungeons & Dragons.
