Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem featurette explores the film’s evolution from sewers to screen

Last Updated on August 3, 2023

While scores of TMNT fans have already seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, thanks to the magic of preview screenings, others have reserved a table at their favorite pizza joint in anticipation of the film’s release on Wednesday, August 2! Still, a pie decorated with pepperoni, anchovies, and banana peppers isn’t the only way to celebrate the Fab Four’s return. Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies are proud to present a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem featurette exploring the evolution of the Turtles franchise!

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem featurette begins with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman recalling the night the characters were conceived. After drawing a rudimentary version of a Ninja Turtle, Eastman slapped the image on Peter Laird’s desk and said, “This is going to be the next big thing!” More valid words have never been spoken as TMNT’s popularity skyrocketed through the 1990s, bringing audiences of all ages an engaging coming-of-age story with charismatic characters, attitude, and a marketing blitz rivaling the likes of Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Star Wars.

In the featurette, Mutant Mayhem producer/writer/actor Seth Rogen waxes rhapsodic about his TMNT history. He remembers owning the TMNT toys, obsessing about the original live-action movie, and enrolling in karate classes to mimic the moves of his mutant heroes. Mutant Mayhem’s director, Jeff Rowe, joins the video, remarking on the appeal of the TMNT toy line, saying how the weird and wonderful packaging made the characters stand out on shelves.

As the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem featurette continues, the filmmakers speak about approaching the film from a teenager’s point of view. How would they direct the action? What kind of energy would a teenager bring to the TMNT franchise? How do you blend nostalgia with enough material for new fans?

Here’s the official synopsis for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem:

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers 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 mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

The voice cast includes Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Maya Rudolph. Seth Rogen pens the screenplay with longtime writing partners Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit. Jeff Rowe is also sitting in the director’s chair for this one with a co-direction from Kyler Spears. Rogen produces the film alongside Goldberg and Jeff Weaver, and the film’s executive producers include Ramsay McBean and Josh Fagen.

Jeff Rowe (The Mitchells vs the Machines, Disenchantment, Gravity Falls) directs, with Kyler Spears co-directing from a screenplay by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem comes to theaters on August 2, 2023!