The cast and crew of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem talk to RadioTimes.com about the new adaptation, the bright future of animation and working with Jackie Chan. <\/p>
These interviews took place prior to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n Seth Rogen has been obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ever since the first movie hit the big screen in 1990, and so the comedian was shocked when he and producing partner Evan Goldberg were approached for a new animated feature film.<\/p>\n The duo were chosen because of how they\u2019ve previously captured the teenage experience with movies such as Superbad, and after signing on they enlisted Jeff Rowe (The Mitchells vs The Machines<\/a>) to direct \u2013 with a vision to make this adaptation as fresh and exciting as possible.<\/p>\n One of the ways they did this was by leaning into the teenage aspect: this marks the first time actual teenagers have been cast to portray Leonardo, Michelangelo et al.<\/p> \u201cWe wanted to approach it from a place of emotion and story,\u201d explains Rowe during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com<\/a>. \u201cI had to wear two hats as I am a huge Ninja Turtles fan and I want to make the film that other Ninja Turtle fans and I want to see.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I also want someone who has never heard of the Ninja Turtles to be able to walk into it and enjoy it and love these characters.\u201d<\/p>\n The TMNT franchise has been incredibly successful ever since the Ninja Turtles burst onto our screens in the late \u201980s, but what makes them so popular and timeless? For actor and rapper Ice Cube \u2013 who voices villain Superfly in the new film \u2013 the answer is simple.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ingredients for this franchise are magnetising,\u201d he says. \u201cYou\u2019ve got teenagers, they\u2019re mutants, they know ninja and they\u2019re turtles \u2013 everybody loves turtles \u2013 they live in the sewer and they eat pizza\u2026 How can you miss with that combination?\u201d<\/p>\n Ice Cube has clear memories of the Ninja Turtles in the \u201990s as his kids used to be obsessed with the cartoon when they were younger.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve stepped on so many Raphael and Donatello action figures,\u201d he adds. \u201cThey\u2019ve had the pyjamas, they\u2019ve had the bedspreads, the lunchboxes \u2013 so they\u2019ve been a part of my life for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n The iconic rapper describes his character as the \u201cKing of New York\u201d but says that deep down he\u2019s a \u201csensitive guy\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe just wants to be liked,\u201d he explains. \u201cPeople run from him because he\u2019s a big ugly fly and he\u2019s a mutant. He just wants people to like him but when they don\u2019t there\u2019s hell to pay! There\u2019s a problem in the city when they don\u2019t like Superfly.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n The movie boasts an incredible cast with Ice Cube joined by Rogen, John Cena, Paul Rudd, Post Malone, Ayo Edebiri, Rose Byrne and many more.<\/p>\n And being part of such an esteemed ensemble is understandably described as \u201cnuts!\u201d by Nicolas Cantu, who voices Leonardo.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a part of a movie this big, with a cast so cool \u2013 it\u2019s crazy,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s been great being able to meet all these super talented people and they each bring their own thing to the movie and it\u2019s great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Also part of the cast is legendary actor Jackie Chan, who plays Master Splinter. This casting came as a big surprise to the boys playing the Ninja Turtles, with Brady Noon actually asking Jeff Rowe if he was joking or not.<\/p>\n Ice Cube was just as impressed with Chan, saying that he delivers an \u201cOscar-winning performance\u201d as Splinter. And while the rapper didn\u2019t encounter the Hong Kong legend during filming, he hopes the pair will meet at the premiere so they get a chance to show how much they respect each other.<\/p>\n