TMNT's Explosive Double Whammy: Paramount Plus Show & Mutant Mayhem 2 Summer Spectacle Revealed!

Summary

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem signifies the start of an expansive TMNT universe, featuring a sequel film and a two-season series currently in development.

The highly anticipated movie, produced and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, will showcase a CG-animated style reminiscent of Spider-Verse.

The two-season series, titled Tales of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will serve as a connection between the movies and may or may not resemble the original Mirage Comics spinoff from the 1980s.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the start of a larger TMNT universe. It is the latest reboot in the franchise that follows the main heroes Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo, which originated as a comic book in 1984 from Mirage Studios. This particular project is a collaboration among co-producers and co-writers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and others. It features a similar CG-animated style to the successful Spider-Verse movies.

Could Mutant Mayhem Kick Off a Whole New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Subfranchise?

: Paramount and Nickelodeon have revealed their extensive plans for the TMNT franchise in light of the upcoming release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem on August 2nd. Alongside a sequel to the movie, there will also be a two-season Paramount+ series titled Tales of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, serving as a "bridge" between the films. It is worth noting that this series shares its name with the original Mirage Studios spinoff from the 1980s, although it remains uncertain if it will bear any resemblance to those beloved stories.

The studios' announcement suggests a strong commitment to Mutant Mayhem, potentially transforming the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise into its most thriving state since the 1980s and 1990s. Back then, the characters featured in a trilogy of movies, numerous television series, comic books, and video games.

The modern incarnation of the franchise has come closest to establishing a subfranchise during the mid-2010s. The 2014 live-action movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, produced by Michael Bay, led to a sequel in 2016 called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Although the first movie was a financial success, grossing nearly $500 million with a budget of approximately $150 million, both films received negative ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. The sequel only generated $245.6 million in revenue, and as a result, no third installment was approved.

While this announcement may generate excitement, there are several factors that could hinder the development of a proper Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem universe. Firstly, the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes may significantly impact the progress of the sequel and the series, as writers and actors go on strike in pursuit of fair wages. However, it's important to note that animation falls under different unions, and work on various animated projects is still ongoing. Additionally, the success of Mutant Mayhem at the box office is a crucial factor. If the film fails to perform well, plans for expanding the franchise could be abandoned before they even begin.

Source: Variety