‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ Director Promises Shredder For Sequel

There are always considerations when it comes to making sequels, especially if the first movie was a box office hit. The overwhelming success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem means the team has high expectations to meet as they embark on developing a sequel, which looks to introduce the franchise’s most popular villain, Shredder.

And just like how the film served as a reimagination of a classic favourite, the character will be presented with a fresh touch. Speaking to Collider, screenwriter and director Jeff Rowe shared his intention to explore a villain-centric narrative around Shredder, while also telling the best story about the Turtles.

“That is exactly what I am trying to figure out and what my next meeting will be about. That is what we are in the thick of now. Shredder is just a great character. He’s an iconic, classic, loved character. He’s like the Joker,” he said.

“You know who he is, even if you’re not a fan of the source material. I think we definitely wanna do a villain-forward film. We’re currently trying to make decisions about that, but those decisions for us as filmmakers are always going to come from the place of what tells the best story, specifically about our main characters, the Turtles.”

Indeed, Shredder is as iconic as an antagonist can get. The big bad debuted alongside the main quartet of Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael in 1984’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 comic book, and has since appeared onscreen in various incarnations. While referenced in TMNT films, it wasn’t until 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that he played a major role in the movie franchise.

TMNT: Mutant Mayhem released on 2 August in the US (31 August in Singapore) and saw both critical and commercial success. In addition to a 96 percent Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, the animated feature has grossed US$180.5 million worldwide to date.