Last time a set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles posters was released, we mentioned that it seemed odd that we still hadn't had a good, detailed look at the Turtles themselves. Now, as if in answer, here's a new set of character banners, putting us up-close and personal with Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello and Leonardo. And just to thrust the point home, there's a brand new trailer too.
What's new? More wisecrackery from the Turtles; more of that scene in the snow, which it turns out involves rocket-propelled snowboards; a nice snikt moment from Shredder; and our first look at Whoopi Goldberg. Also, it's not looking good for Splinter...
As for those posters...
As we pretty much already knew, the final versions of the Turtles are more gnarly and more monstrous than we're used to, although the trailers now make it clear that the flip personalities remain the same. Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines (hence all the cyberpunk wearables - although does the smart one have to wear glasses?), Raphael is cool but crude, and Michelangelo is a party dude.
80s fans should note Mike's nunchuks: items that so alarmed the BBFC back in the day that big edits were deemed necessary (for those too young to remember, the cartoon was even re-named Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in the UK). Happily those days are over and we can now have Ninja Turtles with nunchuks on our bus stops as God intended.
Post Nolan's Batman, this is, of course, a darker version of the mythology. Whether it builds into a new franchise remains to be seen. Megan Fox (wearing a yellow leather jacket as a nice nod to that original jumpsuit) is ace reporter and Turtle ally April O'Neil, and she's supported in the human stakes by Will Arnett, Goldberg and, outside the Shredder armour, William Fichtner. Danny Woodburn played Splinter but he's since been re-voiced by Tony Shalhoub.{Ninja Turtles Art Posters}
Jonathan Liebesman is the director, MIchael Bay is the producer, and the new-generation Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is out in the UK on October 17. Keep an eye on future issues of Empire for the full lowdown.