Proof that a critical mauling isn’t enough to stifle franchise ambitions, last year’s pumped up version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles managed to bring in the punters to a solid enough degree and has now mutated into a sequel, subtitled Out Of The Shadows. Here, somewhat earlier than was originally announced, is the first trailer.
Leaning further into the mythology of both the original comic books and the 1980s cartoon version of the characters, hence the arrival of mutated enemies Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (Stephen Farrelly), this one also ramps up the Michael Bay-flavoured action (he’s once again a producer, with Project Almanac’s Dave Green on director patrol).
Oh look, it’s a giant space portal unleashing lots of robot drone things for our heroes to deal with! Shredder’s back to cause trouble! And there’s Turtles series stalwart Laura Linney! Hang on, no… that one remains in the “eh?” column.
More Turtle appropriate is Stephen Amell, on loan from his regular job on superhero TV series Arrow and a fine choice to embody vigilante friend Casey Jones, who, if his storyline holds true to the usual plotline, will become a love interest for Megan Fox’s April O’Neil.
We’ll have to wait until June 3 to see if the movie, which also features Tyler Perry, and the returning Will Arnett and William Fichtner, can win over more than just the younger audience and keep the pizza party going.