Director Jeff Rowe hypes up Shredder, the villain in the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem sequel. Before the animated reboot was released in theaters in August 2023 to critical and commercial success, a sequel was already in development with Rowe returning as director. After following the titular team as they try to stop the crime boss known as Superfly (voiced by Ice Cube), the TMNT: Mutant Mayhem mid-credits scene sets up the mysterious Shredder as the main villain for the upcoming sequel.
In a new interview with Empire, Rowe hyped up Shredder as the villain for TMNT: Mutant Mayhem 2, saying he will be “100 times scarier than Superfly.” The director also alluded to an existing sequel, noting how Christopher Nolan and company saved the most iconic Batman villain, The Joker, for The Dark Knight. Read his full comments below:
Shredder used to be the main villain before we pivoted away from that. They saved Joker for The Dark Knight… The one thing I can say without spoiling anything is, [Shredder] needs to be 100 times scarier than Superfly – who is a credible villain, he’s dangerous, he’s strong, he seems like he could mess the Turtles up. Shredder needs to be that, just significantly more.
Why TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Saved Shredder For The Sequel
Shredder is one of the most iconic and enduring villains in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lore. He made his first appearance in the comic book Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 in 1984 and thus, has existed for as long as Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael themselves. The character, whose real name is Oroku Saki, has a well-developed backstory and is the leader of the criminal ninja organization known as the Foot Clan. Shredder is a master martial artist and wears a suit of armor adorned with blades, making him a much more fearsome villain than a mere mutant fly.
TMNT Mutant Mayhem’s Shredder Introduction Sets Up A Shocking Identity Twist
The tease of Shredder’s inclusion in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem sets up a shocking identity twist concerning the iconic villain.
Because of Shredder’s standing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rowe decided not to include him in the first Mutant Mayhem movie. Instead, similar to The Dark Knight, the director decided to save the Turtles’ most iconic and intimidating villain, Shredder, for the sequel. What remains to be seen is exactly how he’s depicted since, throughout the franchise, Shredder has been portrayed a few different ways, from a purely evil antagonist to a morally complex character with a tragic backstory. Either way, considering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem‘s irreverent tone, Shredder should be seen like he’s never been before.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
- Release Date
- August 4, 2023
- Director
- Jeff Rowe
- Cast
- Nicolas Cantu , Micah Abbey , Shamon Brown Jr. , Brady Noon , Jackie Chan , Ayo Edebiri , Seth Rogen , John Cena
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes
- Main Genre
- Action
- Genres
- Action , Adventure
- Writers
- Brendan O’Brien
- Studio
- Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies, Point Grey Pictures
- Franchise
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Characters By
- Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird
