The tease included in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem that set up Shredder’s involvement in a sequel could also have foreshadowed a big identity twist concerning the Turtles’ arch-nemesis. The villain of the first installment in the new iteration of the iconic Turtle team was Superfly, with some changes being made to overall TMNT lore. That said, the ending of the film teased the inclusion of Shredder in Mutant Mayhem‘s sequel meaning the Turtles’ primary rival will finally be included in this fresh iteration of the franchise.
In almost every version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shredder has been a core antagonist of the titular team. Tied to the backstory of the Turtles’ master Splinter, Shredder and his ruthless Foot Clan have long been enemies of Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello, something set to continue in Mutant Mayhem‘s sequel. However, some elements of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem‘s lore changes hint at a different story for the Shredder from what is often portrayed, a story that could include a major identity twist from the villain’s history in the franchise.
TMNT Mutant Mayhem Connects Shredder’s Story To TCRI
With Shredder being the villain of Mutant Mayhem‘s sequel, the first film made it clear that he will be connected to TCRI. Usually, Shredder is depicted as a Japanese martial artist who has a history with Hamato Yoshi, the owner of Splinter. After his brother is killed by Yoshi, Shredder vows revenge and joins the Foot Clan, rising through the ranks of the American branch to exact his revenge on Yoshi. Eventually, Shredder accomplishes this goal and kills Yoshi who had secretly been training Splinter after the latter’s exposure to the Ooze. This explains the rivalry between Splinter, the Turtles, and Shredder depicted through most TMNT iterations.
However, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem changes this somewhat. While it could be revealed that Shredder has a similar history, the film’s ending makes it clear that Shredder is connected to TCRI, the Techno Cosmic Research Institute. In TMNT: Mutant Mayhem‘s ending, Cynthia – the leader of TCRI – hires Shredder as a mercenary to take down the Turtles. It is implied that Cynthia and Shredder have a history, as the former is familiar with the latter, proving that this version of Shredder will have ties to the TCRI in a way most iterations do not possess.
TMNT 2 Could Use The Utrom Shredder Identity Twist
Due to these links with the TCRI, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem‘s sequel could introduce Shredder as Utrom Shredder. This version of the character was introduced in the 2003 animated TMNT show as a sentient Utrom, an alien race prominent in most iterations of the Turtles. The Utrom are often responsible for creating the mutagen that enhanced the Turtles in several versions of the franchise be it through Krang or the TCRI which is run by Utrom’s on Earth. With TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, the leader of the TCRI is named Cynthia Utrom, hinting at her alien origin being revealed in the film’s sequel.
As such, this could lead to Utrom Shredder. In the 2003 TMNT cartoon, Shredder was believed to be a regular human until a huge twist revealed his Utrom origin. In reality, Shredder was an Utrom using a human-like exoskeleton to act as Shredder, with some elements of the original Shredder’s backstory being utilized. However, the reveal that Shredder was an exiled Utrom meant he was an antagonist of Splinter, the Turtles, and his own race alongside the many enemies of the Foot Clan.
TMNT Using Utrom Shredder Makes Sense After Mutant Mayhem
This twist would make a lot of sense if it was utilized in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem‘s sequel. For one, it would explain the link between Cynthia and Shredder. It is clear that this iteration of the Turtles holds no qualms about changing the established lore of the TMNT, with one potential alteration being that Cynthia and Shredder are both Utroms working together to control Earth. This would explain why Cynthia contacts Shredder to defeat the Turtles and why he would willingly act as her hired hand. Furthermore, the lore changes already found in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem means Shredder’s original origin is unlikely.
The creation of Splinter and his origin story was already changed at length in the first movie, with little to no elements tying him to Shredder. That said, the first movie clearly established a rivalry between Splinter, the Turtles, and the TCRI. As such, the Turtles have made villains of Cynthia Utrom, meaning Shredder would have a reason for opposing them beyond his mercenary status if he is made Utrom in this iteration of the franchise. If he and Cynthia have a history, Utrom Shredder would have more motivation for stopping the Turtles, with the twist surrounding Shredder’s identity making sense for the sequel to TMNT: Mutant Mayhem.
