Tyler Perry To Join ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2’
Tyler Perry is set to portray Baxter Stockman in the upcoming Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles sequel, according to reports. Stockman first appeared in the original Mirage Comics as an African-American scientist, although the character had his race changed for his repeated appearances in the popular 1987 animated series. More recent animated versions of the character have returned Stockman to his original ethnicity.
So far, reactions to the news have been mixed, with many taking to Twitter in order to either celebrate the casting, or vent their frustration.
Tyler Perry will be playing Baxter Stockman in TMNT2. He’s been an old lady, a fly or robot shouldnt be too difficult pic.twitter.com/AskMBU3is5
— Brandon Lewis (@Mr_BrandonLewis) April 24, 2015
…..who the fuck ok’d Tyler Perry as Baxter Stockman. I don’t want it. — Oso Fatts (@Osito1034) April 24, 2015
It’s gonna be weird when “Tyler Perry’s Baxter Stockman” is an actual thing.
— Joe™ (@TanookiKuribo) April 24, 2015
@tylerperry as Baxter Stockman? Oh yeah! #tmnt2 #THEMADeaSCIENTIST — Jason Conley (@Exquisite_1985) April 24, 2015
@tylerperry sera #BaxterStockman para #TMNT2 #WAAAT #seriously #getbetttercasting #NoOffence pic.twitter.com/jcnrsUj6KU
— Randomsheeep (@Randomsheeep) April 24, 2015
Best known for his Tyler Perry Presents films, for which the man acts as writer, producer, director, and sometimes star, Perry has recently branched out to dramatic roles in other projects, and was last seen playing Ben Affleck’s lawyer in Fox’s Gone Girl.
In previous iterations of the franchise, Stockman was responsible for the creation of the Mousers, machines meant to seek out and destroy sewer rats. The villainous Shredder learns of this invention and hires Stockman as his own scientist with the intent of using the Mousers to destroy Splinter, mentor to the Turtles.
Platinum Dunes’ Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form are returning to produce the upcoming sequel, which features a script by returning screenwriters Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec. Megan Fox will reprise her role of April O’Neil, along with William Fichtner as Eric Sacks and the debut of Stephen Amell as masked vigilante Casey Jones. The original film also starred Will Arnett, Alan Ritchson, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Danny Woodburn, Johnny Knoxville, and Tony Shalhoub. It grossed more than $485 million at the worldwide box office.
The Turtles franchise is one of Paramount’s top properties following the success of last summer’s latest outing, which earned $191 million domestically. Set to be directed by Earth to Echo’s David Green, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is set for release on June 3, 2016.
