‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows’ Trailer Released — See Bebop And Rocksteady [Video]

The first movie in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot series was met with mixed reviews, but the release of a new trailer for the second installment has TMNT fans excited that the series might yet be salvaged. You can watch the full teaser in the video above, featuring some iconic characters that were absent from the first film.

According to Collider, the second film will be titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, sharing a title with a recent TMNT video game. After the first movie was criticized for having a rushed plot and featuring too much of Michael Bay’s over-the-top action style, the studio opted for an all-new director the second time around.

While Michael Bay will still be heavily involved, Jonathan Leibesman will be replaced at the helm by Dave Green. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans may be nervous about this news, knowing Dave Green is best known for the film Earth to Echo, which was about as well-received as the first Turtles film. But if the trailer is any indication, this next TMNT film will return to the roots of the beloved characters.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows seems to successfully blend the off-the-wall comedy and colorful action sequences that the franchise became known for. Some of that infamous sarcastic Michelangelo wit is shown in the trailer, as well as the return of Will Arnett’s nervous charm. But the most exciting part about the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer is the arrival of franchise-favorite mutants.

It was previously revealed that the TMNT villain Krang would make an appearance, and the trailer provides a first look at him. And with Krang involved there also has to be his mutant minions, Bebop and Rocksteady. Both the overgrown boar and the beefed-up rhino maintain their appearances from the cartoons and the toy-lines, but with a fresh CGI makeover that looks surprisingly realistic.

Stephen Amell from Arrow will also be stepping in to play the role of Casey Jones, the hockey stick vigilante friend to the Ninja Turtles.

While the character only makes a tiny appearance in the trailer, Tyler Perry will also be playing another familiar TMNT role, Baxter Stockman.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows also stars Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Laura Linney, and Brian Tee.

The first film was also criticized for focusing primarily on April O’Neil (played by Megan Fox), with the Turtles themselves only appearing for brief, mysterious glimpses for the entire beginning of the movie. Now that the back story behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is out of the way, it appears the writers could put the crime-fighting reptiles back in the center of the plot where they belong.

That said, there aren’t many clues about the plot within the trailer, although it appears the Turtles will be defending the city once again from the likes of both Krang and his goons, as well as the top villain of the series, Shredder.

According to Variety, the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film brought in a decent global gross of $500 million, but Out of the Shadows is on the path to outperform its predecessor both commercially and critically.

What do you think? Will the next installment in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot be better than the first? Will you be buying a ticket?

[Photo via Paramount Pictures]