Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series will be ending this month, but this shell-shocking franchise isn't going away anytime soon. The previously announced new series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will debut on the channel in 2018, and we now know all the awesome actors that'll be voicing the heroes, as well as new details about how this series will change up for the pizza-loving foursome. Check out the cast below. which includes (from right to left) The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham, Silicon Valley's Josh Brener, Ballers' Omar Miller, Parks and Recreation's Ben Schwartz and You're the Worst's Brandon Mychal Smith.
There's one big initial takeaway here. Aside from Kat Graham, who will be voicing April O'Neil, these are all actors known for comedic roles. (Not that Graham hasn't appeared in comedies, but you know what I mean.) And that should be a sign for audiences that things are going to be taken in an even more comedic and wacky direction with Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which is reimagining some of the details behind this franchise and its characters for a brand new set of wacky adventures. And those adventures will revert back to the 2D style of the original animated series, too.
Let's talk characters first. Omar Miller will voice Raphael, who is now the leader of the pack as the oldest and biggest of the four, and he's more enthusiastic and courageous than hot-heated. Ben Schwartz will play Leonardo, who will now be the irreverent rebel that considers himself the coolest turtle in the bunch. Josh Brener's Donatello seems to be staying mostly the same, as he's still the brainiest mutant, with a talent for mechanics and technology. And as Michelangelo, Brandon Mychal Smith will voice the youngest and most vividly imaginative of the brothers. (He's pretty good with a skateboard, too, naturally.) Meanwhile, Kat Graham's April will be street smart about her New York City home, and she's always down to get crazy with her amphibious friends. Voicing radical rat Master Splinter, not seen above, will be Eric Bauza, who voiced various roles on the now-ending animated series.
That's a solid bunch, and they should make Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just as wild and crazy as it sounds. The new show will see this pack of heroes trying to tap into the mystical world lurking just beneath New York City, which will somehow grant the turtles some abilities that go beyond just their ninja-tastic fight skills. Aside from that, they'll be teaming up with an array of bizarre new heroes to take on crazy new villains, and it sounds like everyone might have a few new locations to explore as well. Expect big laughs, big action, and a throwback animated style that longtime fans should love.
The first look at the new show's logo was also released, and it can be seen below.
Are you guys excited to see the the new changes and hear the new voice cast when Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles makes its way to Nickelodeon in 2018? Stay tuned for a more specific release date, and don't forget to check out the final episodes of the currently airing animated series on November 11. Then hit up our fall TV premiere schedule to see when all the new and returning shows will pop up on the small screen in the rest of 2017.
