Festivals - Annecy 2023: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem receives standing ovation at the festival

By Mulder, 12 june 2023

This Monday, June 12, spectators at the Annecy Film Festival were treated to an exclusive preview of a work-in-progress version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, in the presence of the film's director Jeff Rowe. As reported by The Wrap and AFP, the presentation ended with a standing ovation lasting over 6 minutes, and the applause was so loud that the director was called back on stage. The film was acclaimed by press and audience alike for the quality of its visual creativity, humor and engaging characters.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a 2023 American computer-animated superhero film directed by Jeff Rowe in his debut as a feature director. The movie was co-directed by Kyler Spears and written by Rowe, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit. It is based on the characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. Produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Pictures, the film will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

The voice cast includes Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Maya Rudolph. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score. The story follows the Turtles as they strive to be seen as regular teenagers through acts of heroism, but they find themselves facing an army of mutants.

Nickelodeon announced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Mutant Mayhem in June 2020, with Rogen, Goldberg, and James Weaver producing under their Point Grey banner, and Jeff Rowe as the director. Kyler Spears joined as co-director shortly afterward. The animation was handled by Mikros Animation in Montreal and Paris, as well as Cinesite in Vancouver. The filmmakers aimed to explore the teenage aspect of the Turtles and drew inspiration from coming-of-age films. In March 2023, most of the cast was announced, with the Turtles being voiced by teenage actors (Abbey, Brown, Cantu, and Noon) for the first time. The cast members recorded their dialogue in groups, allowing room for improvisation.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Mutant Mayhem premiered as an unfinished film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 12, 2023. The theatrical release in the United States is scheduled for August 2.

Synopsis :
After years away from the human world, the Turtle Brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic deeds. Their new friend April O'Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they find themselves in over their heads when an army of mutants deploys against them.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Mutant Mayhem
Directed by Jeff Rowe
Written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit
Based on Characters by Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman
Produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver
Starring Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph
Music by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Production companies ; Nickelodeon Movies, Point Grey Pictures
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates June 12, 2023 (Annecy), August 2, 2023 (United States), August 9, 2023 (France)