Tyler Perry, well known for his writer-director-actor roles in the Madea franchise as well as several television series, has now joined the cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. He’ll play the villainous inventor Baxter Stockman as the turtles set out to save their city once again.
Historically in the franchise, Stockman is a scientist who creates the Mousers, machines that are designed to seek out and destroy sewer rats. He is recruited by Shredder in his quest to bring down Splinter, the turtles’ mentor, who happens to be a mutant rat. Perry joins returning cast members Megan Fox and Will Arnett. He also joins newcomers to the series Stephen Amell (best known for his current role on the CW’s Arrow), who joins the cast as Casey Jones, and Alessandra Ambrosio, a Brazilian model just starting her acting career.
TMNT2 is being directed by Dave Green (Earth to Echo) and is written by Josh Applebaum and André Nemec. Michael Bay is producing along with Brad Fuller and Andrew Form under Paramount as well as Nickelodeon Movies. This sequel is part of one of Paramount’s biggest franchises following the successful run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2014. Plot details have yet to be confirmed, though with Stockman’s inclusion in the film, we might surmise that the story will follow, or at least stem from, previous plotlines from the long history of the TMNT franchise outside of Paramount.
Production on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is set to start next month, with a theatrical release planned for June 3, 2016.