Cast the new TMNT (2027/28) movie

[Andrew NDB]

Who would be your picks?

===

Oroku Saki: Takehiro Hira

https://i.ibb.co/Qv709Txn/Takehiro-Hira.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/p6JFSMkF/Takehiro-Hira2.jpg

He's GREAT in Shogun and has a nice presence in Monarch, easily can pull off mysterious/fearsome with a troubled past.

===

April O'Neil : Daisy Edgar-Jones

https://i.ibb.co/FbQpS6k3/Daisy-Edgar-Jones-roles-071624-06d11135725b4edca578560b215d6100.jpg

From Twisters and Where the Crawdads Sing. She has the right "wonder" in her eyes that I think is needed.

===

Casey Jones : Asa Germann

https://i.ibb.co/0y54JGh8/GENV-S2-FG-203-00125114-Still190.jpg

From Gen V. This dude can DEFINITELY play unhinged. And he has the right physicality.

===

Baxter Stockman : Jeffrey Wright

https://i.ibb.co/B5JP6MgP/Gordon-0.jpg

His cold, calculating demeanor in Westworld definitely sells me. Like, he could go from giving an intelligent speech about chemical reactions in like a low frantic whisper to lunging at someone to strangle them to death, and believably.

===

Rat King : Guy Pearce

https://i.ibb.co/0RxD6VG7/download-2.jpg

He's got the look down and the chops. And I could totally see him delivering the "self help" speeches to Splinter from CAW.

Karai : Rinko Kikuchi

https://i.ibb.co/Z1BS58Pq/6eb3f5badcd7233194ef4b40885449f7.jpg

She hasn't gotten a lot of love since Pacific Rim stateside but she would be solid, and is the perfect age now to have an 18-20 year old daughter. Which she should have.

===

For the Turtles and Splinter I really couldn't care less. I guess I would say, "Whoever is the most talented willing to get in Turtle suits and would be willing to do it again for at least a couple more movies afterward" (and probably not sh** on the process in interviews afterward). As far as what the voices should sound like, I'll throw some names out there:

Leonardo: KJ Apa
Raphael: Austin Butler
Donatello: Tom Holland
Michelangelo: Aaron Paul
Splinter: Give it to Ken Watanabe, I guess

[ToTheNines]

- Saki: agreed

- April: Jane Levy

- Baxter: Sterling K. Brown

- Rat King: Walter Goggins

- Karai: Anna Sawai

- Splinter: Hiroyuki Sanada (Can you tell I liked Shogun?)

- Casey: ... will have to think about this one. Everyone is either too old or looks like a wuss.

- Leonardo: Stark Sands (out there pick. But watch Generation Kill and you'll feel me)

- Raphael: Paul Virzi

- Donatello: Gianmarco Soresi

- Michelangelo: Brandon Wardell

[FredWolfLeonardo]

All characters played by Black Jack

[Andrew NDB]

April: Jane Levy

Ehh.... maybe.

Baxter: Sterling K. Brown

I was thinking about him and I really like him. I just don't think he can pull off meek/mild-mannered very well. He could do full psycho mode, for sure.

Rat King: Walter Goggins

That's quite great, actually.

- Karai: Anna Sawai

I like her but she comes off too youngish/babydoll for such a role. Maybe Pimiko.

- Splinter: Hiroyuki Sanada (Can you tell I liked Shogun?)

As long as we don't really see him. That guy is way oversaturated in recent years.

- Casey: ... will have to think about this one. Everyone is either too old or looks like a wuss.

Oh yeah... I suppose I should have thrown one in there. I'll edit my post.

[ToTheNines]

I was thinking about him and I really like him. I just don't think he can pull off meek/mild-mannered very well. He could do full psycho mode, for sure.

He’s one of my favorite actors. You’ve probably never watched This Is Us, but he’s really, really good in that. Plays a sweet/dorky dad for the most part.


I like her but she comes off too youngish/babydoll for such a role. Maybe Pimiko.

I absolutely agree, she needs about another 10 years to play the ideal Karai. In a perfect world, Karai wouldn’t show up until Part III at the earliest. But let’s lock down her contract now :lol:


As long as we don't really see him. That guy is way oversaturated in recent years.

Yeah, voice only.

Oh yeah... I suppose I should have thrown one in there. I'll edit my post.

Wow, Asa Germann is a great pick. I never would have thought of that.

[Daytona]

Here’s all I got:

Norman Reedus as Raphael.

Andrew Garfield as Leo.

Justin Long as Donatello.

Edward Furlong as Michelangelo. (This is brilliant casting don’t @me)

Splinter: Vincent D’onofrio

Rat King: Javier Bardem

[Andrew NDB]

Norman Reedus as Raphael.

Edward Furlong as Michelangelo.

That's a lot of cigarette (or worse)-ravaged gravelly voice going on there, between those two.

[Daytona]

That's a lot of cigarette (or worse)-ravaged gravelly voice going on there, between those two.

True - and you can argue they’ve aged out but I think being a mutant turtle allows you to take some liberties. I’d say both their voices sound weathered but they also naturally talk in a youthful way, which is what I like.

[neatoman]

What if... Nobody... Played by... Masako Nozawa?
In case you don't get it, he was voiced by Sean Schemmel. If you still don't get it, just look it up.

[Andrew NDB]

True - and you can argue they’ve aged out but I think being a mutant turtle allows you to take some liberties.

It's true. There's absolutely no reason to think a 16 year-old Mutant Turtle sounds exactly like a 16 year-old human boy. There could probably be a good case for ALL the Turtles needing cigarette-ravaged throaty voices.

[ToTheNines]

What if... Nobody... Played by... Masako Nozawa?
In case you don't get it, he was voiced by Sean Schemmel. If you still don't get it, just look it up.

Nobody played by Bob Odenkirk.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

What if... Nobody... Played by... Masako Nozawa?
In case you don't get it, he was voiced by Sean Schemmel. If you still don't get it, just look it up.

I'd support it just to see Sean's meltdowns at comic cons.

[Powder]

Some of these are things I've given actual thought to in the past, but a few are just grabs from thin air for fun. Different film universes would warrant different casts, but these people are who I'd have in mind for a fairly grounded, 4kids/Mirage-like turtles meets Guardians of the Galaxy films sort of approach.

Hiroyuki Sanada is a bit too old for the part but I'd love to see him as Shredder. He's got great presence in those kinds of roles. Weaves well between scary & sage. Could just as well be Splinter or Hamato Yoshi, for that matter.

Laurence Fishburne as Splinter. Maybe that's a little outta left field, but I love him, he's always compelling as a wise leader, fantastic voice. Can't necessarily lean too heavy into a Japanese accent, but as a more general part, why not?

Britt Lower as April O'neil. She plays a pretty multi-faceted working woman in Severance, I could very easily see her taking on a lab-assistant or journalist April. I'd have liked to see a Mirage styled April by Maya Rudolph at one time or another, maybe. Always found her to be a lot of fun.

Kel Mitchell as Michelangelo. Naturally, Kel is famous for his Keenan & Kel, All That, & Goodburger roles, the latter of two of which prominently featuring him as a goofy care-free "dude" that is very Mikey coded. Would be raspy in away similar to Corey Feldman's Donnie in 1990, which I like. They're reptiles, they'd sound coarse.

Jeremy Shada as Leonardo. He was Finn the Human, on Adventure Time, who eventually matured into a really cool, heroic little dude. Very Leonardo, in my mind, right down to the blue outfit, swashbuckling swordplay, & warrior spirit driven selflessness. I think he'd do a fantastic job being so familiar with a similar character!

Stephen Graham as Raphael. I know him for playing mobster tough guys like Al Capone, in Boardwalk Empire, similar part in The Irishman, etc. Plays an urban goon real well. Maybe he could pull it off.

Stavros Halkias as Donatello. New York area comedian & more recently comic actor, just a real chuckle factory but he's got a witty edge to him. Could make for a clever smart-ass Donnie.

Throwing out some random characters-

Bill Hader as Honeycutt/Fugitoid. Usually plays a funny guy but he's got good range, always excels with eccentric quirky characters.

Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman. It's an obvious one, & they've arguably done it already, but it needs to be done right.

Keith David as Commander Mozar. I want live-action Triceratons so bad, & he'd be the coolest pick for their leader.

Casey Jones is difficult for me to cast, maybe I'll revisit him.

Karai, I feel, would be fun to see played by a Japanese professional wrestler. I'm entirely unfamiliar with the sport, so I have no recommendation, but I'd love the character to be properly shown as a beautiful powerhouse from overseas. That would probably be the ticket!

[Daytona]

Fishburne as Splinter is pretty good.

[The Great Saiyaman]

How about....

https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-YYB6cVwK92BaR1a2-F3YC0A-t500x500.jpg
Hitoshi Matsumoto as Toshirou or perhaps as Tatsu (Although he might be too old for that)

Not just because this man has that typical strict looking Japanese gaze, but he's also buffed to the max.
https://image.news.livedoor.com/newsimage/stf/6/d/6df6a_249_20180205029.jpg
Plus, Matsumoto is an A-list celebrity in Japan, giving the movie credible status from the get-go in Japan.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQna8AcXDXRC0817cxduYwNJAKnqIYNW 0Ns3g&s
For human Splinter/ Hamato Yoshi, if we take the 2012 Splinter as an example on how he could be portrayed, I'd say Takatoshi Kaneko would make a fine choice, since he's very flamboyant, but also can be a terrifying fighter.

How about Hosei Yamasaki (Tsukitei Hosei) as Murukami?
https://i.mydramalist.com/emQNn_5f.jpg
Yamasaki, is very much an underrated genius. A very accomplished musician, comedian and actor.

As for using legacy actors. Bring back Greg Cipes for Michelangelo.

[ToTheNines]

@Powder

I love the idea of Kel Mitchell and Stavvy having a similar dynamic to 1990. I tried to keep all 4 of my turtle voices comedians but couldn’t think of anyone for Leo. Maybe Andy Haynes? I don’t know how much acting he’s done. Shada would be an incredible choice though!

I also tried to think of a fit, long haired greasy comedian for Casey and came up blank. Like I said in my first post, everyone is either way too old or an absolute twink.

[CyberCubed]

Am I out of touch? I literally have never heard of 90% of the actors people suggested in this thread. Who are these people?

[neatoman]

Peter Dinklage as Doctor Dome.

[Poweranimals]

I just have a few.

Sadie Sink - April O'Neil

Dacre Montgomery - Casey Jones

Paris Berelc - Karai

[ToTheNines]

@Powder

I love the idea of Kel Mitchell and Stavvy having a similar dynamic to 1990. I tried to keep all 4 of my turtle voices comedians but couldn’t think of anyone for Leo. Maybe Andy Haynes? I don’t know how much acting he’s done. Shada would be an incredible choice though!

I also tried to think of a fit, long haired greasy comedian for Casey and came up blank. Like I said in my first post, everyone is either way too old or an absolute twink.

Ok here’s my take 2 on turtle voices:

Leo: Matthew Broussard or Chris O’Connor

Raph: Tommy Pope or Luis J Gomez lol

Don: Adam Friedland or Mark Normand

Mike: Scott Chaplain or Ian Fidance

Still got nothing for Casey!

April: Sarah Sherman? Or if we’re gonna go… that direction… Sam Jay! :lol:

[Andrew NDB]

Dacre Montgomery - Casey Jones

Oh yeah, that'd be great, too.

[TigerClaw]

How about Sam Rockwell as Casey Jones? I know he had a small role in the first live action TMNT movie. But it would be cool if they could get him involved somehow.

[ToTheNines]

He’s damn near 60 years old

[TigerClaw]

He’s damn near 60 years old
57 years old to be exact.

[ToTheNines]

57.333 to be exact.

[Wildcat]

Shredder - Honestly I personally don’t know of many Asian actors that fit. Rick Yune from the first Fast and Furious is what came to mind.

April O’neil - Karen Gillan, Emma Stone, Naomi Scott.

Casey Jones - Jake Gyllenhaal. I didn’t even see the new Road House but maybe too old by the time it gets made. Oddly I could see Austin Butler as Casey.

I’m usually fine with whoever they pick as voices for cartoon characters. Kel Mitchell seems good. He was the Ant in Pink Panther and Pals but all I could picture was him, haha. Took some getting used to.

[ToTheNines]

Gyllenhal is 45, but I could see him pulling it off otherwise.

Austin Butler? Kind of a surprising choice, but yeah, I could definitely see that.

[Daytona]

I hope we can return to an older April someday. A version of April who sort of has nothing going on in life until she meets the turtles. A character who is relatable in normal ways too and is sort of just looking for direction in life similar to how we see her in City at War. Meeting the turtles is her great escape in a way. Like Neo discovering the matrix and a world beyond the doldrums.

Obviously teenage April can work just fine as a sort of audience stand-in or fantasy-fulfillment type thing but I find that far less interesting.

So I still don’t have a casting suggestion for the character but I’d love to lean into that demographic.

Sigourney Weaver, back in the day, might have been my ideal choice. Someone who doesn’t need to become the fifth ninja turtle but can still hold her own in a believable way when **** goes south. She has a strong enough personality to hold her own with the turtles and doesn’t tend to overplay things so she could be sort of downtrodden before meeting them too.

[Andrew NDB]

Casey Jones - Jake Gyllenhaal. I didn’t even see the new Road House but maybe too old by the time it gets made.

He's too old NOW. You don't start a Casey Jones in his mid-40s. Elias Koteas was 28 years-old when he did TMNT 1 (1990), for reference.

Oddly I could see Austin Butler as Casey.

Definitely, but you would've had to grab him as Casey 5-6 years ago. Now he's bouncing from A-list director to A-list director and isn't going to go slum it now and be Casey Jones in the fifth reboot of something like TMNT. Even if he was like a huge TMNT fan, his agent would probably jump on a grenade before letting him do that to his career.

[Wildcat]

He's too old NOW. You don't start a Casey Jones in his mid-40s. Elias Koteas was 28 years-old when he did TMNT 1 (1990), for reference.


Definitely, but you would've had to grab him as Casey 5-6 years ago. Now he's bouncing from A-list director to A-list director and isn't going to go slum it now and be Casey Jones in the fifth reboot of something like TMNT. Even if he was like a huge TMNT fan, his agent would probably jump on a grenade before letting him do that to his career.

Ya I said Jake was gonna be too old. Unless they want an older Casey for some reason like Johnny Cage in the new MK.

I’m sure if, hypothetically Austin Butler was a huge TMNT fan and wanted to do it he would. Why would he let his agent decide whether he takes a role he actually wants?

Big name actors have done all kinds of movies. It’s not “slumming” it to be part of the TMNT franchise. You suggested him to voice Raphael.

[Andrew NDB]

Ya I said Jake was gonna be too old

You said he was going to be too old by the time it gets made. I'm telling you he's too old even if it filmed a year or two ago and was just coming out now. Significantly.

Unless they want an older Casey for some reason like Johnny Cage in the new MK.

There seems to be a predisposition to make Casey Jones younger and younger (for some reason), not the other way around.

I’m sure if, hypothetically Austin Butler was a huge TMNT fan and wanted to do it he would.

Doubtful. He's at a pretty pivotal spot in his career, coming out of movies from Villeneuve, Tarantino and Luhrmann where he's just a misstep or two away from torpedoing himself out of being "new shiny thing, hot to cast" in Hollywood. A bad TMNT reboot could do it. "Caught Stealing" flopped just last year, which he led, and you don't get very many of those before you're done in Hollywood.

Why would he let his agent decide whether he takes a role he actually wants?

Because generally actors want longevity and would tend to listen to the people whose business it is to keep them doing business.

Big name actors have done all kinds of movies. It’s not “slumming” it to be part of the TMNT franchise.

It would definitely carry with it a stigma. Much more so if it's a big failure, and as we all know "TMNT" is not exactly a guarantee of quality on the big screen by any means. One pretty good movie out of 7 isn't exactly a great batting average.

[neatoman]

How about Edward Norton as Fugitoid?

[ToTheNines]

Honeycutt must be a Brit, sorry.

How about John Oliver? lol

[Andrew NDB]

How about Edward Norton as Fugitoid?

Especially if he gets to play him before he becomes a Fugitoid for a few minutes, sure. I'd think he'd call for more of a "high energy, spritely old guy" actor, though, on paper. But I can't think of anybody like that really atm.

If Philip Seymour Hoffman was still alive and maybe... 10 years older, I'd say him. Or Tim Curry if he was still... OK. Dudley Moore if he was alive, too.

[Wildcat]

Doubtful. He's at a pretty pivotal spot in his career, coming out of movies from Villeneuve, Tarantino and Luhrmann where he's just a misstep or two away from torpedoing himself out of being "new shiny thing, hot to cast" in Hollywood. A bad TMNT reboot could do it. "Caught Stealing" flopped just last year, which he led, and you don't get very many of those before you're done in Hollywood.

Because generally actors want longevity and would tend to listen to the people whose business it is to keep them doing business.

It would definitely carry with it a stigma. Much more so if it's a big failure, and as we all know "TMNT" is not exactly a guarantee of quality on the big screen by any means. One pretty good movie out of 7 isn't exactly a great batting average.

Ok then why did you suggest him to voice Raphael if you thought a TMNT movie would be a bad career choice?

Of course I’m not in the movie business but I don’t think agents purposely keeping you away from roles you legitimately want is a thing. They help you get roles and stuff like negotiate deals.

[Andrew NDB]

Ok then why did you suggest him to voice Raphael if you thought a TMNT movie would be a bad career choice?

Because outside of this forum and maybe some anime conventions nobody cares about voice actors. They neither help or harm "real" actors' careers.

Of course I’m not in the movie business but I don’t think agents purposely keeping you away from roles you legitimately want is a thing.

That's like 50% of the job. Finding you deals, but also finding the RIGHT deals.

[neatoman]

Honeycutt must be a Brit, sorry.

How about John Oliver? lol

Benedict Cumberbatch? Simon Pegg?... Sacha Baron Cohen...?

Had he been alive, maybe Alan Rickman?

[ToTheNines]

My final answer on Casey is Jacob Elordi.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Jacob-Elordi-getty-H-2025.png

Benedict Cumberbatch? Simon Pegg?... Sacha Baron Cohen...?

Had he been alive, maybe Alan Rickman?

Pegg for sure! That’s a great pick.

[Andrew NDB]

I thought about Elordi but he's way too "big" for Casey now and a leading man. A few years ago it might have been possible. Also, he's like 6'5"... way too tall for Casey. If he's already that tall then barking about "I threw out guys twice your size from Torchys" not make much sense.

[Jephael]

I used to love doing fan castings, but seeing as how I don't really watch much TV or movies these days, I'm okay with whoever they pick as I most likely won't recognize them from anything.

[Mr. Entertainment]

If she cut her hair a little shorter, I could see Grace Caroline Currey being a good April. She has enough grit and smarts to pull it off (especially if she's portrayed as an assistant to Stockman).

[Andrew NDB]

If she cut her hair a little shorter, I could see Grace Caroline Currey being a good April. She has enough grit and smarts to pull it off (especially if she's portrayed as an assistant to Stockman).

Sure. She'd work.

[ToTheNines]

I thought about Elordi but he's way too "big" for Casey now and a leading man. A few years ago it might have been possible. Also, he's like 6'5"... way too tall for Casey. If he's already that tall then barking about "I threw out guys twice your size from Torchys" not make much sense.

I guess Koteas was only 5’11”, but Mirage and 4kids Casey was portrayed as 6’1” - 6’2”, so three more inches on that isn’t too bad. I wouldn’t mind a super physically imposing Casey.

But yeah, he’s probably too A-list for the role. Perfect face for it though.