Chris Evans and Patrick Stewart, acclaimed actors recognized for their pivotal roles in the Marvel and Fox’s Captain America and X-Men franchises, lent their voices to a lesser-known Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated film nearly two decades ago. Released in 2007, this nostalgic feature has recently resurfaced, catching the attention of viewers on streaming platforms.
The film, TMNT, marks the first animated feature in the Ninja Turtles franchise since 1993. According to FlixPatrol, it has gained remarkable traction, now ranking as the tenth most-streamed movie on HBO globally.
Upon its release, TMNT was the first movie to showcase the titular turtles on the big screen in over a decade. Chris Evans, who has since become synonymous with his portrayal of Captain America, voiced the role of Casey Jones, the turtles’ human ally. In a nod to its faithfulness to the source material, TMNT was rated as the third most comic book-accurate film in the Ninja Turtles franchise, capturing the essence of the four brothers: Leonardo (James Arnold Taylor), Donatello (Mitchell Whitfield), Michelangelo (Mikey Kelley), and Raphael (Nolan North).
Joining Evans in the voice cast, Sarah Michelle Gellar, renowned for her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, provided the voice for April O’Neil. Stewart portrayed Max Winters, an immortal warlord named Yaotl, who desires mortality. The plot follows the teenage turtles as they struggle to reconnect after defeating their long-time adversary, The Shredder, leading to a rise in mysterious occurrences in New York City.
Alongside Stewart, Evans, and Gellar, TMNT features notable voices such as Laurence Fishburne as the narrator and various voice acting heavyweights including John DiMaggio, Fred Tatasciore, Jim Cummings, Dee Bradley Baker, Tara Strong, Phil LaMarr, and Billy West. Filmmaker Kevin Smith also made a special appearance as the “Diner Cook.”
The film received mixed reactions, with a 60% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics rated it as “rotten” at 35%. Despite the divisive reception, TMNT achieved significant box office success, grossing $95.6 million globally from a production budget of $35 million—a stark contrast compared to Evans’ blockbuster Avengers: Endgame, which amassed nearly $2.8 billion worldwide in 2019.
Following TMNT, the franchise continued with the live-action adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2014, and its sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows in 2016. In a notable resurgence, 2023 saw the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, directed by Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears, with a screenplay by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Rowe.
Stewart, widely recognized for portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, has also been a recurring figure in the Marvel universe as Professor Charles Xavier. His most recent appearance as Xavier was in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which grossed over $955 million worldwide. Furthermore, Stewart is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
As the casting for Avengers: Doomsday continues to develop, at least 26 actors have been confirmed, including Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Speculations hint at the potential return of Evans, who last donned the Captain America mantle during Avengers: Endgame. Although Evans has previously stated his retirement from the role, recent fan theories and sightings suggest a possible change.
While in Toronto promoting his latest film Sacrifice, fans pointed out Evans’ impressive physique, fueling rumors of his return as Captain America. However, no conclusive evidence has been provided to confirm this speculation.
Currently, TMNT is accessible on various digital platforms in the U.S. and is available for streaming on HBO worldwide.
Source: CBR.com. Read the full story at CBR.com.