Should Corey Feldman and the Workaholics voice Ninja Turtles?
One of the biggest franchises from the 90s had a certain lack of known talent as well. The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a film that opened March 30th, 1990, hitting number one on the box office charts for four consecutive weeks without nary a big name personality in sight. No mean feat, this cash cow won audiences over based solely on the existing property name alone, and its already established franchises in the world of cartoons and comic books. New Line Cinemas, a struggling studio at the time, kept the movie on the cheap and didn't have to hire known talent to portray the Turtles. Or any of the other cast members for that matter (though some of us at the time still held an affinity for Casey Jones' Elias Koteas based on his scene-stealing performance in Some Kind of Wonderful).
Puppeteers trained in martial arts embodied the four turtle suits designed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop in London. Brian Tochi, best known for supporting roles such as Cadet Tomoko in Police Academy and Takashi in Revenge of the Nerds supplied the voice of Leonardo. Robbie Rist, aka Cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch, was Michelangelo. And Josh Pais, a primarily unknown American actor, was Raphael both in and out of costume. That brings us to the biggest name in the entire cast. Corey Feldman. He played Donatello.
Feldman had reached the end of his child actor faze and was quickly petering out as a teen heartthrob when he took on the role of Donatello, a part he jumped into only to fuel his spiraling drug habit. He remained clean while working through the film, but his hard partying ways outside the office drew some much-unwanted attention. He was replaced by Life Goes On's Adam Carl on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze by producers that felt Corey was a bad role model. It was a firing that actually helped get the actor back on the straight and narrow path to recovery.
Love him or hate him, the thing about Corey Feldman is that he has a unique vox for cartoon and voice over work. Fans at the time noticed his absence in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, which only added to the vitriol most aimed at the poorly made sequel (it ditched violence almost entirely, a horrible move for a movie with NINJA in the title).
Sure, Robbie Rist might heartily disagree (have to love the man's comments about Michael Bay the other day) but Corey truly brought the one audibly distinguishable persona to this burgeoning franchise, and with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, he was gone. That much needed flavor was missing. Maybe you are too young to remember, but people noticed. Fans made a stink about it. And so did Feldman. He was quick to address both disgust at himself and the producers of the film. He knew he was in the wrong, yet he felt slighted at the same time. And if you ever get a chance to meet the actor at a convention signing, he'll tell you that Don is one of his favorite characters he's ever played.
The Internet wasn't what it is today way back in 1993. So this flew somewhat under the radar, but fans of both the franchise and Feldman rallied around the actor. They demanded he be brought back for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (aka Turtles in Time). He got himself clean, and he came back to play Donatello once again. His voice is iconic to the franchise.
At least those in charge of each new incarnation seem to think so. Donatello's voice was altered in the animated series to sound more like Feldman's rendition of the character after the 1990 movie debuted. And when it came to 2007's TMNT, which returned the quartet to the big screen, director Kevin Munroe made sure that voice actor Mitchell Whitfield sounded exactly like The Lost Boys star. The question becomes, why didn't they just go to the man himself?
Corey Feldman has expressed interest in returning to the job. He has a lot of enthusiasm for the character of Donatello, and he's been clean, living an almost straight edge life, for more than twenty years. So what's the hold up? Why wasn't he brought back for TMNT when they clearly wanted his voice (was a sound-alike simply cheaper?) There are a lot of older folks, those who grew up with the franchise, who feel that getting Corey to reprise Donatello for this upcoming reboot is akin to having Peter Cullen reprise his voice as Optimus Prime in all three big screen Transformers movies. Making the move to cast Corey Feldman shows fans that the producers actually DO care about the franchise they are about to exploit for more money.
The connection here is, Michael Bay, director of Transformers, is producing the truncated Ninja Turtles reboot. Back in 2007 (same year as TMNT), he listened to the older fan base when it came to bringing Peter Cullen back. A lot of you younger fans didn't even know who the guy was, but you have to admit, Optimus Prime just isn't Optimus Prime without that voice. And the same goes for Donatello.
In discussing Ninja Turtles, Michael Bay made the following statement.
"They (the producers, writers, and director) care VERY MUCH about making this film for the fans. Everyone on this team cares about the fans. Just give them a chance. Jonathan Liebesman the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN."
That means, if enough fans make it known that they want Corey Feldman back as Donatello, it's likely he will come back. Because Michael Bay has proven himself as someone who listens to those kinds of requests. Any regular reader of this site knows we are huge fans of the Felddog. But honestly, we weren't even thinking about the actor coming back to reprise Donatello. Who voices the Turtles? Who cares? Well, one person certainly does as they've created a Petition to have the man return, and it struck us...Yeah, we want to see that too!
To "Like" the petition:
Right now, there are only 2 "likes" (one of which is from our managing editor). We thought we'd help get the word out. Because we also like the second idea presented by this petition. Having the Workaholics cast provide the voices for the other three turtles sounds like perfect casting to us. This is an ingenious idea, and its what drew our attention to the petition in the first place. If you need to ask yourself why Anders Holm as Leonardo, Adam DeVine as "Rude" Raphael, and Blake Anderson as Michelangelo is a great idea, all you need to do is watch the following clip, and then find the rest of this episode: Teenage Mutant Ninja Roommates and watch it. They even acknowledge that there is no replacing Corey Feldman as Donatello (sort of).
So, what are your thoughts? Do you care who voices the Ninja Turtles? Do you want Corey Feldman to return? Are you a fan of Workaholics? If not these guys, then who do you envision as Leo, Ralph, Mike, and Don in this new reboot? It will likely be Motion Capture. Do they need to know ninjutsu? Should Andy Serkis be involved? Is that the only man who can play Splinter? Let us know your thoughts, because we think this is fun! (Please, don't take it too seriously. Its mutated amphibians that know karate, not religion...To most of us anyway!)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes to theaters June 6th, 2014 and stars Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Pete Ploszek, Jeremy Howard, Noel Fisher, Will Arnett, Danny Woodburn, William Fichtner. The film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman.
Comments (55)
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wallaby☂
Btw how was the second one a poor sequel? The first and second were brilliant! The third was a bit of a let down though haha but I probably only think that because of the costume alteration... PLEASE MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE THE ORIGINALS!
11 months agoby @wallabyFlag
wallaby☂
The original voices have to be in this film! It just wouldn't be right without them, SERIOUSLYYYYY. The voices from the first film. Please. I loved the costumes in the first and second film too, I hated Leonardo's in the third, he didn't look right at all! Hoping this film's a good one, still gutted that there's the whole change of outer space but it could work I guess.
11 months agoby @wallabyFlag
Joakim Lindberg
As the Ninja turtles is and always will be my heroes it is really important who's gonna voice the turtles. The turtles 2 movie was my favourite film growing up. It was so rad and cool. But I just was so dissapointed that Donatellos and Raphaels voices weren't the same as in the first movie. So to me; Since it is a movie for us the fans, and we have to live with that they now are aliens. The least Michael Bay can do is to bring back the original voices. And Corey Feldmans voice for Donatello is and always will be the voice of Donatello to me. I love the idea that Krang is gonna be the villian in the movie BTW. Just had to point that out. And don't make up anything new, stick to Dimension X. And hope to see Beebop and Rocksteady. I trust you Michael Bay. AND PLEASE Make the turtles look like the original Turtles not like they do on the pictures you can find around the internet. MAKE THE TURTLES LOOK LIKE TURTLES. That's my biggest wish.
1 year agoby @Joakim-LindbergFlag
Bleed420
@coldsun exactly!!lol
1 year agoby @bleed420Flag
BrandonHeat
@FiLmMAst3R- Amber Head:April, JGL- Casey Jones: Ian Anthony Dale :Shredder
1 year agoby @brandonheatFlag
FiLmMAst3R
Emma Stone: April O'Neil, Jared Padalecki: Casey Jones. anyone else kinda feeling this?
1 year agoby @filmmast3rFlag
justatadmatt
i honestly had no idea who did the voices, but as long as they sound similar to the original, i'm cool with it. i hate to be THAT guy who brings it up, but since they are going to make them aliens, does it really matter what their voices sound like now? also, i just saw feldman on skating with the stars and he still has a terrible attitude...
@filmmast3r , i could definitely see that, except now that she is gwen stacy, idk...
1 year agoby @justatadmattFlag
FiLmMAst3R
90% of it should be a guy in a suit (turtles and splinter) and anything too dangerous will be cgi,but only for a brief moment.Anyone think emma stone as april? but who for casey jones?
1 year agoby @filmmast3rFlag
Monkeyiron 2.0
@jayaottley Ok owabunga and Pizza is acceptable but taste my wrath of mangy ottley
1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag
Pbcritical
Hell yes. I loved the classic TMNT film and Feldman would be a great reference to the old film.
1 year agoby @pbcriticalFlag
ChristinaM15
Hands down the best article Orange has ever written & posted (that I can remember) on movieweb. I completely agree.
1 year agoby @christina-montanaFlag
Jay.A.Ottley
@monkeyiron2-0 I got a bodacious drink for you bro.... Its called Hater Aid.... haha COWBUNGA and i got PIZZAAAAAA
1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag
Mutant
I loved the old films and I think that he should come back
1 year agoby @zenderFlag
Monkeyiron 2.0
@jayaottley if you say bodacious I will push in Ooze!!
1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag
Ricci_lee
i think feldman should be in it
1 year agoby @ricci-leeFlag
Angelsbleedtoo
Go for Corey Feldman! He is Donatello!
1 year agoby @angelsbleedtooFlag
Bleed420
If you bring Corey Feldman back you might as well bring all the original voices from part 1!!!!Dont compare Donatello to Optimus Prime ever again!!!!
1 year agoby @bleed420Flag
Ghostman
@jayaottley Lol thanks bro.
1 year agoby @ghostmanFlag
Coldsun
Sure. Why not. This movie is fked anyway. Might as well go all out.
1 year agoby @coldsunFlag
Jay.A.Ottley
@monkeyiron2-0 Haha but i don't know wth the direction they are taking this,i really can't see Splinter in it but meh just have to wait and see.
And well as @ghostman also stated that Peter Jackson isn't directing nor are WETA doing the effects, so Serkis is unlikely, but you never know.
What would be awesome is if splinter was voiced by either Leonard Nimoy or Peter Cullen.
Btw awesome new name @ghostman lol
1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag
Jay.A.Ottley
bodacious article @balanorange this is the orange i remember, top props to you :) haha COWBUNGA :)
1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag
Summit10
cameos won't hurt
1 year agoby @summit10Flag
Monkeyiron 2.0
@cupid agreed @zanyzap that wasnt the worst cast ever the worst cast ever were the cast of Diaster Movie
1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag
ejk1
@bawnian-dexeus Si, buen punto.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@ejk1 Amigo, puede ser peor
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
ejk1
@bawnian-dexeus I'm just glad there's no one here that calls themselves "Hero On the Half Shell" or "Raphael 18."
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
ZanyZap
F*ck it. Why not? Or give it to Jon Benjamin -- king of voices.
@monkeyiron2-0 Worst cast ever (sorry for not offering constructive criticism: that list blows).
1 year agoby @zanyzapFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@ejk1 Haha, I'd say the 95 lb monkey in the cyber room, but he's calm of the idea as of late
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
ejk1
@bawnian-dexeus That's fine with me. I'm not pulling for any one person over another. I just hope we get to see the alien homeworld of the turtles (and now we wait to see who's dumb enough to take offense to that obvious joke).
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
Pappa Johns pizza is terrible.
Second, @ejk1 would be cool if they got voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson. The voice from one of the primes in Revenge of the Fallen that speaks to Sam and the man behind the Joker in The Batman
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag