Turtle Bits: New TMNT Flick Starts Shooting in April, Interview with Michelangelo!

Today we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag for all you TMNT fans out there, with news about both the new movie being produced by Michael Bay and an interview with one of the voice actors of Nickelodeon’s new show.

It was recently reported by Production Weekly that the new film Ninja Turtles, due out in May of 2014, will start filming this April. Some fans were sure that this day would never come, as rumors that the film had been canceled circled the internet. However, it’s clear now that this movie is definitely going to happen and production is going to begin very soon. What can we expect from the new movie? Well, earlier iterations of the IMDB page had partial casting choices revealed, but these have long since been removed for the time being. Whether or not we can rely on that previous list of a cast remains to be seen. If we can, chances are a lot of the characters are going to be crafted via CGI, with voices added in afterward.

That being said, there’s simply not enough information out there to determine exactly how this movie will turn out. The original script which had been leaked several months ago (to dismal reviews) has been ousted and supposedly changed a great deal. All we really know about the project is that it has the blessing of one of the original creators, Kevin Eastman, who also worked with Nickelodeon on their latest iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Considering how well that project went, it’s probably a little too soon to foretell the doom of this latest TMNT movie.

Speaking of which, one of the biggest concerns that fans had about the new show was how well Greg Cipes would perform the voice of Michelangelo. After all, he is one of the most beloved characters in the Ninja Turtles universe, and few fans had any knowledge of Cipes or his previous work. Thankfully, I doubt there are many who would argue that he’s done a pretty good job of taking over this important role. There are still quite a few lingering questions about his characterization of Mikey, but you might be surprised just how many of those questions get answered in his latest interview.

Recently, CraveOnMusic.com was lucky enough to sit down and talk with Greg Cipes, voice of Michelangelo in Nickelodeon’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television show. In the interview, discussion ranges across the entire spectrum of the TMNT universe, as they discuss both the original show and where the new show fits in. When asked about the origins and meaning of Mikey’s new catchphrase, Cipes explains that “they let me come up with a catchphrase, which was awesome. I love saying it, you know, Booyakasha!” He goes on further to say that “Booyakasha means all praise to the most high, or basically all glory to love. So when Mikey or any of the turtles say Booyakasha, it’s like calling love into the moment that we’re experiencing, and love is the most powerful and fierce thing there is.”When asked about whether or not the popular phrase Cowabunga will come back, Cipes said simply “I heard maybe it will.” Great news for long time TMNT fans!

For more from this awesome interview, check out CraveOnMusic.com and their interview with Greg Cipes below.