First Images for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shows Off New Looks and Weapons

Nickelodeon has again decided to reboot the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Rise of the TMNT. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we got some new promo images as well as character descriptions for the newest version of the heroes in the half-shell.

Check them out:

April O'Neil- The first African-American April O'Neil — a savvy New Yorker and first human ally of the turtles — is played by Kat Graham.

Raphael- Raphael (Omar Miller) is now the leader and oldest brother, a snapping turtle who brandishes twin tonfas as his weapons.

Leonardo– Leonardo (Ben Schwartz) is a red-eared slider who boasts "irreverent charm and a rebel heart." Weapon of choice: ?dachi sword.

Michelangelo– Box turtle/skateboarder/artist Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith) is the youngest brother — and dangerous with a kusari-fundo.

Donatello– Soft-shell turtle and tech hero Donatello (Josh Brener) rocks a tech-bo staff and impressive coding skills.

Splinter– Splinter (Eric Bauza) is part father figure, all sensei to the turtles.

The Cast- Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) stars as April O'Neil; Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) plays Donatello; Omar Miller (Ballers) voices Raphael; Brandon Mychal Smith (You're The Worst) is Michelangelo; and Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) stars as Leonardo. In addition, Eric Bauza plays Splinter and John Cena voices villain Baron Draxum, an alchemist warrior mutant who aims to transform all humans into mutants.

With the TMNT formula redone time and time again, this show promises to shake things up a bit by introducing a black April O'Neil and giving the turtles new weapons and roles. Now, Raphael is the leader of the group, and he's trading his sais for some tonfas. Leonardo has also switched from his twin katanas to a single Odachi blade, and Mikey will be wielding a kusari-fundo instead of his traditional nunchaku.

I'll admit, I'm not so comfortable seeing the turtles changed so drastically, but the show could still end up pretty great. Maybe it's going to build-up to the format that we all know and love, but I'm fine if it goes its own way entirely.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is set to come out later this year.

See Also: John Cena Joins New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon