Last night, I was having a bit of trouble getting to sleep, so I grabbed my PDA and jotted down some notes on who I thought would play whom in the upcoming TMNT movie, if they were unable to use the 4Kids characters. Now, I'm usually whole-heartedly against fans casting who they would like to play their favorite characters in movies and shows, because I find most of their suggestions fit like a square peg in a round hole (one guy who wrote the comic said that Ray Romano should be Don and Jason Alexander should be Raph... wtf?). However, the fact that I studied acting in high school, and the fact that I research voice actors frequently, I think my sleep-deprived brain at least came up with two or three that were right on the mark. Of course, since I've subjected you guys to my list, you're welcome to come up with your own... or at least tell me which ones of mine you like. Oh, and there's a catch though... they can't have previously worked on a TMNT movie or TV project, unless they had an extremely small part. Oh, and try to have people that can actually act... I'd rather not read page after page of actors from sitcoms nobody watches.
Ready? Check this out:
Leonardo - David Hayter. Best known as Solid/Naked Snake on Metal Gear Solid, and the screenwriter for many movies (X-Men, X2, Scorpion King, Hulk, etc.), his voice as Captain America (from the 90's Spider-Man toon) would fit Leo like a Speedo. And hey, if he ever had to do Angry Leo (God forbid), his Snake voice would fit there, too.
Donatello - Gary Jules. When Lady mentioned his name after I (randomly) posted the lyrics of "Mad World" (although I had posted concerning the original, Tears For Fears version), I couldn't remember hearing the Jules version. So I downloaded the MP3 (from the Donnie Darko soundtrack, no less), and was amazed at how much his voice reminded me of Sam Regal's Donny! Now, I don't know how well Gary can act, but if he can, he'd make at least a decent Donatello.
Raphael - Steve Blum. If you've played a video game or watched an anime any time in the last ten years, chances are, you've heard his voice. He's best known as Spike Speigel on Cowboy Bebop, but he's done about a million other things (although some, he's uncredited for). Chances are he would be a great Raphael, and perhaps as him, he'd deliever a line that would replace my previous Blum favorite ("And you, you take way too long when you're taking a s**t!' - Spike, Knocking on Heaven's Door).
Master Splinter - Christopher Lambert. His voice just perfectly fits the image of our favorite old rat, and he's already shown he can play a wise (and wisecracking), butt kicking mentor, with Raiden (in Mortal Kombat), and he absolutely rocked as Connor McLeod in Highlander. This is the voice idea I stand by the most.
April O' Neil - Tara Strong. She's done so many cartoon and video game voices (Rikku on Final Fantasy X/X2, Raven on Teen Titans, etc.), that it's hard to pick which one would be good for April. Nevertheless, a less perky Rikku could probably be tailored for April.
Casey Jones - Sam Rockwell. At first, I was thinking of Matt Leblanc, but I figured that wouldn't fit even though his Joey character is quite a bit like Case'. Sam Rockwell (who although was in the first movie, it was a bit part), has already proved he can play a goofball like Casey as Zaphod Beeblebrox.
The Shredder - Ron Perlman. My first choice was James Earl Jones, but that was too cliche. Perlman, who is not only an esteemed actor (Hellboy, Beauty & The Beast), but a badass voice actor (Slade on Teen Titans, Clayface on the old Batman 'toon, Killer Croc on the new one) would be the perfect choice for Saki.
Baxter Stockman - Phil Lamar. If they're going to put Stockman in (which, although I don't like him, but it would be nice to have at least one movie with him in it), they should use Mad TV alum and voice actor extraordinarre Phil Lamar (Green Lantern on Justice League, Static on Static Shock, Vamp on Metal Gear Solid 2, Carver and Bluke on Weekenders). His GL voice would make one insane scientist.
Karai - Devon Aoki. Although she didn't say anything in last year's "Sin City", she definately kicked butt, and as Kasumi in the upcoming "Dead or Alive", she'll probably kick a lot of butt there too... the verdict's still out on her acting skills, but I really can't think of anybody who could play Karai otherwise.
Hun - Beau Billingslea. For some of these characters, I'm assuming that the movie will use the 4Kids series' most prominent villains. As Hun, Beau (Jet Black on Cowboy Bebop, Deerhound on Rave Master, Bear Walken on Gungrave) could lend his pipes to make him a menacing thug that would rival even the original.
Agent Bishop - George Byrd. Although I highly doubt (and hope) that this dude doesn't appear in the movie, he might actually be a cool villain if played by little-known George Byrd. His performance as Ninja/Gray Fox/Frankie in Metal Gear Solid was absolutely awesome.
Ready? Check this out:
Leonardo - David Hayter. Best known as Solid/Naked Snake on Metal Gear Solid, and the screenwriter for many movies (X-Men, X2, Scorpion King, Hulk, etc.), his voice as Captain America (from the 90's Spider-Man toon) would fit Leo like a Speedo. And hey, if he ever had to do Angry Leo (God forbid), his Snake voice would fit there, too.
Donatello - Gary Jules. When Lady mentioned his name after I (randomly) posted the lyrics of "Mad World" (although I had posted concerning the original, Tears For Fears version), I couldn't remember hearing the Jules version. So I downloaded the MP3 (from the Donnie Darko soundtrack, no less), and was amazed at how much his voice reminded me of Sam Regal's Donny! Now, I don't know how well Gary can act, but if he can, he'd make at least a decent Donatello.
Raphael - Steve Blum. If you've played a video game or watched an anime any time in the last ten years, chances are, you've heard his voice. He's best known as Spike Speigel on Cowboy Bebop, but he's done about a million other things (although some, he's uncredited for). Chances are he would be a great Raphael, and perhaps as him, he'd deliever a line that would replace my previous Blum favorite ("And you, you take way too long when you're taking a s**t!' - Spike, Knocking on Heaven's Door).
Master Splinter - Christopher Lambert. His voice just perfectly fits the image of our favorite old rat, and he's already shown he can play a wise (and wisecracking), butt kicking mentor, with Raiden (in Mortal Kombat), and he absolutely rocked as Connor McLeod in Highlander. This is the voice idea I stand by the most.
April O' Neil - Tara Strong. She's done so many cartoon and video game voices (Rikku on Final Fantasy X/X2, Raven on Teen Titans, etc.), that it's hard to pick which one would be good for April. Nevertheless, a less perky Rikku could probably be tailored for April.
Casey Jones - Sam Rockwell. At first, I was thinking of Matt Leblanc, but I figured that wouldn't fit even though his Joey character is quite a bit like Case'. Sam Rockwell (who although was in the first movie, it was a bit part), has already proved he can play a goofball like Casey as Zaphod Beeblebrox.
The Shredder - Ron Perlman. My first choice was James Earl Jones, but that was too cliche. Perlman, who is not only an esteemed actor (Hellboy, Beauty & The Beast), but a badass voice actor (Slade on Teen Titans, Clayface on the old Batman 'toon, Killer Croc on the new one) would be the perfect choice for Saki.
Baxter Stockman - Phil Lamar. If they're going to put Stockman in (which, although I don't like him, but it would be nice to have at least one movie with him in it), they should use Mad TV alum and voice actor extraordinarre Phil Lamar (Green Lantern on Justice League, Static on Static Shock, Vamp on Metal Gear Solid 2, Carver and Bluke on Weekenders). His GL voice would make one insane scientist.
Karai - Devon Aoki. Although she didn't say anything in last year's "Sin City", she definately kicked butt, and as Kasumi in the upcoming "Dead or Alive", she'll probably kick a lot of butt there too... the verdict's still out on her acting skills, but I really can't think of anybody who could play Karai otherwise.
Hun - Beau Billingslea. For some of these characters, I'm assuming that the movie will use the 4Kids series' most prominent villains. As Hun, Beau (Jet Black on Cowboy Bebop, Deerhound on Rave Master, Bear Walken on Gungrave) could lend his pipes to make him a menacing thug that would rival even the original.
Agent Bishop - George Byrd. Although I highly doubt (and hope) that this dude doesn't appear in the movie, he might actually be a cool villain if played by little-known George Byrd. His performance as Ninja/Gray Fox/Frankie in Metal Gear Solid was absolutely awesome.
