Rose Byrne isn’t sure if she’ll return as Leatherhead in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2. The first Mutant Mayhem movie, released in 2023 and directed by Jeff Rowe, followed the Ninja Turtles as they left New York’s sewers and made a name for themselves as heroes. Byrne voiced Leatherhead, a mutant alligator in Superfly’s (played by Ice Cube) gang. She later returned to the role in the 2024 Paramount+ spinoff series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
At the Sundance Film Festival, Byrne spoke to ScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns while promoting her film If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You. When asked if she would reprise her role in the upcoming sequel, she admitted she wasn’t sure. Byrne joked that she’d reach out to TMNT writer and her frequent collaborator Seth Rogen to find out.
I’m gonna call Seth right now. Where’s my part? I was doing a TV show version. So, I’m gonna call Seth. Where’s our favorite character? Where’s America’s favorite character? [Laughs]
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The show Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles connects the story between Mutant Mayhem and its sequel, which is set to release in 2026. Key cast members returned, including Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, and Ayo Edebiri, who voice Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and April O’Neil. Creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg also continued their involvement.
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In season 1, Byrne’s Leatherhead became a recurring ally, appearing in three episodes. At one point, she even helped the Turtles deal with other sewer alligators in New York. Her involvement hints that she could stay connected to the Turtles in future projects. However, Byrne’s uncertainty suggests the sequel might explore new storylines. Since the post-credits scene in Mutant Mayhem teased the rise of Shredder and the Foot Clan, the focus may shift away from the mutants.
Since both Mutant Mayhem and Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were hits, it seems likely that this TMNT franchise will continue with more stories and projects. Byrne’s response shows that she’s still interested in voicing Leatherhead, even if she doesn’t appear in Mutant Mayhem 2.
What Leatherhead’s future holds in season 2 of Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is still unclear. Since the show shares the same storyline as the movies, her role in the series might influence whether she appears in the sequel.