The marketing campaign for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is finally starting, and it seems to be hinting that Baxter Stockman will be the main villain. Although characters like Shredder and Krang tend to be the ones facing off against the turtles, it seems that the newest adaptation will be taking a different approach. Everything is hinting that Baxter Stockman will be the antagonist of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and it makes too much sense not to be true.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the latest iteration of the popular TMNT franchise, building off of decades of TV shows, movies, video games, comics, and more. The first trailer for TMNT: Mutant Mayhem gives a first look at Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael, as well as April O'Neil and a few other side characters.
However, there are some notable absences, including the film's villain, but it seems like he has already been revealed regardless.
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem's Casting Suggests Baxter Stockman Is The Main Villain
Before releasing the trailer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem released a massive casting list, with one of the notable names being Baxter Stockman. Baxter Stockman tends to be TMNT's third most recognizable villain, after Shredder and Krang. Since Baxter Stockman is the only one of these three characters revealed for the film, it seems probable that he will be the main villain. Baxter Stockman (played by Tyler Perry) actually appeared in Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, although the character was mostly sidelined.
A big hint that Baxter Stockman will play a huge role in the film is his casting. Baxter Stockman will be voiced by Giancarlo Esposito, the critically acclaimed actor known for playing villains in projects like Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Boys. Casting a high-profile actor like Esposito for a side character just wouldn't make as much sense. However, combining the actor's prestige and the role he's playing clearly hints that Baxter Stockman will be the main villain of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
Why It Makes Sense For Baxter Stockman To Be TMNT: Mutant Mayhem's Villain
An additional reason that it makes for Baxter Stockman to be the main villain in the upcoming TMNT movie is the rest of the cast. The cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is full of high-profile actors playing various mutants, who are often relegated to side characters and goons of villains like Baxter Stockman. Some of these mutants include Bebop, Rocksteady, Leatherhead, Superfly, and more.
This cast of mutants makes perfect sense for Baxter Stockman, as he is a scientist obsessed with creating mutants. Even the title of TMNT: Mutant Mayhem hints that the film will heavily revolve around this storyline, with Baxter possibly creating all of these mutant characters. Baxter Stockman even mutates himself into a fly in some adaptations, possibly hinting at how his villain arc could be resolved in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
