Editor’s note: All interviews for this story were conducted prior to the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
How much convincing did it take for Ice Cube to sign on to the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem project?
“One sentence,” Ice Cube said with a smile. “It was like Seth [Rogen] calling me, ‘Hey, Cube! I’m doing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, man. I’ve got a character for you.'”
That character is the movie’s big bad guy, Superfly. As you’d expect, Superfly is just that: a fly. He leads an army of mutants — featuring the voice talents of Paul Rudd, Post Malone, Hannibal Burress, John Cena and Rogen — that go head-to-head with everyone’s favorite heroes in a half shell.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: #MutantMayhem “crushes for every age”! Watch the FINAL Trailer and get #TMNTMovie tickets now! See it in theatres everywhere Wednesday, August 2, Sneak Previews start early in select theatres this Saturday, July 29. https://t.co/ysUtySWkv1 pic.twitter.com/Lnl6PCJWk0
— TMNT (@TMNTMovie) July 27, 2023
Early returns from sneak previews over the weekend indicate that the movie is headed for success. As of August 1, Mutant Mayhem sits at 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes with 74 reviews.
“It was a no brainer,” Ice Cube said. “I mean, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s like being drafted on a winning championship team dynasty. You would be a fool to turn this down.”
From the jump, Ice Cube connected with Superfly, even if the drawing didn’t quite match up with what he had in mind. “I thought when [Seth Rogen] said Superfly, I thought it was pimp hat. I thought it was Cadillac, and then he sent me to picture, and I’m like, ‘Oh, damn, he is a super ugly fly.’ I knew I could make him cool and make him the kingpin that he is running New York and causing mayhem.”
Ice Cube is not new to acting, having starred in roles from Friday (1995) to Anaconda (1997) to 21 Jump Street (2014) and many in between. He’s also an old pro in the recording studio, including his work on N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton (1988), It Was a Good Day (1992) and You Can Do It (2007).
But acting in the studio? That’s a bit of a different beast. One that Ice Cube enjoyed immensely. “I just went in the booth, put on my cape like I usually do like. In hip hop you’re in there by yourself most of the time anyway,” Cube explained. “What was cool is he had us working together. So, I was working directly with the turtles. And you know, it made for better voiceovers and better interaction.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hits theaters nationwide on Wednesday, August 2.