Johnny Knoxville Will Voice Leonardo in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’
The upcoming live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot just added a real-life Jackass.
Eternal prankster Johnny Knoxville has signed on to voice half-shell leader Leonardo in the Michael Bay-produced film, Deadline reports. Meanwhile, Monk star Tony Shalhoub has also joined the voice cast as Splinter, the wise rat who teaches the turtles their martial arts skills.
Johnny Knoxville on ‘Bad Grandpa’ Oscar Nomination: ‘What an Honor’
Both characters were played by different actors during the physical filming, with Pete Ploszek (Parks and Recreation, Shameless) standing in as Leonardo and Danny Woodburn (best known as Kramer’s diminutive pal Mickey on Seinfeld) appearing as Splinter. According to Deadline, Paramount had always been open to the possibility of changing the voice component, and the actors hadn’t been guaranteed that their voices would appear in the final cut.
The film, directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning), is scheduled to hit theaters on August 8th. The cast also includes Megan Fox, Whoopi Goldberg and Will Arnett.
Knoxville is riding a serious hot streak lately following the success of 2013’s Bad Grandpa. That goofy comedy claimed the top box office position upon its release last October, grossing an estimated $32 million in its first week; the film’s lead makeup effects artist Stephen Prouty even earned an Academy Award nomination for his work on the film.
“What an honor that Stephen Prouty got nominated for best makeup and hairstyling for Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” Knoxville said about the nomination in a statement. “Am I as stunned as everyone else we didn’t get the nod for Best Picture? Well, of course, duh.”