James Avery will always be remembered for his prize role as “Uncle Phil” on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Unbeknownst to most 80s babies, he was already cemented in our childhood memories from the beginning; his distinctive voice should sound very familiar to us all. How? He also lent his gravely cadence to everyone’s favorite villain “Shredder” from the classic and successful cartoon series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Fast forward to 2018: Omar Benson Miller, co-star to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in HBO’s Ballers, is following in Avery’s footsteps.
Miller is now a fresh voice in the newly imagined Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. He’s no stranger to the revival of nostalgic cartoons on both the small and big screen, either: he provided brief comic relief in the 2007 film Transformers, playing Anthony Anderson‘s cousin (who was chased into the pool in the hackers’ house raid). He also starred in the 2010 adaptation of The Sorcerers Apprentice as “Bennett.”
What makes his role in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles different from all the others? This adaption of the Ninja Turtles sees Miller cast as one of the four titular protagonists, “Raphael.” In this twist on a very familiar series, Rafael happens to be leader of the team, giving you a different perspective on this classic show and, in turn, breathing new life. Coupled with some great digital cinematography, this show is visually pleasing and defiantly fun for all ages to watch. You can check your local listing for the new Nickelodeon program, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Below, I’ve included some shots of Miller, who made a dope appearance at this year’s New York Comic Con.
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