Let’s face it, nobody was very optimistic about Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot. From the rumors that the Turtles origin would be changed, to the casting of Megan Fox as April O’Neil, there wasn't much news that could make fans hopeful for the reboot. When the film was released last August, the general consensus was “Eh, it’s not as bad as we thought it would be.” However, it still has more than its fair share of detractors.
A sequel is planned for release in 2016. Fans seem to be hopeful for this film, a new director and the inclusion of more fan favorite characters seem to indicate that the sequel will improve on the last movie. There have been rumors that one of the characters to be introduced will be Krang. While I do eventually want to see the Krang and Dimension X featured in this series, I do not think that they should be featured in the second film. Here are a few reasons.
Adding Krang Would Be Over-Saturation
One of my favorite things about the 2014 reboot was that it kept the story relatively simple. It didn't try to add in too much, it kept the story revolving around April, the Turtles, and the Shredder. It made for a simple and fun Turtles film that didn’t try too be more than it was.
The sequel is already going to have Casey Jones, Bebop, and Rocksteady. That’s three new characters to introduce. I know, Bebop and Rocksteady don't require to much character development, but still, they’re two new characters. The sequel needs to keep its story simple as well. This is Ninja Turtles, after all. We don’t need a super complicated, intricate plot. The best Turtles film (1990) had a straightforward, fun script that didn’t take itself too seriously. One of the biggest problems of 2007’s TMNT was that the more intricate it got, the more boring it got. We don't go to a Ninja Turtles film for a Winter Soldier level of plot, we go just to have fun. Keeping the Turtles films simpler and fun has proved to be the best way to go. I’m not saying make it stupid, I’m just saying they need to keep it fun and straightforward.
They Need to Perfect the Shredder
I didn’t have a problem with the Shredder as he was portrayed in the reboot. However, there is still much more to be done with the character. There was literally no character development or build up to him in the first film, he just appears and is the bad guy. In the sequel, they delve into his backstory and motivations a little bit more, and also show a bit more of the inner workings of the Foot Clan. The Shredder is the Turtles greatest nemesis, he deserves better treatment before they move on to other villains.
It’s Too Soon
An important part of crafting a film series is managing the escalation of threat. This was a major problem with the original Superman series. After the attack of General Zod, Superman III featured Richard Pryor and a killer computer virus. If the viewer has already seen Superman win in a battle with General Zod, why would they be worried that a computer hacker taking him down? The same goes for the Turtles. If they stop an alien invasion in TMNT2, then going back to fighting the Foot Clan in TMNT3 is a step down in terms of threat. Why would the viewer be worried about a clan of ninjas taking down the Turtles when they've already stopped an alien invasion? Bring back Shredder, introduce Bebop and Rocksteady, hell, bring in Baxter Stockman. Just save Krang for the third film so that there’s an escalation of threat.
They Still Need to Perfect Their Universe
While I thought the 2014 TMNT reboot was fun and entertaining, I don’t think they've managed to get the universe just right yet. Krang is a difficult concept to pull off, they need to get their footing a little bit better before they attempt to pull off a character like that. Make the sequel a little bit more cartoony by adding Bebob and Rocksteady, and maybe even Baxter Stockman. Give yourself time to learn and perfect your tone. Then, when they have the universe just right, go all out and introduce Krang in the third film.