The "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" castings continue: As first reported by Variety, actor/writer/director/producer Tyler Perry has joined the sequel as Baxter Stockman, a role familiar to fans of the franchise.

Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, Stockman has been a part of "TMNT" mythos since the second issue of the comic book, 1984's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" #2. He's appeared in most iterations of the franchise other than the prior films, in each version seen as the scientist responsible for the creation of the robotic Mousers. In the original comics, Baxter Stockman was African-American, though the character was changed to white in the '80s cartoon -- where he also was subsequently depicted as a mutated humanoid fly.

Though most of Perry's on-screen credits are in films he wrote and/or directed, such as the "Madea" franchise, he's also acted in movies including 2009's "Star Trek," "Alex Cross" and last fall's "Gone Girl." Perry joins a cast including Megan Fox and Will Arnett, both returning from last year's live-action "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film, and "Arrow" star Stephen Amell, set to play Casey Jones.

Directed by franchise newcomer David Green, the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" sequel is scheduled for release on June 3, 2016.