Josh Brener Talks Carry On, TSA Thrills and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fun

Josh Brener brings Houston charm to TSA drama in Netflix’s Carry On.

Josh Brener, a Houston native best known for his voice work as Donatello in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and his roles in Silicon Valley and The Big Bang Theory, takes on an entirely different role in the high-stakes Netflix thriller Carry On. The film, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, thrusts audiences into the tense world of TSA security on Christmas Eve, where a young agent is blackmailed into smuggling a dangerous package onto a flight.

In our chat, Brener reflected on his Houston roots and journey into acting. “I was a huge theater kid, thanks to my mentors Larry Doxlager and Gail Silver in Houston,” he shared. “They introduced me to theater and classics like Monty Python, which really lit the spark for me.” Representing his hometown pride, Brener didn’t miss the chance to cheer, “713 represent!”

A New Take on TSA

Brener praised the film’s unique perspective. “Carry On gives you the TSA’s side of the story,” he explained. “It’s easy to grumble about airport lines, but you forget the tough, high-pressure jobs these agents have, especially during the holidays. Of course, their challenges aren’t quite as dramatic as what happens in this movie.”

The actor, who confessed to frequent TSA mishaps like forgetting liquid restrictions, joked about being a “random search magnet” and traveling often with his dogs, adding, “The extra love and attention from TSA? I’ll take it as a compliment.”

When asked which of his Carry On co-stars would be the toughest to catch sneaking suspicious items, Brener had a quick answer: “Danielle Deadwyler. She’s a genius and an absolute force. Honestly, I’d be so starstruck I’d probably just wave her through without checking her bags!”

Turtles Through TSA

Given Brener’s iconic role as Donatello, we couldn’t resist asking how the tech-savvy turtle would handle TSA duties. “Oh, Donnie would definitely cause chaos,” Brener laughed. “He’d probably hack the 3D scanners to judge people’s reading lists and publicly shame them for bad taste in books. He’s all about the derision!”

While Brener admitted he’s not as tech-savvy as Donnie, his connection to the character runs deep. “As a kid, I was all-in for Donatello. Purple, bow staff—he was my guy,” he said. Reflecting on voicing Donnie, he added, “Seeing my voice come out of Donatello was surreal. It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.”

When asked which turtle would navigate airport security best, Brener gave Donnie the edge for his tech know-how and lightweight wooden staff. “Leo’s swords and Raph’s size might cause trouble,” he joked.

A Holiday Thriller with Heart

With Carry On now streaming, Brener is excited for audiences to dive into the action-packed story. “It’s a high-intensity, Die Hard-esque holiday romp,” he teased. “There’s one car chase scene that’s just jaw-dropping. People are going to love it.”

Between his Houston charm, love for the TMNT franchise, and knack for tackling unique roles, Brener continues to impress. Whether he’s voicing a sarcastic turtle or navigating TSA drama, his energy and humor shine through.

Read more News on Nerdtropolis. Subscribe to our YouTube.