Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot moving forward
Feb 15, 2012

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything on the Platinum Dunes’ plannned Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot, but the project is still still alive at the studio, and is now moving forward on finding a director. Variety reports that Jonathan Liebesman is in talks to helm the project. Liebesman just recently came off of Battle: Los Angeles, and is currently making Wrath of the Titans for release on March 30th. Details on this new film are unknown at the moment, but will return the franchise to live-action rather than a CG animated film as the previous instalment.

Michael Bay reveals how the new TMNT film will be different
Mar 18, 2012

Paramount Pictures had just recently revealed their new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be set to be released on Christmas Day in 2013. However, many fans are wondering just how this reboot will be different from the rest. Well, Michael Bay spoke at 2012 Nickelodeon Upfront, and revealed what will most likely be an usettling twist for the Turtles. “When you see this movie, kids will believe one day that these turtles do exist, when we’re done with this movie. These turtles are from an alien race, and they’re going to be tough, edgy, funny, and completely lovable,” Bay said.

These turtles are from an alien race, and they’re going to be tough, edgy, funny, and completely lovable,” Bay said.

This weekend, we reported on Michael Bay's quotes from Nickelodeon's Upfront about his company Platinum Dunes' upcoming live-action adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .

He said: "When you see this movie, kids are going to believe, one day, that these turtles actually do exist when we are done with this movie. These turtles are from an alien race and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely lovable."

Naturally, fans weren't too happy to hear that the turtles were now going to be 'an alien race' and there was a lot of negative feedback.

Michael Bay has now responded to the feedback on his official site with the following:

"Fans need to take a breath, and chill. They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles to help expand and give a more complex back story. Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world."

Paramount Pictures is planning a December 25, 2013 release date for the film.

Rumors for TMNT reboot are starting
Mar 19, 2012

The recent news (here) that Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot will change the origin wasn’t a happy one to fans. Some think the new origin takes everything away from the characters (even the brand name), but that could allow for never before seen villains (when it comes to a live-action film that is) to be come into play. Sources are now telling First Showing that such villain could be Krang, who comes from another dimension. IF this turns out to be true, then we could probably assume him to be linked to the Turtles’ new origin.
However, it does bring the question of whether or not we’ll see The Shredder in the new film. Shredder is probably the most important character to the franchise other than the four turtles and Splinter.

Well Michael Bay said, "These turtles are from an alien race" he created a firestorm of controversy bigger than anything he has put on film, and that is say something. Over the past few days we've heard from many actors that have worked on TMNT, but not from one of the most important people, the creators. Peter Laird alongside Kevin Eastman, gave birth to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Peter has gone to his blog to weigh in on Bay's controversial comments.

I have had several requests from TMNT fans during this past week to comment on the idea of the Turtles being "reimagined" as aliens for the upcoming TMNT movie to be produced by Michael Bay. A few people -- who don't seem to understand that I am no longer in control of the property -- want me to stop this, somehow. Obviously, I can't do that, even if I wanted to.

But I would actually encourage TMNT fans to swallow the "chill pill" Mr. Bay recently suggested they take, and wait and see what might come out of this seemingly ill-conceived plan. It's possible that with enough truly creative brainpower applied to this idea, it might actually work. I'm not saying it's probable, or even somewhat likely… but it IS possible.

However, as I have pondered this further, I have realized that in one way it IS truly a genius notion. Let me explain…

Over the years, I have made no secret of my distaste for what I consider to be the weak, facile, creatively bankrupt idea which can be summed up like this:

"If FOUR Ninja Turtles are good, then FIVE (or more) Ninja Turtles MUST be better!"

It was in large part this brain-dead notion that led to the creation of the execrable "Venus de Milo" character in the blessedly short-lived live action TV series "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation". And I can't tell you how many times we got mail in the early years of the Turtles from people who thought it was simply an amazing idea to do a "fifth Turtle", and how many times those same people suggested that this fifth Turtle be named "Picasso". And many times, the brilliant idea to explain this extra Turtle was that, instead of there being just four pet shop turtles in that glass bowl in the origin story, there were really FIVE.

Sigh.

I'll admit -- I have played with the idea of more Turtles myself, a few times. There was the character of "Kirby", the "fifth Turtle" that Kevin Eastman and I came up with for one of the several movie ideas which never came to fruition. And I created the "Super Turtles" in Volume 4 of the TMNT comics published by Mirage… and they eventually appeared in one episode of the 4Kids animated TMNT TV series.

But…

… in both those instances, I was careful to make these Turtles not just MORE of the same, i.e. just extra TMNT. In both of the above cases, the extra Turtles were from other dimensions… and the Super Turtles, especially, were VERY different from the Ninja Turtles. I don't remember all the details of the work we did on that "Kirby the Fifth Turtle" thing, but I DO remember being adamant that if we were going to agree to the idea of a "fifth Turtle", it would have to be something other than the harebrained "there was an extra Turtle in the bowl, etc." idea.

Is that too fine a line? Yeah, maybe… but to my way of thinking, anyway, it is a CLEAR line.

Anyway, to get back to the "TMNT are aliens" thing -- the reason I say it could be a "genius" idea is that -- for the first time -- someone has come up with a way to have as many freakin' Turtles as they want. I mean, if the TMNT are actually members of an alien race, there could be a whole PLANET of them! Joy. -- PL


UPDATE: I asked Peter if his comment, "I have realized that in one way it IS truly a genius notion" was sarcastic or genuine, he replied, "Both, actually."

He also responded to another member that commented on his blog, with this message.

"You know, I've been kind of impressed with the volume and intensity of fan reaction to this alien idea. It makes me wonder what the reaction would have been had the producer of the upcoming "Superman" movie announced that instead of Kal-El being an alien from the planet Krypton, they would be making him a mutant created on Earth by KryptoBioGenetics, Inc..

That's almost as wacky.

Kevin Eastman - "Hey Guys, Sorry to have been away for so long--completely swamped with work--but it is some pretty exciting stuff. I had been invited to check out the TMNT film development by my friend Scott Mednick over the years, and a while back had a full look behind the curtian at what writers Appelbaum and Nemec, director Liebesman, and producer Bay are doing--and trust me--it IS AWESOME. I'm officially on board, and will share more as I'm allowed... thanks all!"

On The "Alien" Aspect Of The Reboot...
“Look, it’s so funny—if everyone was such a die-hard fan, they would know that the TCRI canisters where the ooze comes from. That is alien ooze. Now I’m not saying what Michael said is exactly what the movie is, because we’re sitting in a room now figuring everything out. So we don’t know, but we are like Michael said: we’re expanding it, and the expansion will be true to the mythology. I promise you: fans will love it.”

On Working With Kevin Eastman...
“Whatever mythology we’re building on or expanding is coming from that guy, Kevin Eastman’s head, who created the Turtles in the first place. And so everything will tie in with the mythology; fans will be extremely excited with what we’re coming up with. A lot of it is stuff he’s wanted to do for a long time, but just hasn’t had the opportunity because now we have the budget and things on this film to expand it in the right way. And so, I’m happy that everyone is extremely passionate, and they will not be disappointed. It’s all coming from the best possible place for this franchise.”

On Whether Or Not The Turtles Will Be CGI'd...
“All I’ll say is that I love how they did [The Rise of the Planet of the Apes]. That was exceptional.”

On How Much Action Is In The Movie...
“We’re definitely into the action, but for me what’s more important than that is that it’s a story about brotherhood and friendship and responsibility. Right now, I’m with the characters because those are what attracted me to the movie. They’re the best characters I’ll have had a chance to deal with.”

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot hits theaters December 25th, 2013.

And so, I’m happy that everyone is extremely passionate, and they will not be disappointed. It’s all coming from the best possible place for this franchise.

The series completely re-imagines the origins of the Turtles, as well as other characters such as April O'Neill, Krang and Casey Jones. It has also introduced new characters, such as the mutated cat named Old Hob. Other prominent characters in TMNT fiction, such as The Shredder, are absent from the first story arc. Notably, the series, like the original Mirage version, initially gives all four Turtles red eye masks until issue 5.

TMNT reboot has a tentative title
Mar 26, 2012

The news that Bay would be taking away the “Mutant” aspect from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a huge turtleshell (pun intended) to the fan community (here). Now, it seems they won’t be teenagers either. Bleeding Cool is hearing the tentatvie title for the upcoming reboot will be Ninja Turtles. Obviously fans are going to suspect the characters won’t be teenagers, but Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight didn’t have “Batman” in the title, and it didn’t take the title character away.

Peter Laird, Co-Creator of the Turtles Franchise: "I just finished reading the script. It reminds me of one of the reasons I am glad not to own the property anymore… because I don't have to tear what little hair I have left out while trying to fix junk like this."