We have confirmation of the TMNT news that was swirling about yesterday from Eastman himself. We get the following scoop from our friends at comingsoon:
Yes, it is true. Although the CGI film did well enough to warrent a sequel, there has been much talk between Imagi and Warners to do a better “re-invention” (newest Hollywood buzzword) of the TMNT’s, in a live action film–like what was done with Batman. Back to basics, back to the origin and the intro of the Shredder, etc…there have been talks, trips to Northampton to talk to Mr Laird, and discussions with the original “first” TMNT film director Steve Barron to come back and do it right–but no official word yet…will keep you posted. Best, Kevin
If they simply do the origin/Shredder story it would be welcomed by me with open arms. I would even be game for a black and white film to mirror the original comic. Oddly enough, with the success of The Dark Knight, a Turtles movie may now be told they way it always should have. Everyone wants “darker” comic book films and the origin story of the Turtles is ready to deliver on that order. Get ready for ninja stars to the face!
I think this is a great idea and a way to right the (more marketable) re-invisionings of the characters that we have seen over the years. What do you guys think? Are you ready for a gritty, dirty, ultra violent film about mutated biped turtles?
29 Comments, Comment or Ping
Dragonslayer
Sweet! Turtles killing people with knifes and morning star.
Sep 3rd, 2008
moviereign
What Northampton are they talking about? Northampton MA. Anyone know?
Sep 3rd, 2008
Dragonslayer
I want this to happen.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Monty
According to Steve Murphy, these statements are “complete nonsense and entirely untrue.”
It should be pointed out Kevin Eastman does not have any say as to what goes on with the TMNT franchise, he may be just talking with Imagi/Warner Bros, who are currently on the outs with Mirage as far a movie sequel is concerned, but still get involved.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Michael
It sounds terrific, but the first Turtles movie in 1990 certainly felt like an origin story — it introduced April and Casey, and though the Turtles already existed, there was a flashback to their mutation through the story Splinter told April.
What I liked about last year’s TMNT was that it stayed true to the humor and the characters (minus Casey, who looked like he weighed about 90 pounds). The badly convoluted story and the low-rent graphics did it in. But hey, if they want to do a total re-invention…just make sure it’s a good script.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Monty
@ moviereign
Yes Northampton MA, home of Peter Laird, co-creator and rights holder of TMNT.
Sep 3rd, 2008
shadopup
I thought the first live action TMNT did a good job of telling their origin. I realize that the comic was darker but I hope they don’t do away with all of the more light hearted elements that were introduced with the cartoons like the humor, pizza addiction and cowabunga. The sequels however weren’t so great (although I found the actress who played April prettier). The CG one that most recently came out was okay but not as good as the first live action film.
If done right I would be up for a live action one but with that said it has to be at least as good as the first live action TMNT.
Sep 3rd, 2008
HAZMAT
do we really want a darker ninja turtles movie? i like them the way they where in TNMT…
darker doesnt always mean better. and in this case it certaintly doesnt cover up the fact that itll be a live action film…
Sep 3rd, 2008
HAZMAT
do we really want a darker ninja turtles movie? i like them the way they where in TNMT…
darker doesnt always mean better. and in this case it certaintly doesnt cover up the fact that itll be a live action film…
Sep 3rd, 2008
Campea Fan
I remember Campea saying the TMNT comics were dark/kickass but I don’t know…these are turtles who like pizza we’re talking about.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Monty
@ HAZMAT
It depends on who you ask, old Mirage comic fans will always want a darker movie, while fans who grew up with cartoon want a more lighthearted film.
I believe TMNT needs to be on the same PG-13 level as most Marvel and DC comic-to-film projects, in order to reach the widest audience.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Kristina
I believe the success of TDK is going to be a double-edged sword. More studios will put more work into their franchises, but more franchises are going to be “dark”. This doesn’t work for every franchise.
Sep 3rd, 2008
HAZMAT
monty
yeah definatedly..i always love darker films. id rather see a rated R movie then a pg-13 movie that doesnt haver that big an audience
but TNMT is isnt like a comic book character that usually makes better movies if the movie itself is darker, the turtles just arent “real” ninjas or what ninjas really are and its a live action movie too…i mean they where made to also be humurous but..idk ill definatedly watch it anyways i always end up watching movies.
although john sayd in yesterdays podcast that there where old TNMT comic books that were dark and violent but i know nothing about that…
Sep 3rd, 2008
HAZMAT
^^i meant a rated R movie that doesnt atract a big audience then a pg-13 movie
Sep 3rd, 2008
leeloo
lol @ dark rated r mutant ninja teenage TURTLES.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Nico
mmm… these are turtles… that do karate… I know I haven’t read the old comic books but… who on earth can imagine something like that in a serious, dark enviroment??? The idea or a turtles that is a superhero is so ridiculus it could never be serious…
Anyway… the movies of the 90’s are naive and for children… ergo, kindda stupid. The cgi one was great… that’s how the turtles should be.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Joe
I think if you made it black and white with a sort of “Sin City” look you could pull it off. The fact that you have turtles walking around as humans will throw off any “dark” quality. You make it too dark and you have to ask if you really need “turtles” in it at all, or just make it a ninja movie?
Sep 3rd, 2008
War Journalist
I have not read the old comics. While I think a new darker TMNT(yes it’s T M N T, not T N M T) movie would be enjoyable, I think it would alienate evenly if not more than it attracted. The Turtles are for kids, and I don’t know if enough time has passed to skip from “Cowabunga, woohoo!” turtles to “Eat steel, motherfucker!” I think the old 1990 ONE was good for it’s time.
I have not seen the new one, but I think it’s just a really long episode of the modern cartoon, like they did with the Simpsons. I think the old one had a nice balance of fun and darkness, and although the costumes are outrageous, I can respect a costume more than a cartoon. At least the old one had a dark environment, and tried to take a dark look at them while keeping the spirit of the cartoon characters. I WOULD like to see a turtles movie that kicks ass and cuts people up, but I don’t think there’s much of a market for it just yet. Honestly, how many people have read the old comics? I can honestly say I hadn’t until I found one by accident last year. I am for it, but I don’t think it would rake in the millions everyone thinks it will. People take their kids to this movie because their kids ask for it, and they are farmiliar with the silly reptiles. Then the kids come crying out of the theatre saying “Leonardo cut someone in half, Raphael knocked a man’s head off, and Donatello stabbed someone through the chest!” This sounds like an R-rated, PG-13 at best tye of deal.
Sep 3rd, 2008
movieblogsnumbah1fan
Okay I am down with that as well but I want to see them keep the essance of what made me love turtles in the first place. Mike has to be funny, raoph has to be the tought guy, donatello has to be the brains and leo has to be the leader. A badass origin of shredder would rule even though the first live action turtles movie is something I hold near and dear to my heart. I am down with seeing a new live action turtles movie bring it on boys..
Sep 3rd, 2008
Monty
@ HAZMAT and NICO
And to anyone else, you read the early issues of TMNT at the Official Ninja Turtles Website:
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/comics/mirage/mirage.htm
The turtles were originally created as a parody comic of many
of the popular early 80’s comics, such as Frank Miller’s Dare Devil, Ronin, and New Mutants.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Jonathan
As long as they get the Henson company to do the costumes again, I am all for this!
Sep 3rd, 2008
HAZMAT
Monty
thanx for the link bud, and although i never read those comix before…its different when theyre comix..if they want to make it from comix to theatre in the same dark form itll have to be CG or else it wont be like in the comix…it will look different and..yes, a bit silly. but i dont know! i mean who knows theres no pics or trailers yet so i could be wrong
Sep 3rd, 2008
Ransom
Dude, this would be so sweet!
Sep 3rd, 2008
vargas
I don’t care how dark it gets the very idea of teenage mutant ninja turtles is absurd.
Sep 3rd, 2008
James
I don’t know about you guys, but I am really tired of hearing all the comparisons of Batman on how a movie should be made. I heard it was a good movie, so now they want to do a re-boot of Superman and make it along the lines of Batman, they want to do this with the turtles, and several other movies that I can’t remember at the present moment. If a movie has a great script and the right people to make it, then we shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
I’m all for another Turtles movie, I’ve loved them since I was a little kid. I’ll be honest, the movies and the CGI film were kind of a let down for me. Of course I grew up with the cartoons and that is how I want the Turtles to be, along those lines of the stories, humor, characters and the sets.
Sep 3rd, 2008
bigsampson
haha omfg thanx for this story….i LOVED THE O G TURTLES omg casey jones with his square mask…..i have to say if u never seen this then u will not understand cause it is nothing like the cartoon series…..picture early 80’s punk band poster art via dark humor,violence,freakish storyline…..and good old black n white blood then hell ya…but honestly i would have to assume this will never happen……i dont think really its more marketable then making 3 more cgi ones for kids….more $$$$$$
Sep 4th, 2008
fritzilla
A “realistic” darker TMNT is what I was waiting for (and dissapointed) when I saw the first one. It’s been all mass market kiddie stuff ever since.
And no, I don’t want a darker TMNT just because Batman is darker. TMNT is a darker comic. Yes it has a lot of humor in it, but it wasn’t as childish as the movies and cartoons made it out to be.
Sep 4th, 2008
Gordon Shumway
I dont think we are talking about making it realsitic or plausible in the way Batman is, just ‘dark’. Noboby said it had to be realistic to be dark. If it had the visual tone of say Hellboy, and an increased level of ninja violence, this would be great.
Sep 4th, 2008
darkbhudda
Origin stories are an easy way to save on cost. You get to stretch out the story a lot and spend time on “discovery”. In TMNTs case they’ll have training montages too. Way to pad it out.
We don’t need another origin story. They’re freaking Mutant Turtles with martial arts training. Let’s see them kick ass.
I am totally and utterly bored by constant re-inventing and rebooting of franchises. Why doesn’t Hollywood just go the whole hog and just release reboots every 5 years instead of bothering with sequels.
Sep 4th, 2008
Reply to “Kevin Eastman Confirms A Darker Live Action TMNT Film”