When it comes to anything controversial, people spin things and use the internet to solicit and certify mistruths that have a deeper impact on things. Such as the case with childhood favorite television and film franchises like the upcoming Michael Bay co-produced reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (formerly known as Ninja Turtles). And a year later, it seems there is still not enough Turtle Power in the world to prevent this much butthurt over a movie.
Alas, here cometh Michael Bay, again, trying to explain things…AGAIN.
In a statement from Moviefone forwarded by ComingSoon.net, Bay chose to set as much of the record straight regarding the production vision for the film:
There was that quote saying that we’re making [the Ninja Turtles as] aliens. We’re not…It’s the ooze! It’s from the original source material. These are from the original writers, and I never went out to correct myself in the press. I do listen to the fans and I do want this to be authentic. I think they’re going to be really happy with this movie. When I see the digital stuff, the turtles look great.
Earlier this month at the MTV Movie Awards, The Hollywood Reporter caught up with actor Alan Ritchson, who is playing the red-banded character, Raphael, to briefly discuss what has been cycling the online rumor mill, saying
“The frustrating thing for me since I’ve signed on is that you hear that it’s already got a reputation,…I think people assume they know what it’s going to be about, and those people are wrong. The assumptions, everything you read online is wrong….You want to tell everybody how great it is, and you can’t really say why, but it is,”
It has been a year since Bay, TMNT franchise creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, and director Jonathan Libesman (Wrath Of The Titans) started trying to counterpunch rumormongering regarding the film’s developing script as the then-tentatively titled “Ninja Turtles”, with reports that the titular “heroes in a half-shell” would be turned into “aliens”. The film made even more headlines in 2012 with a leaked script that TMNT original co-creator Peter Laird saw and deemed “Unsatisfactory.” among other things.
Since then, the script went under a complete rewrite and moved forward with ideas set in place, along with Laird and co-creator Kevin Eastman heavily involved in the project. CinemaCon updates dating back a little over a week ago also somewhat declared that the film would be re-titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, thus hopefully restoring some faith that people would be more comfortable with what Liebesman and company are working hard to put together.
Filming began early April in 2013 and is setting a course for a June 6, 2014 release from Paramount Pictures. Actors Jeremy Howard, Pete Plozek, Noel Fisher, Danny Woodburn and actress Megan Fox will join Ritchson in the cast as Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Master Splinter and reporter/human cohort April O’Neil. Actor Will Arnett is also in the film with an as-of-yet-unspecified role.
The film is based on a screenplay Josh Appelbaum, Andrew Nemec, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway and John Fusco.
Can we move on for now, internet? Let’s hope so.
Photo Sources: Tmnt Lair, Turtlepedia