TMNT reboot undergoes another change.
While Jonathan Liebesman’s reboot of the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ franchise is still in the development stages the film has been receiving a lot of attention over the last week due to tweaks to the property.
Starting it all off was producer Michael Bay and his comments at Nickelodeon’s Upfront which revealed that the “Turtles are from an alien race.” After fans and Turtle alums, including Robbie Rist, who voiced Michelangelo in the 1990 film, expressed their outrage at their mutant heroes becoming aliens, the producer took to his personal blog telling fans to chill out.
“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.”
Liebesman then came out to comment on the backlash, talking to ComingSoon the director said:
“I heard about it, and I’m glad there’s such a passionate fanbase–I think that was good news for everyone–but literally, I’ve just been locked in a room with Kevin Eastman. I think what we’re developing, the fans will love. I’m a fan, and I love what we’re doing. It’s a lot of stuff Kevin’s been thinking about for a long time and just hasn’t done. Anything we expand will tie right into the mythology, so I think fans will go apeshit when they see it.”
Over the weekend Bleeding Cool received word that the reboot will be going under the shortened title of ‘Ninja Turtles.’ According to the site’s unnamed source the change seems to be “driven by marketing. Think of John Carter and how Disney wouldn’t allow for a title with either ‘Princess’ or ‘Mars.’”
Now Bay has come out to confirm the recent title shortening:
“Paramount marketing changed the name. They made the title simple. The characters you all remember are exactly the same, and yes they still act like teenagers. Everything you remember, why you liked the characters, is in the movie. This script is being developed by two very smart writers, with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles. They care VERY MUCH about making this film for the fans. Everyone on this team cares about the fans. Just give them a chance. Jonathan the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE’S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN.
MICHAEL”