Author: Stephan

Ok, let me start this post off by saying THAT THIS ENTIRE THING IS MY (Stephan’s) PERSONAL OPINION. I AM IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM SAYING THAT I HEARD THIS ANYWHERE, OR THAT ANY DEAL HAS BEEN MADE.

Ok, so, yesterday, it was announced via several sources (Mirage staff blogs, variety, yada yada) that a deal has been made to kick off production of the 5th TMNT movie (set to street in 2011…aka…THE FUTURE). The press release said that the movie is going to be a live action film, but whether or not that means full live action or hybrid CG remains to be seen. Anyway, while a director has yet to be named, my votes of confidence and probability both go to Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300). I will now take you through both the why he shoulds, and why he probably wills.

Why Zack Snyder SHOULD Direct the 5th turtles movie.

1. He’s “the Comic Book Movie Guy”
The man has said it himself. While he didn’t particularly MEAN for it to turn out this way, he has recently been unofficially dubbed the Comic book movie adaptation guy…which doesn’t seem to bother him, as he has done (in my opinion) a sensational job with them so far

2. He Has A Passion For The Material
In a recent interview for Watchmen with Newsarama, Snyder is quoted as a Turtle Lover… in fact, it was the only comic series he followed besides Heavy Metal Magazine, which is now arguably…also TMNT related:

ZS: The only title I really collected to this day is the original TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

NRAMA: The Eastman and Laird black and white series from Mirage?

ZS: Exactly. All that stuff, what’s the guy’s name they always fought?

NRAMA: Shredder.

ZS: Right, I loved him! As I’ve told the story, I was a Heavy Metal fan (magazine, not music style). My mom got me a subscription to Heavy Metal when I was really young, not really knowing it was adult oriented, so I would read it and not let her know what was in it.

I’m sure if she saw some of the stuff that was in it, she would have been freaked out and appalled. She would just see the covers and say, “Oh Zach loves this stuff, this is perfect.” So it was hard for me to go to normal comics because I was a little bit broken and spoiled—when are they going to start &#@!ing or killing each other! So that kind took me out of comics for a little while.

It’s weird, TMNT was the one that kinda hooked me, you know? I guess at the time in high school, I was into renaissance artists and all that. And then a few years later, Dark Knight and Watchmen were really when I got back into comics — not heavily, but they were the ones that got me to believe again if you will. I think that’s a common story. But it’s mine as well.

NRAMA: How old were you when you were reading Heavy Metal and the Turtles?

ZS: I was in high school, so I guess Heavy Metal from about 14, maybe even before that, 13 to the present. Turtles were 17-18.

3. He would be insanely true to the comic

This is something both we as fans, and frankly, Peter Laird, are both looking for in a director. Zack is very well known for using the actual panels of comics as the storyboard for the movie. As such, I don’t believe that, accuracy wise, we could do any better for a director.

WHY HE PROBABLY WILL

1. Legendary Pictures
It is public knowledge that Legendary Pictures is involved in the movie. Legendary Pictures was also a big player in 300 and Watchmen, both Zack Snyder movies.

2. Scott Mednick
Scott Mednick (formerly with Legendary) has signed on with Galen Walker to produce. Scott’s most recent production? 300. Who do you think his first pick to direct is going to be?

So there are my shoulds and probably wills. Agree with me? Sweet! Comment about it. Don’t agree with me? Sweet! Comment about it.