Politely ripped off of Neil from Heroesinahalfshell.org. Enjoy!
Speculation-o-rama! Why Zack Snyder should, and probably is going to, direct the next ninja turtles movie.
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.
VH1's B.W.R : Ninja Turtles On Empire State Building Prove TMNT And “Being Really High” Still Go Together Nicely
–>> SPECIAL THANKS to Don N. !!
“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
appeared on top of the Empire State Building today to celebrate their 25th Anniversary (wow – I realize that dates back to the comic but still…25 years?? My God…) Here’s a brief photo recap of the event, along with a bunch of dumb captions that I wrote–”
VH1’s BEST WEEK EVER Blog has an insane handfull of fun pix to share from today’s big GALABUNGA in the N . Y . C. at the top of the E.S.B. !! ( You down wit’ Tokkie, Gee ?! )
**Pete's TMNT Movie V NEWS **
–>> Hey, it’s Tokk. Cross-reporting and posting on this extremely early in the morning and i’m exhausted. O’ well.
Sure all the forums T-drome , Mikeys , ect. are all abuz of talk and squabble.
Not that you haven’t seen it, but posted here for prosperity. Hope Steph doesn’t mind.
Peter Laird ::
So, about that meeting I mentioned a few days ago… here are the “two dudes” Gary and I met with…
That’s Scott Mednick on the left and Galen Walker on the right. Galen, you may remember, produced the 2007 “TMNT” movie. Scott is also a movie producer with impressive credentials. Both of them will be — well, why don’t we let the official press release tell the story:
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“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ Come Alive
In Major Motion Picture for 2011
New Theatrical Film to tell Origin Story of the Legendary Characters
Los Angeles, April 23, 2009— The Mirage Group has given the green light for development of a live-action major motion picture focusing on the origins of the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, targeted for release in 2011.
Announcement of the latest (fifth) big screen version of the crime-fighting “heroes in a half-shell” comes on the day the Turtles kick off their 25th anniversary national “Shell-ebration” in New York City with multiple events that include the honor of lighting the Empire State Building in ‘turtle green’ and a unique outdoor presentation of their beloved first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film at the Tribeca Film Festival “Drive-In”.
Mirage is partnering with producers Scott Mednick (“300”, “Superman Returns”, “10,000 BC”, and the upcoming “Where the Wild Things Are”) and Galen Walker (who produced the most recent computer-animated “TMNT” theatrical release) to create this live action film. Peter Laird, Gary Richardson, Frederick Fierst, Eric Crown and Napoleon Smith III will serve as executive producers of the film, which is based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Laird and Kevin Eastman. Mednick and Walker will serve as producers. The project is being funded through Lightbox Productions, LLC.
“It was critical to us to find people who both understood the Turtles franchise and were accomplished film makers who appreciated both the action and humor components of the Turtles’ identity ,” said Gary Richardson CEO, The Mirage Group. “With Galen and Scott we know we’ve found great talent with those essential attributes.”
“The original dozen comics created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman are some of the best source material one could hope for,” said Mednick. “We’re excited to bring this story to a whole new generation of moviegoers as well as the legions of fans that have made the Turtles – Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael as well as Splinter, April O’Neil, Casey Jones and, of course, the great villain Shredder – a part of their world for 25 years.”
Mednick has begun reaching out to writers and directors and is already in discussion with several high-profile actors interested in portraying Turtles characters they loved as kids.
4Kids Entertainment, master licensing agency for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property, will be handling all of the movie merchandise licensing.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made their public premiere in May 1984 in a comic book published and distributed by Mirage Studios. A hugely successful TV series quickly followed, along with a record-setting licensing program and three successful live-action theatrical films. In 2003, the Turtles were re-introduced to a new generation through a fresh TV series, a computer- animated theatrical movie and new merchandising program. The 25th year of TMNT will provide fans of all ages with the opportunity to experience this evergreen property in a ten-city mobile tour highlighted by the TMNT Party Bus, a rolling museum of TMNT memorabilia.
Additional information is available on the http://www.tmnt25.com and http://www.4kids.tv websites.
About Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios, Inc. is part of The Mirage Group, a group of companies located in Northampton, Massachusetts that owns, manages, nurtures and protects the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property.”
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Woo hoo! So here we go — another live action film! As you may recall from some of my previous comments, our initial discussions regarding the next film had to do with what we were calling a “hybrid” — live action with realistic Turtles rendered in CGI and blended in. This new idea — which, frankly, I am VERY pumped about — will have actors and stunt performers in full Turtle suits for filming in live action. As of right now, there is talk of using CGI to do “face replacement” for the suits so that we can get those great, expressive faces possible with CGI.
We are very early in the development process — no writer or director has been chosen yet. And we’ve just started talking about the story. But I’m really looking forward to getting into it! — PL
P.S. Here’s a photo of Galen holding an artifact from the first live action movie (the head from the Donatello stunt costume) in my office at Mirage Studios a couple of days ago.
** TODAY IS EARTH DAY **
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