Not that Machias’ coverage wasn’t fantastic, because it was! Peter posted more pics and info on his FCBD09 experience via his blog. Click the pic to check it out!
Tag: Peter Laird
TMNT: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Volume 4 # 30 ..cover final (( MAY 2009 ))
![TMNT: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Volume 4 # 30 ..cover final (( MAY 2009 )) [[ Courtsy of PL ]]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3490269336_51ec9625b5.jpg)
LAIRD :: "Here’s the cover to the recently completed (like, yesterday) TMNT #30:
I handed it over to Dan Berger yesterday and he has sent it off to the printer. We’re now waiting to see the printer’s proof. Hopefully, within a few weeks we will have printed copies and will be able to begin fulfilling mail orders. Shortly after that starts, we will put it up online for free. The pricing is the same as for issue #29 — $10.00 per copy (I think there may also be shipping and handling — check the ninjaturtles.com site to make sure). I will also be doing Turtle head sketches on the inside back covers of each of at least the first 150 copies that go out via mail order."
☻ ☺
MTV Interview With Peter: Movie Details
Thanks MTV! Click the Pic to be directly linked to their interview thingie… or read below:
That sound you heard last week? That was millions of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” fans yelling “Cowabunga!” at the news that the famous Heroes in a Half Shell would be returning to the big screen in a new movie scheduled to hit theaters in 2011.
While rumors of a new TMNT movie have been circulating for a while now, last week’s official announcement kicked off a nationwide celebration of the characters’ 25th Anniversary.
Back in September, I spoke with “Ninja Turtles” co-creator Peter Laird to clear up some of the initial rumors surrounding the film, and now that it’s official, he was able to offer a few more details about the return of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo to the big screen.
“I can say that at this point there are a lot of positive feelings about a ‘Batman Begins’-style ‘reboot,’ which would, of necessity, include a retelling of the Turtles’ origin story,” Laird told MTV News of early plot discussions regarding the film. “Having said that, I would also be into an all-new story, if it was decided that that was a more desirable direction. Either way is fine with me, to be honest!”
Laird went so far as to share some specific story points that TMNT fans hold near and dear to their hearts as potential elements in the upcoming film.
“Simply telling the story of what happened in the first issue of the ‘TMNT’ comic book would be a pretty short movie, so I suspect other things from the Turtles’ history in the comics might be brought into it,” continued Laird. “I would not be unhappy to somehow see the tale of Baxter Stockman and the robotic ‘mousers’ folded into this movie, as well as some elements possibly setting up the TCRI connection for a possible sixth (or seventh) movie. But I think I’m getting a little ahead of myself there.”
As for other characters we’re likely to see in the film, the “Ninja Turtles” co-creator said the villainous Shredder would be a necessity for any TMNT origin story, and also mentioned that both intrepid reporter April O’Neil and vigilante Casey Jones came up during recent creative discussions.
Finally, Laird also offered a few more details regarding the way in which the live-action filming and computer-generated effects will blend to bring the Turtles to the screen in the upcoming film.
“The basic idea, as I understand it, is to do an all live action shoot, with actors and stuntmen in full Turtle suits,” said Laird. “To add expressiveness to the Turtles’ faces which would be difficult if not impossible to get with animatronics and/or puppetry, there would be ‘face replacement,’ with CGI Turtle faces superimposed on the live action performers’ heads.”
“This technology has been proven to be incredibly effective if done correctly,” added Laird. “Look at the character of Davey Jones in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movies, with his mass of writhing tentacles… an incredible effect.”
What do you think of Laird’s take on the film? What stories from TMNT history do you still want to see on the big screen? Any characters you want to see brought to life? Sound off!
**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.
Vacuum-Metalized Fugitoid
You may or may not know that Peter Laird has ALWAYS wanted Playmates to do a Vacuum-Metalized Fugitoid. This has yet to happen presumably because it would be cost prohibitive. Well, Today on his blog, Peter Laird shared a prototype for just such a figure. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it looks like we may finally be getting one of these beauties. Click the Pic to read the full blog post.