Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Promises to Stay True to Mythology

Director Jonathan Liebesman reveals more details regarding the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Director Jonathan Liebesman reveals more details regarding the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Last weekend, Michael Bay caused an uproar of fanboy controversy when he said the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie will give the turtles an alien origin. Today, director Jonathan Liebesman responded to the negative backlash, and offered a possible clarification on the producer's.

"Look, it's so funny. If everyone was such a die-hard fan, they would know that the TCRI canisters where the ooze comes from, that is alien ooze. Now I'm not saying what Michael said is exactly what the movie is, because we're sitting in a room now figuring everything out. So we don't know, but we are, like Michael said, we're expanding it, and the expansion will be true to the mythology. I promise you, fans will love it."


Jonathan Liebesman also revealed that the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creator, Kevin Eastman, is involved in the development process.

"Whatever mythology we're building on or expanding is coming from that guy, Kevin Eastman's head, who created the Turtles in the first place. And so everything will tie in with the mythology. Fans will be extremely excited with what we're coming up with. A lot of it is stuff he's wanted to do for a long time, but just hasn't had the opportunity because now we have the budget and things on this film to expand it in the right way. And so, I'm happy that everyone is extremely passionate, and they will not be disappointed. It's all coming from the best possible place for this franchise."


It still isn't known if the turtles will be portrayed through practical means, i.e. an actor wearing a turtle costume, or through CGI. The director dropped a subtle hint that indicates they will use motion capture techniques on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

"All I'll say is that I love how they did [Rise of the Planet of the Apes]. That was exceptional."


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will start shooting later this year, possibly around September, and they are eyeing locations in Canada. While the project will feature a lot of action, Jonathan Liebesman stressed the story will be more about brotherhood.

"We're definitely into the action, but for me what's more important than that is that it's a story about brotherhood and friendship and responsibility. Right now, I'm with the characters because those are what attracted me to the movie. They're the best characters I'll have had a chance to deal with."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes to theaters June 6th, 2014 and stars Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Pete Ploszek, Jeremy Howard, Noel Fisher, Will Arnett, Danny Woodburn, William Fichtner. The film is directed by Jonathan Liebesman.



Sources: Collider

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Comments (71)

  1. BrandonHeat

    Ken Watanabe would be better as splinter

    1 year agoby @brandonheatFlag

  2. BrandonHeat

    all depends on which versions of the ninja turtles. the serious versions from the comics (1st gen) or the fun loving cartoon/movie versions.

    1 year agoby @brandonheatFlag

  3. BrandonHeat

    i really wish Micheal bay wasn't on this project at all. he needs to concentrate on making another bad boys 3, Independence day 2 or something else. the director who is doing G.I. Joe 2 would be much better.

    as for my picks for Case Jones - JGL, April- Blake Lively, Shredder-Ian Anthony Dale

    1 year agoby @brandonheatFlag

  4. Paifa

    Duhhhh!

    1 year agoby @paifaFlag

  5. FiLmMAst3R

    At least make it a guy in a suit damn it! I mean how can you really call it live action when your gonna involve CGI?

    1 year agoby @filmmast3rFlag

  6. Michael Kolesik

    Just the fact that Michael Bay has anything to do with this movie has me worried. Period.

    1 year agoby @Michael-KolesikFlag

  7. Jay.A.Ottley

    @supermanvenom Pretty much if Krang is the villain and well the below synopsis is apparently official @monkeyiron2-0

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  8. Jay.A.Ottley

    @monkeyiron2-0 While i agree Katherine would be perfect... your gonna hate to find out that Megan Fox is already in talks for the role. And hmmmm, i think Liam Hemsworth suits Casey better, his more younger...

    @brandonheat

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  9. Jay.A.Ottley

    New Update by Co-creator, Peter Laird

    Today, Peter Laird, who is a co-creator of the franchise and who has already commented on this, is back with his opinion on what director Jonathan Liebesman recently said about the controversy, which is that fans are going to love what they come up with.

    "I read the director's comments and found them to be vague and open to different interpretations," said Laird. "One of the most obvious of which is, sadly, that the Turtles are from an alien race. Which is exactly what Michael Bay said. I guess we'll have to wait and see."

    He went on to say that he was never a fan of the Saturday morning animated series, stating:

    "Had I been making the key creative decisions for that first animated series, it would have been VERY different. Among other things, there would likely have been no moronic henchmen like Bebop and Rocksteady. The Shredder would have been seriously malevolent. April would not have been a reporter and constantly need to be rescued by the Turtles. The Turtles would not have been so ridiculously obsessed with pizza, and the Shredder would not have had as one of his businesses a restaurant called "Ninja Pizza". There might have been something that sort of looked like Krang, but it would have been an Utrom in a cool robotic exoskeleton. And the show would not have had a joke or gag every five seconds."

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  10. Spadicus

    Yes, Jonathan Liebesman, while the ooze itself was of an alien origin, the actual Turtle species is not. Just because a single plot device is alien in nature doesn't mean our four heroes have to be. Take a look at Spider-man, his black suite was an alien symbiote from another planet, but they didn't make didn't very well make Peter Parker an alien now did they? Don't try to justify your need to destroy what's already great. As soon as I see the turtles exiting a space ship that's just arrived on earth, I'll napalm the very theater I witnessed this in and piss on it's ashes.

    1 year agoby @spazFlag

  11. supermanvenom

    @monkeyiron2-0 Its hard to when you hear crap like this. But yes i don't know what exactly he wants to do.

    1 year agoby @supermanvenomFlag

  12. Joker926

    What part of their ideas "SUCK BALLS" do they not get? Seriously, they managed to f*ck up Transformers perfectly, and they WILL find a way to screw up TMNT. They're best defense is that "Hey, the ooze comes from space, aren't they already aliens as it is?" You F*CKING DUMB ASSES, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are quite literally, and within context, genetically altered turtles.

    Sure, they're turtles exposed to alienated like substances, but they're F*CKING TURTLES! They're not from outer space!!!! If you're going to clean up for Bay's poor words and lack of direction, at least have the background checked to look good on your end... for all I know at the moment, Liebesman is just as much of an idiot as Michael Bay.

    And how do I know this: He's working with Michael Bay. Bye-Bye intelligent and good story telling orient career. You're about to hop into a 4 hour film with a slutty April, the story completely hovering over Casey's point of view, great visual effects tainted by bad story and lens flair, and about 3 minutes screen time with Raph, Leo, Mickey, Don, and Splinter.....

    AND OH!!!! Shredder and the Foot will die easily and destroy half the city and kill civilians just bumping into one another while fighting.

    Bullsh*t. That's all I have to say.

    1 year agoby @joker926Flag

  13. Monkeyiron 2.0

    @monkeyiron2-0 JGL can never be Casey he's too small and Skinny

    1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag

  14. Monkeyiron 2.0

    @bane5000 they said the turtles aren't aliens and the ooze has always been alien created by the utroms and besides after we get the full interview next week before the director is gonna make it official turtles aren't aliens....oh and I see Heigel personality being April and Jgl can be either Leo or Don

    1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag

  15. Bane5000

    @monkeyiron2-0...The fact that the Ooze is alien, i have no problem with, i actually like that concept alot...im just not liking the whole Turtles from another planet and they are here on Earth cuz theyre planet got destroyed...just make it simple and say the alien ooze mutated them here on Earth, Bay just doesnt like simplicity

    As for ur suggestiones for who to play April and Casey...I say Rachel McAddams and JGL for the roles, or JGL to voice one of the Turtles...and Ken Watanabe as Shredder :]

    1 year agoby @bane5000Flag

  16. Monkeyiron 2.0

    @supermanvenom dude it's gonna be epic have postive thoughts

    1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag

  17. supermanvenom

    @jayaottley Then its going to be lame.

    1 year agoby @supermanvenomFlag

  18. renodc

    I think a lot of the outrage simply stemmed from the fact that Michael Bay made the comment. Anytime Michael Bay is mentioned in conjunction with a film an immediate plummeting of expectations occurs.

    1 year agoby @renodcFlag

  19. Monkeyiron 2.0

    @brandonheat I know your gonna hate me but I nominate Katherine Hegel as April and Chris Hemsworth as Casey

    1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag

  20. Monkeyiron 2.0

    @jayaottley No that screams Transformers lol again it was I rumor dude no one wants that gay brain thin @angelsbleedtoo i agree the co-creator is to wise not to make the turtles because it's gonna be rip-off of war of cybertron and superman @bane5000 in the comics the ooze was made from aliens which krang is based on which The Utroms

    1 year agoby @monkeyiron2-0Flag

  21. BrandonHeat

    okay okay okay, alot of good theroies and speculations all around. but if you truly think about it, its going to go the route of the Christopher Nolan batman trilogy. I think they will have Krang as the begining villian ( like scarecrow in batman begins) to start the build up. Then at the end of first film leds into foot clan and Shredder for the second flim ( like dark knight).. but my question to everyone is .. who would make a good Casey Jones and April O'neil? Megan fox .. hell no.

    1 year agoby @brandonheatFlag

  22. Robertswww

    I appreciate that Jonathan Liebesman is trying to clarify some of the backstory. I think there are many directions they could take a new TMNT, and pumping some new blood and new ideas into this franchise is a good thing. I'm tired of all the movie remakes and rehashing old stories... give me something new and improved, an update with an attitude and I'm in.

    1 year agoby @robertswwwFlag

  23. Bane5000

    @jayaottley...So basically its about the same plot as Transformers...this time with the Turtles and Krang. So they will be from another planet, not just mutated from alien ooze as Liebesman has led us to believe

    1 year agoby @bane5000Flag

  24. Angelsbleedtoo

    Michael Bay is not directing this guys and the director is working with the creator so there is hope! have faith guys and lets wait and see. maybe this won't turn out as bad as we all thought.

    1 year agoby @angelsbleedtooFlag

  25. _L_

    Good to know that they'll do this again
    sorry, lazy to read all ya comments

    1 year agoby @L-83417346Flag

  26. bruce_ha

    Why is there an ad in the Article picture?

    1 year agoby @bruce-haFlag

  27. Jay.A.Ottley

    @monkeyiron2-0 Well from what i have read within a magazine is that the main villain will be Krang, and that Krang is a complete badass, that destroyed the Turtles planet and brought the turtles to near extinction and they escape and came to Earth, in which they have something of value to Krang and he comes to Earth to find them and annhilate them....

    opinions

    I mean i ain't going to be rude, but that synopsis screams BAY and links in with this alien origin

    @summit10@bane5000@monkeyiron2-0@supermanvenom

    1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag

  28. Summit10

    thank you MR. Liebesman, now tell Mr. Bay to have more tact when giving out speeches!

    1 year agoby @summit10Flag

  29. Bane5000

    If they are gonna use Mo.Cap, they better get Weta involved then if they want the Turtles to come out looking great and believable

    1 year agoby @bane5000Flag

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