The latest battle in the war of words being waged between producer Michael Bay and hard-core Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans – over the impending live-action franchise reboot (which Bay’s Platinum Dunes is producing) – has to do with the project’s truncated title, Ninja Turtles.
Much like the Transformers series director did in response to the backlash over his own announcement about the Turtles being true extraterrestrials in the new movie, Bay has released yet another response to fans’ complaints about the title change-up… and much like before (if we’re being honest), his comments are likely to be interpreted as condescending by longtime TMNT fans, while also doing little to abate their anger.
Still, for what it’s worth, here is Bay’s statement about the title change to Ninja Turtles (verbatim and as originally typed):
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.
To clarify Bay’s comment(s): the “two very smart writers” in question are Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), who are working on the project with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and director Jonathan Liebesman. Judging by Bay’s comments, Liebesman (Battle Los Angeles, Wrath of the Titans) is indeed essentially set to helm the project right now – though, an official announcement has yet to be made.
That’s all to say: even if you tend to distrust any project featuring Bay’s involvement on principle, there is some additional worthy talent working behind the scenes to make this “Turtles as aliens who behave like teenagers” plan actually work.
As to the matter of whether tweaking the Turtles origins so that they’re not only genuine extraterrestrials (and not just “born” by alien-produced ooze), but also creatures from another world who behave like contemporary human adolescents – perhaps, by imitating them when they arrive on Earth – will actually work? That question isn’t going to be answered by this back-and-forth verbal duel ongoing between Bay and TMNT fans.
Perhaps it’s for the best we all should just take a (metaphorical) step back to wait and learn more about exactly how these various ingredients are going to be mixed together in the TMNT reboot. That also goes for Bay, who frankly comes off as too defensive in his statements about the controversy – simply providing fans with more in the way of justification for their anger.
Ninja Turtles remains scheduled for a theatrical release in the U.S. on December 25th, 2013.
-
Source: Michael Bay
‘Dexter’ Season 8 Trailer: The Hunt Begins – How Will it End? 
‘Game of Thrones’ to End in Season 7? 
‘Pacific Rim’ Featurette Explores ‘Drift Space’; First TV Spot Offers More Action 
‘Prometheus 2′ Casting Rumor – Is the Sequel Moving Forward? 
No.
STOP.
Does this really matter? Me and my friends always call them the Ninja Turtles anyway. It’s not a big deal like the alien thing.
So they story is going to be similar like Howard the Duck? except with Turtles who so happen to be ninjas from another planet?
I hate michael b*y so much.
I still don’t know what the big deal about the “alien origins” is anyway. All he said in his quote is “these turtles are from an alien race.” So maybe that just means the ooze is of alien origin, why do we need to get all worked up about these things? Oh yeah, so that speculative entertainment bloggers can have something to write about.
I find it amusing that you look down your nose at “speculative entertainment bloggers,” while commenting on an article written by one – not to mention, a blogger who’s actually calling for people to stop getting so worked up about this issue.
Was thinking the same thing Sandy.
Its funny how co-Creator Peter Laird sees Kevin Eastman as a sell out. Recent Interview.
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/nailbiter111/news/?a=56991
Where do I sign a petition to keep michael bay and his chronies from making this movie and destroying my TMNT?
It is not your TMNT. Get over it. I loved the TMNT as a kid and am excited to see this movie. It is not like he is going to go back and change all of the animated shows and comics, this is just another way of looking at the material.
If you don’t want to see it then don’t.
He is not ruining any childhoods. Get over it!
Oh i see, so if Michael Bay did a Batman movie where Bruce Wayne was actually from Krypton & was Superman’s brother that would totally be okay?
No he isn’t going back & changing the comics & older movies, he’s just overwriting the origins of the teenage mutant ninja turtles & calling it his own.
DIMENSION X!!!! DIMENSION X!!!! IT IS CANON. IT IS THERE ON THE CARTOON!
My faith in hollywood going back & rebooting & screwing up every movie in history grows more & more.
If the co-creators of the Turtles is working on the project we should expect to see their vision in the movie. That is NOT necessarily the 1980′s cartoon we all first saw. The original comic book was a lot darker (better) and the stories were fantastic. I am fine with everything they have said so far.
Mike is a moron
it’s Ninja time
Why are you defending Michael Bay? He shills out crap to people and they eat it. He’s a menace, and needs to be stopped. He’s like a Satanic version of Willy Wonka (if that’s possible).
Are we really comparing Michael Bay to Satan now over a fictional movie based on turtles that are ninjas that were trained by a rat? So changing these mutated turtles into aliens makes michael bay comparable to the entity that introduced sin into the world. It is a movie. Watch it or don’t!! I for one prefer the original story to this story. However, I would rather have them make this with alterations to the origins of the turtles than not make it at all.
It’s more than possible. It’s already been done, i.e., the Johnny Depp version of the character.
Michael Bay’s statement: “Everyone on this team cares about the fans”.
Really? Then why make the turtles aliens instead of mutants and then why call the film “Ninjia Turtles”.
The story likes Howard The Duck and the film might turn out to be like Howard The Duck.
Expect Shia LeBeouf as one of the turtles and Bay destorying lots of fan’s childhood just like Transformers.
They are aliens only in-so-far-as they are not originally from planet Earth… That does not mean they came from OUR “outer space” as we know it.
Aliens from another dimension… “Dimension X”
Does that name ring any bells for you??? DIMENSION X – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles… Krang… Shredder… Bebop… Rocksteady… The Technodrome…DIMENSION X! It’s where “pretty much” everybody on the whole show that wasn’t human originally came from! -Except the turtles, of course… But that place still had something to do with their origin!
My childhood has just been murdered.
The only thing worse than movies directed by Michael Bay are movies (remakes/reboots) produced by Michael Bay
I LOVED the Transformer movies. But I was NEVER a fan of he cartoon series. I honestly can’t even stand watching it for five minutes…. I consider it horrible. The toys were great!
TMNT however, I LOVED AS A CHILD. The movies, the show, the toys, ALL OF IT. Even part 3 was great…back when I was ten!
We will have to wait and see if this is really for the fans or not… I can’t say it enough BEBOP AND ROCKSTEADY NEED TO BE ON THIS!!!!!!!!!
Shia LaBeouf as Casey Jones….. Ehhhh….. not so much.
Follow the link to show your disdain for this movie.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/152421551548078/
people seriously need to quit complaining about reboots. no one is making you watch them, and the originals are always there for you to enjoy. i think it’s interesting to see reboots, and to see where a new director and cast can take it. oh, and i like how everyone is copying each other by saying “my childhood has been murdered”…everyone is a critic these days, and think that their opinion matters…but it doesn’t. who sits on millions of dollars in the end…not you.
Okay, just one question. If they are aliens, presuming they aren’t infant aliens and that they will assimilate into American culture by meeting a teenage kid who shows them the ropes, oh I guarantee this will happen, where would Splinter fit in? I have a feeling that Splinter won’t be in the film and Shredder will be some sort of government official who becomes obsessed with uncovering alien existence but is not the primary villain in the first film. Krang will be the first villain who is trying to exterminate the alien race the turtles descend from. If I know Michael Bay, this is the story that will play out on screen. I want to vomit in a used diaper and throw it at Platinum Dune. Thoughts on this idea and the likelihood of this happening?
That sounds about right, honestly.
You forgot the part where their new theme song is done by Linkin Park.
Sorry Bay but Eastman isn’t “the creators” he’s only one of the two. Dumbass. I swear, Bay is destroying my youth one movie at a time. He needs to pull the alien stick out of his ass and actually read the source material.
ok seriously? am i the only one willing to give this a chance? if i don’t like it i won’t buy the bluray/dvd, won’t see the inevitable sequal (and if it sucks that bad nobody will) so a third won’t be made and in another 10 years or so (or less like Spiderman) a new one will be made with all new people involved. and in the meantime i will still have my 90s cartoon dvds and 90s movie trilogy and the newer movie to satisfy my TMNT craving.
If Bay ruins this movie (like many of you assume he will) my childhood is NOT ruined/killed/destroyed. I still have all my memories and thanks to technology i can relive those memories but i for one will be seeing this movie. day 1 if possible because i have faith in hollywood! no reboot/sequal/based-on-the-book movie that i have cared about has disappointed me yet so i doubt this one will.
As for Bay’s statement in this article, I didn’t find it condenscending at all. I found it relieving. Knowing one the original creators is on the team tells me that he’s probably gonna fight to keep the original story intact. and where the other creator says “sellout” i say he’s the fan’s advocate in this movie! without him on the team who knows what they’d do to it.
Well there’s my 2 cents. i know this won’t change anybody’s mind and the naysayers will still put this movie down and bad mouth bay and the production team but at least I got this off my chest.
Pass. Tired of seeing early childhood stories that I KNOW BY HEART changed just because they can change them. Screw Bay.
Honestly, I’m glad it’s being renamed. It’s clear these aren’t the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It may be a bastardized, funhouse mirror reflection of that original creation, but it bears no genuine resemblance, and therefore I choose not to see it as the same property.
So go ahead, Bay. Make all the changes you want to this new creation of yours. You know you wouldn’t make dollar one on it without a big nostalgia name attached to it, so slap the “Ninja Turtles” label on it like the chicken wuss you are instead of letting something you created stand on its own two feet. I can slap “Ninja Turtles” on a box of poop, too– but it’ll still stink.
I’m waiting to see how this turns out. SCREW EVERYONE ELSE WHO’S ACTING THE FOOL. It’s just a damn movie. Grow up already.
Ok. I’m not the biggest Michael Bay fan but I don’t understand why people are getting on him for this. From what we know, He’s not writing or directing the movie. He’s only producing it.He’s just letting the public know what the actual guys behind the production of this movie have planned. Why is he getting all the heat for it instead of the director and the writers?..lol
B/c it’s soo easy to blame Bay. He’s an easy target. If this was Christopher Nolan, then everyone one would backing the idea of alien turtles.
I wish you people would quit saying that , if Nolan or any other director/producer did this, I would still hate it. It’s a stupid idea,PERIOD, and I don’t give a rat’s @$$ who does it.
Agreed.
“creatures from another world who behave like contemporary human adolescents – perhaps, by imitating them when they arrive on Earth”
Oh god please no.
Dam it bay!!!
Why???? This whole idea is so useless!!
Bay does have skill. Why does he choose to produce such meaningless trash? This is the kind of junk a B level director like Robert Rodriguez specializes in.
I may be alone on this, but I still believe Bay would have been perfect to direct the Iron Man flicks.
There would have been more action that’s for sure.
This makes me hungry for pepperoni pizza.
i think people are looking at the Turtles with rose colored glasses.
Do you guys REALLY remember what we dealt with before???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFLGRidfFo4
Tell me THAT’S true to the source material of the comics…sheeesh….
really man? really?
you can state your opinion with out the unneeded “STFU”
Agreed. I HOPE they base this off the original comics. That would be EPIC!