Ever since the announcement of a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, fans around the world have anxiously waited to learn more about the film. Would it be fun and family-friendly like the previous live-action TMNT films? Or, would the story be edgier and more violent like the original TMNT comics? Producers Scott Mednick and Galen Walker were on hand at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to answer some of these questions and more.
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During the panel, Walker elaborated on the film’s focus and the desire to bring the story back to the 25-year-old franchise’s origins.
“Our point of view is this: go back and look at the original Turtles comics. They are very dark. The audience is much more sophisticated than they were in 1990. This is 2009. Take the new Harry Potter for example. It is rated PG and it’s still a very dark film. We are headed that direction.”
Of course, TMNT can’t just run headlong into full head-exploding, limb slicing, Sin City mode. As Mednick stated, much of why people love the franchise is TMNT’s heart.
“The interesting thing about TMNT was the combination of action and humor, and Steve Barron (director from the first Turtles movie) added one thing, heart. We want and need to go back to that. Let’s make sure we don’t dishonor what has been before, and let’s create something new.”
As we reported last week, screenwriter John Fusco (known for his martial-arts tinged work) has been tapped to write the screenplay for the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. With Fusco on board, it seems like TMNT could find the right balance between the fun family-focused action of the original films with the darker tone of the original comics.
I am very excited to see what will happen with this new franchise. Growing up, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Batman hung side by side in my personal pantheon of awesome superheroes. I’m glad to see that TMNT is headed The Dark Knight route, but it will be interesting to see how far they can push the envelope and still get the coveted PG rating needed to draw the biggest box office returns.
What do you think of what you heard from the producers? Is a dark TMNT film what you’ve been waiting for? For more quotes from Mednick and Walker, make sure to check out the whole article from First Showing.
No release date has been set for the new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but it is slated to come out in 2011.
Source: First Showing
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12 Comments
I am very VERY happy they’re going in this direction
The original TMNT comics were absolutely GREAT
I’m excited
@ogb
Do you know if this film will be live-action just like the original Ninja Turtles trilogy and not like that TMNT animated film?
It’s supposed to be live-action. A lot of ppl want CGI. I think that would be a horrible idea.
I saw the last CGI movie and just could not care less about anything going on. Just looked goofy.
The first TMNT movie was actually pretty good. Had some serious themes. Some cheesy 80’s moments. Just good.
Ever since the second Batman installment came out and broke the box office, everyone wants to rubber stamp “Dark” on their films. Is this really a selling point? Just make good films and try not to categorize them!
That’s disappointing. My kids will be excited to see this if it’s TMNT, but if it’s too dark we’ll steer clear of it just as we’ve steered clear of Harry Potter.
@ smartass…..
the turtles started out dark ‘84 and in ‘96 with “bodycount”. i just wish they would make it “r” and not pg.
sr, I am well aware of that. I had TMNT curtains, sheets, posters, action figures, a bed spread, book bag, lunch box, calculator, night light, t-shirts, underwear and cereal. I lived and breathed TMNT when I was a kid in the 80’s. My point is that everyone wants to use the term “Dark” whenever they deviate from the traditional “kid” themes.
I’m so GLAD they’re gonna do the turtles “real justice” unlike the original movie, which was good, but a little too campy. Thank the stars for Batman Begins for setting the record straight on how comic book properties are to be handled from their original conceptions.
That movie poster looks really bad ass.
“Forbidden Kingdom” sucked monkey balls. The original turtles movie was perfect.
I think they should aim for a pg-13 rating! parent’s will still let there kids go see it, just because it has the TMNT name!
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