TMNT Creator Peter Laird Talks about TMNT Hybrid Movie

by Joey Paur



There has been a lot of talk recently regarding a new live action 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' movie. At first Kevin Eastman came out and said it was going to happen, then then TMNT writer Steve Murphy said it wasn't, and now Peter Laird says it is going to happen again, but this time it won't be a live action version. It will be Live action mixed with CGI turtles. A hybris movie much like 'Alvin and the Chipmuncks' but hopefully much, much better. So here is waht TMNT creator Peter Laird has told MTV:

I can confirm that we have had several meetings with very interested people, and I think we are pretty close to making a deal. As owner of the TMNT property, I want to be the first to announce it at a time of my choosing (hopefully soon).

 

As it stands now, there is no intention of doing another live-action film like the first three, with actors and stuntmen in actual Turtle suits, contrary to what was said by Kevin. We have pretty much decided that the next "TMNT" movie should be what we've been calling a "hybrid" - that is to say, live-action humans and sets combined with very realistic CGI Turtles (and possibly some other CGI characters).


Now if this is all true and he isn't bowing smoke up MTV's ass, I am still on board. I don't really care how they go about making another TMNT movie as long as it is good. I really enjoyed the CGI version and I think a hybrid film would be a great way to go. They have not settled on where he wants to take the story for sure yet but he does say Shredder will be back as the villian. He also throws out a couple casting ideas:

I really liked the way Elias Koteas and Judith Hoag brought Casey and April to life in the first live-action movie - they each did a fantastic job. Unfortunately, I think they might be a little too old to play these characters now (even if they wanted to, and I have no idea if they would). However, I think Chris Evans and Sarah Michelle Gellar did wonderful work voicing the Casey and April characters in the recent CGI "TMNT" movie, and I think it would be really cool if we could get them to reprise those roles, but this time "in the flesh." I think that might be the first time something like that has happened.


I actually like that idea. They really would fit the parts.

Peter Laird also talks about wanting to pull a George Lucas on the Original Ninja Turtles film and digitally upgrade it.

I don’t think the first film needs to be remade, if that’s what you mean. But I would love to see a “Director’s Cut” or special edition of that movie, with some things that were cut out put back in. And although I think it HIGHLY unlikely, I would love to see the first film given a “digital touch-up,” if you will. By that I mean it would be very cool to go through it very carefully and digitally tweak all of the mistakes and goofs — for example, scenes where you can see an actor’s face inside a Turtle’s open mouth, wires hanging off the shell of a Turtle, and so forth.

Here’s one that always bugged me: As Leonardo is exiting April’s apartment, one of his sword hilts rubs against the wall… and it BENDS like rubber (which, in fact, it was, being a “stunt sword”). And taking it a step further, it would be fantastic to utilize digital technology to go back in and tweak and enhance the expressions on the animatronic faces of the Turtles, which in some scenes just don’t work too well.


It's been awhile since I have seen the original TMNT movie. I don't remember any of that stuff. Looks like I will have to go back and watch it and check it out.

 
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