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More Fun Live-Action TMNT Updates from Peter Laird

by Alex Billington
April 28, 2009
Source: MTV

Now that we officially know that Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo - also known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - are due back on the big screen in live-action form by 2011, everyone wants to know exactly how they're going to pull it off. Last week TMNT co-creator Peter Laird talked briefly about the face replacement technology and confirmed that they'll actually use full body suits. But what about the story? Our cohorts at MTV caught up with Laird and got him to reveal more about some early ideas and his hopes for this origin story, beyond that it'll include April O'Neil, Casey Jones, and Shredder.

"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. I get giddy just imagining a gritty PG-13 Batman-like TMNT movie, but that probably won't happen, because I'm sure studios will focus on its connection to kids. Even though Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's comic did debut in 1984 and has a lot of older fans. Laird continues, "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!"

And as for other wild ideas, Laird throws some more crumbs out for fans. "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." For those of you also confused by that "sixth or seventh" reference, I think he is eluding to the eventual progression of the series. As in, we've had four movies at this point (including the animated TMNT movie of 2007), so this new one would be the fifth Turtles movie.

If you're a longtime fan of the comics, then all of this should definitely be getting you very excited. I know I'm just getting pumped to see so much talk of the Turtles back in the mainstream news again. And as for the full body suits, Laird reiterates that they won't screw this up again. "The basic idea, as I understand it, is to do an all live action shoot, with actors and stuntmen in full Turtle suits," then later use CGI to add facial expressions. The reference he uses is Davey Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean. "This technology has been proven to be incredibly effective if done correctly." I've heard enoguh, bring on the Turtles!

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