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New Live-Action TMNT Movie Has a Writer - John Fusco

by Alex Billington
July 10, 2009
Source: TMNT25.com

I hope everyone is a big TMNT fan, because we're going to be covering the hell out of this new live-action movie. The official TMNT25.com website has posted an article with details about their appearances at the San Diego Comic-Con. Their keynote presentation is a special TMNT panel on Friday, July 24th featuring a lot of big names - creator Kevin Eastman, Mirage Studios CEO Gary Richardson, director of the original TMNT movies Steve Barron, and producers Galen Walker and Scott Mednick. Listed last is John Fusco, whose title is "writer of the new TMNT movie (slated for 2011)." Looks like they finally have a writer!

Fusco's past credits include Young Guns, Thunderheart, Hidalgo, and The Forbidden Kingdom recently. That last one makes me shudder. It seems he's involved probably for his knowledge of martial arts and its mythology, like Bushido, as he's writing The Seven Samurai remake as well (and that's him above). And all TMNT fans know that the Turtles were trained in the art of ninjutsu by their master Splinter. No word on the director, but I'm a bit curious as to why Steve Barron, who directed the first live-action movie (but none of the sequels), is on the panel. Could he be announcing that he's directing this, too? We can only hope!

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http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

I actually liked The Forbidden Kingdom...I thought it was Jackie Chan's best film in awhile and the fight scenes were top notch for a blockbuster kung fu movie. What didn't you like about it?
The One

Seriously? TFK sucked @$$!!! Let me guess, you must be 12 yrs old or just a total martial arts fan to like that movie. That movie was a big let down, cheesy lines, and acting. Only good thing was a couple of the fight scenes, even that, I've seen better. As for TMNT, I can't wait for the return of the Live action Turtles!
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

No need to be so harsh about a subjective medium...Admittedly, I don't usually watch Kung Fu films as I feel they are for 12 year olds as you previously stated, but I just found Forbidden Kingdom entertaining. Maybe it was the humor and the bridging between the "real world" and the "kung fu world" that caught my attention, but I felt like I could relate to the main character much more than most kung fu films because he was such a novice and regular 'ol cinephile (like myself). I didn't mean to offend your precious genre, but I asked why you hated it so much and not why I'm an idiot for liking it. I'm trying to have a conversation using film vernacular and not an argument using your close mindedness. So please tell me what aspects of the film bothered you and why. Was it the acting, the cinematography, the writing, the casting, or the effects? Any actual evidence why it was bad would be nice, but your biased opinion isn't enough to convince me no matter how many insults you hurl my way.
mangelo

it thought TFK was ok... wish they made it more adult oriented and didnt go with the kid as main character, made it childish/cheesy for me.
Jazz

The Forbidden Kingdom was alright but it was insulting that kid was way of out place in the movie it was adverting that its Jackie Chan and Jet Li first movie and it only focus on that white kid
http://www.ikillpeopleformoney.com/ The Ninjinister

@ The One: Forbidden Kingdom obviously did not seem like your forte, so why did you even watch it, let alone watch it with any sorts of expectations. And for the record, martial arts flicks are not solely for children. Not only that, I've never heard anybody state they were before, so this is a weird concept of what is imagined to be the target audience. I actually practice martial arts and am much older than the alleged 12 year olds that you mentioned... and martial arts movies are my second favorite genre.
Spider

I'm intrigued at the idea of Steve Barron directing this.....and from a script by John Fusco. I'll be keeping tabs on this.
Sean

You gotta be kidding me... who could take a man like that seriously??!!
Mark

Just put a fresh coat of paint on part 1 and Im sold. Come to think of it, I'm sold anyway!
link1983

Wow TMNT is going to be epic!
Nate

I agree with ninjinister. Martial Arts films were never for children. The only reason they would seem so in America is because no one really took those type of films seriously over here, studios and audiences...like Anime.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#1 - I just thought it was stupid, cheesy, Jet Li as "The Monkey King" was absolutely ridiculous, and the story dragged on far too long. The action was good a few times, but that doesn't make up for a sloppy script and even worse dialogue. #11 - You're right, but on the topic of TMNT... As much as the first one was loved by kids (like me), it's also a film that can be enjoyed by adults. Or maybe I'm just stretching that idea a bit too much...
bartc3

wait, ALF is writing this? ...look it up beeches...
Nate

Alex, I'll agree with you about Jet Li as Monkey King because that's the first thing that comes to mind visually about the movie.
REAL6

Tfb was ok but they had to get rid of the white kid. I really miss a true martial arts film. Any movies by the venom mob or Gordon Lui, or 70's or 80's era where you had to have real skill. Not these stpid fucking wire fu movies. Fighting just never looks real anymore. We need to get back to that. Looking forward to a new TMNT!! But make it dark. Damn you Generation Emo and MTV!!!
Nate

@15 Exactly. Anything I knew about martial arts films were Jackie Chan pre-rumble in the bronx and Shaw Brothers films. TFK wasn't that great now that I think more and more about it. I was disappointed that it wasn't a Jet Li-Jackie Chan must see film like people speculated.
hope_springs_eternal

@13 ALF was operrated/performed/voiced by a gentleman named paul fusco, who looks nothing like this john fusco so..i have a feeling they arent the same person
karl

Forbidden Kingdom was a huge letdown except for the fight scene between Jet and Jackie. the story was awful. the Monkey King is a character from a classic story called "the Journey to the West". if TFK is what he came up with I shudder to think what he will do to 7Samurai.
http://superwebsite.com emailmenow@yahoo.com

The first ninja turtles movie was AWESOME. the other second one was great and the third one... someone dropped the ball, even when the ball was ducted taped to thier hands. IF this movie is like the first ninja turtles it will be historical. Ralph... in the first ninja turtles, wow. Everything about the first one was great. story line n all. lets just hope this one is gonna give is the same results.
somwerbtwnblungrn

As a kid who grew up watching TMNT (cartoons & the movie), I really don't get it - that TMNT is a much higher class of martial art movie than TFK? They are both kid oriented films with somewhat serious martial arts-stunts added, so why the hatred of TFK? Story line & cinematography are not a world apart. As for the wire act stunt, isn't 90% of all martial arts films, especially those coming from Hong Kong are similar to this type of genre? As for TMNT, I will just watch it as it was meant to be. Expecting more than what this is, will be a let down. Oh TFK was not bad, I am not thinking of a Bruce Lee film here - its a Jacky Chan/Jet Li film, who are famous in the wire-kung fu action films than a real fighting style kung fu films.
leonard buono

how about looking me up on face book john. say hello to old friends. your other old pals are there as well.
rebecca

to be honest, it is not to offend but to make his movies one side super star, that in the tmnt, not another blockbuster movie! and if I agree you have to take some action, plus a good story! must be one that is faithful to the comic, I'm not saying that the original series was wrong, it is fun and all, just said he did not focus the public if not his kind of history that has, as they did in the fourth