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TMNT Creator Peter Laird Says They'll Use Full Turtle Suits

by Alex Billington
April 23, 2009
Source: Peter Laird's Blog

Last night it was officially announced by The Mirage Group that another new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action movie was in development for 2011. The details they revealed at time were that it would be a reboot focusing on their origins and that it might use some "face replacement technology." Being a fan of the original rubber suit live-action movies, and a believer that nothing else can compare to how great those suits looked, I'm worried that we're going to see an Alvin and the Chipmunks-like half-CGI TMNT movie this time, which I certainly do not want. However, TMNT co-creator Peter Laird says otherwise.

Over on his official blog, Laird wrote up an entry about the live-action news and at the end, commented on the hybrid aspect of it. The word "hybrid" was previously thrown around in an article we wrote last year.

"So here we go -- another live action film! As you may recall from some of my previous comments, our initial discussions regarding the next film had to do with what we were calling a 'hybrid' -- live action with realistic Turtles rendered in CGI and blended in. This new idea -- which, frankly, I am VERY pumped about -- will have actors and stunt performers in full Turtle suits for filming in live action. As of right now, there is talk of using CGI to do 'face replacement' for the suits so that we can get those great, expressive faces possible with CGI."

What we can't forget about the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was that it was actually an independent film, with a budget of only $13.5 million. Those costumes they came up with were a result of what worked well and what was cheap, not what would be the easiest way to attract kids to theaters. Thankfully it all worked out in the end and the suits kicked ass, but I'm worried that this may be a big Hollywood production and they'll lose that creative edge that forced them to make a great movie the first time around. Hopefully with Peter Laird working on this, he won't let them do anything too cheesy.

Explore tags: Hype, Movie News, Opinions

Mr j Money

"We're the TurrrrrTles!! And you can count onnnn us!" Was I the only one who saw the live show as a kid? Good to See em' back.... As long as it's a little more Serious like the first one.
http://rtgmediaphiles.blogspot.com Dan W

It will be just like how Where The Wild Things looks. People in costumes with just mainly their facial expressions computer animated. With a turtle suit being more anatomically like a human being I can see them using less CGI on the Turtles than they do on the Wild Things. I don't know why you think it will be like alvin and the chipmunks.
Xsyco joe

I hope they dont mess up. the originals are still some of my favorite movies ever. mr j money Teenage muntant ninja turtles need to be serious? Really?
Fisherr

I got excited...not! It seems that the movie will turn out to be 4 Ninja Barney wearing suits guys. Why does Hollywood keep messing around with good franchises?
Craig

They are mixing CGI with actors in turtle suits, its being produced with Legendary Studios (Warner Brothers has been popping up as a possible distributor and producing studio as well). From what I get they want to apply the same tech that was used in "Where the Wild Things Are". I don't really understand how you can be worried. This project couldn't be in any better hands. "Alvin and the Chipmunks" were fully CGI critters interacting with human characters they are using different techniques for this film.
Scott McHenry

This will turn out just fine
http://www.tradeshowdisplaysguide.com Frank

Not to knock it (at least not too much), but a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remake? Is there a Power Rangers movie in the works too? How about something original? Ok, I liked TMNT, and a new generation will get to see their awesomeness, but how about something new? Frank
TRANSFORMERS 2 IS THE MOVIE TO SEE THIS SUMMER BITCHES

Hey Frank #7 ...if you want something live action , go watch that shitstain of a movie GI Joe coming out, you can cram that up your crapper..I will gladly see a new TMNT...Bring it
jh

why wouldnt they just use the suits they used for the original three movies? those looked great and i still love watching those movies..i feel like the cgi wont look as good as the anamatronic suits
Craig

@#9 Geez. It will be actors in well made suits (ala Where The Wild Things Are) while their faces will be replaced with CGI (using motion capture most likely) so they can make them more expressive. I don't know where people are getting the idea that they won't be using body suits when both the reports confirm thats the path they are headed.
AG

"Those costumes they came up with were a result of what worked well and what was cheap" ummm..no...those suits were the result of the geniuses at Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
THE CRITIC

id love a new movie. but nothing can compare to the 1st movie. from the suits to the sound track, the shredder!!!! hell splinters suit rocked!
Superchyle

From someone who grew up in the height of turtle popularity and Loved the cartoons and the original movies . I hope for some change . I really realy liked TMNT it was different and familiar at the same time . Its cool to see them going back to real life but i hope the costumes are alot better . Alot of people fail to realise or seem to forget they went with a CG movies last time because its hard to preform some stunts in those big bulky hot costumes . Now that they are going back to that they are going to have to make them a lil slimmer and more maneuvarable . As for the the tone of the movie . SOmeone said make it more serious LIKE THE FIRST ONE . not more serious in general and even then why the hell not . Did anyone read the the Peter and Laird TMNT not the archie line? Its really violent and very very serious AND easily the best comic adaptation ever . TMNT in the archie series actually got really good at the end when it too took a much older take on it including death and so . I would like a new movie to be a more adult take on it . It can still be silly be at the same time be serious and have some real feel of consequences to it .
Toby

the original graphic novels were the bomb. check them out people...
shutupmrburton

werd
Silence

The original movie was one of the best I had seen. I really look forward to see what they can do this time around. But, for the love of god, do not make the same mistakes as was made in the Secret of the Ooze and TMNT III. I mean, Secret of the Ooze had some good scenes, but was too "kiddy" for my liking. TMNT III however, should never have been made, much like Batman & Robin.
Christian

This all sounds great, now what I want them to do now is to come out with a special edition of the first three TMNT movies on DVD and Blu Ray, loaded with special features, remastered picture, deleted scenes, commentary, documentaries. Now that would be incredible.
DoomCanoe

YES!!!
http://www.chelariu.de FoolMoon

Cool, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Kino, nice.
Sonny

Please oh please lets hope this doesn't get dumbed down for kids to understand and only them to enjoy... PLEASE
tommy

that great news that their going to have anothe rlive action of the tmnt but i all ways WANTED TO KNOW WAY DIDN'T THEY RELEAS THE OLDER VISON OF THE LIVE ACTION SEERIS ON TO DVDS OR MOVIES BECAUSE SOME OF US ARE COLLOTORS AND LOVE THAT SHOW SO DO YOU HAVE HIS E-MAIL OR SOMETHING SO I CAN WRITE TO AS WHY???????
Mike

This is the perfect opportunity to take a very successful franchise and tell the original intended story of the Turtles in live action style. I am 22 and grew up with the turtles and I loved the live action films of the 90's. I am not a big fan of the CGI makeover they were given in 2007 or the latest revamp of the cartoon the received years back. Peter Laird has compared this new hybrid CGI direction to that of the Batman Begins makeover that set the precedent for The Dark Knight. His main focus should be to go dark with this film and true to the comic book story so the visual style should be more aggressive, less cutesy, and more action packed. There are plenty of villians they can incorporate, and the humor can still be there, but this is the chance to create a darker Manhattan, actually have a score, and create a film that caters to the older fans while being appropriate for kids and no less than a PG-13 rating. I just hope that they don't half ass this or they may lose respect of the long time fans and never have a shot at doing the true story justice.
andries price

i hope chris pine brad pitt robbie amell and nick palatas and kate melton will fit the ninja turtles suits chris pine will fit leonardo suit brad pitt will fit rapheal suit robbie amell will fit donatello suit nick palatas will fit michealengo suit kate melton will fit venus suit and jet li will fit the shredder suit jet li 's shredder is black know really back so im ready for this movie im a ninja turtle fan so i will see teenage mutant ninja turtles new movie in theatres 2011 see ya.
Terrance Davis

I am looking into getting casted in the new film, i just hope i make the deadline. Terrance Davis of Columbia, Missouri
Nicole Whitehurst

I wanna be in the movie!! my email is Nikkiejay91@aol.com i'm an actress who will only take real work! i am 18 years old and a loyal fan of the ninja turtles
Darkeiko

#23: Brad Pitt...as a Turtle? No...just no. He doesn't even suit the role of Raphael. They should bring back the original 1990 voice actor, John Pais, for Raphael. In fact, bring back all of them. I know they want to make them more expressive but I thought the original suits were good enough, to tell you the truth. Don't understand why they can't just use them old ones and bring back something that everyone recognizes. As far as I can tell, a LOT of people loved the original movie so why not bring back the familiar? Also, I hope this movie is actually...ya know...good. I really don't want to see TMNT go down the drain like other movies such as Dragonball Evolution and Street Fighter: Chun Li Origins (or some other name). I'm a fan of TMNT and I want the great movies that I've seen (aside from the third, although I've only seen a bit of it) to continue and keep up with the new generation who hasn't had the privilege of seeing them.
Sonny

come to think of it...wouldn't it be good to be done like Avatar? if u see the making of that film with the animations and facial emotions and how they are done, i think you might agree. Maybe then they can also slip in the proper voices
La Shella Carithers

Watching turtles with my 2 yr old right now!
amibeth love

i am excited to see the tmnt movie that'll be coming soon in 2011.i still hope venus de milo gets her chance to be in the movie.i've already posted 7 comments about her and they are good ones.anyway i have already put a few changes to her in my 2nd comment and put a fan cast in my 7th comment but if you want me to my fan cast in the 8th comment i'm happy to do so.blake foster as leonardo,eka darville as raphael,jason chan as donatello,nic sampson as michelangelo,bridget mindler as venus de milo,dustin hoffman as master splinter,amy adams as april o'neil,jake gyllenhaal as casey jones, annasophia robb as shadow jones and mia ling as karai.ok i'm done with my fan cast list,and if you get my comment can i please hear from you about if venus will be in the movieor not i would really like to see her in the new movie and the 3rd series.and hopfuly venus can have her second chnce i would really like that even in no one else does.good luck venus and you are super cool and awesome!that's all i had to say. thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/jdubdoinmeent John Williams J-Dub

some of yall must be in the younger generation of turtles, not sayin she wasnt cool but no other turtles can be in this movie but Leo,Donny,Mikey and Ralph

amibeth love

i sure do hope the images of these full turtle suits look like the 2003 series images including the venus suit.good luck venus,you're cooolllllll,and you're a.w.e.s.o.m.e.!
SCA

There have been several comments asking "why dont they just reuse the same costumes from the originals?" A good answer is that they are scarce... and falling apart. IF you can find a piece at all, specifically the head pieces, the paint is usually beaten up pretty bad from the years. I've been searching for a full suit, and haven't found them anywhere...
Scarletkiller

Well whatever they do I hope they use the same as the first movie cause they had the best look but over all I hope they make it
Mychellef

I let my 3 year old son watch the movies and the cartoons and now he wants a TMNT birthday party....anyone know where I can buy rent costumes that look closer to those used in the movie? Not just the cheap looking Party City ones?
http://www.facebook.com/jdubdoinmeent John Williams J-Dub

i sure hope they dnt kill the TMNT....if they bring back 1 of the 1st 2movies for the suits....ppl will come back to it...the suits was a HUGE part of the movies b/c of the real look but when part 3 came out the characters was cheesy as well as the wack ass suits!!!