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Jonathan Liebesman in Negotiations for the Live-Action 'Ninja Turtles'

by Ben Pearson
February 14, 2012
Source: Variety

Cowabunga, dudes! A new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film has been in development for years now, with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes production company set to shepherd the project into existence. Though most people know the famous heroes in a half-shell as the pizza-loving crime fighters presented in the animated series and previous films, the original incarnation of the Turtles was in comic book form and had a bit darker tone. The newest live-action movie - the first since 1993 - was said to be going back to the gritty roots of the comics, and Jonathan Liebesman (Battle Los Angeles) is now in negotiations to direct.

Variety brings word that Bay will produce along with Platinum Dunes co-founders Brad Fuller and Andrew Form. The plot is being kept secret, but the script was written by Ghost Protocol writers Josh Applebaum & Andre Nemec. Let's face it: in the wake of Batman Begins, a ton of movies are adopting the "gritty reboot" tactic. But when the original source material actually was gritty and dark, this may turn out OK. Platinum Dunes doesn't have a fantastic track record of quality with its reboots of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, etc, but if Liebesman - who has Wrath of the Titans hitting theaters later this year - can make this look something like Polaris Banks' Casey Jones fan film, then it could be pretty fantastic. Thoughts?

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

CrAzy Olyphant

First! I liked the texas chainsaw prequel and the killing floor but Battle: LA sucked big time....hmmm we shall see.
Chazzy

The more news released about this movie, the worse my expectations get.
Anyman

isn't he the same director who directed 'when darkness falls'? u know, the horror movie about the tooth fairy? if so, perhaps he can do TMNT justice in terms of dark and gritty
Bl00dwerK

There are certain properties that have no business being live-action. TMNT is one of them...
Haterade5000and1

PLATINUM DUNES: they wont be happy til they ruin EVERYTHING
theman

yes!!yessssssssssssssssss!Q!!!
http://www.facebook.com/ajay17 AJay Hubbard

Finally
Brandon

I am really excited for this. But I don't think I want Jonathan Liebesman directing. I know there is someone out there that will do a better job. TMNT fan for life!
http://twitter.com/darktaxidermist Davide Coppola

Only if Donatello's a nazi
ff

Battle LA=fail. Not looking good for the turtles...
Cookie

Oh good. Just the death blow to my expectations this project needed.
Solo_Calrissian

Regardless of if / when this project gets off the ground. It's kind of tough to believe the original live action movie came out in 22 yrs ago.
- grimjob
  
  Jesus, really? Gettin' old. I'm all for this. Loved the Turtles.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1523381468 Jon Chamberlain

I have followed the heroes in a hard shell since I was six (1989) and recently I picked up the new version of the comic. It is the story that Nickelodeon intend to adapt later this year. If this live action film is that story I am already mad. The Turtles were not experimented on in a lab. Apriel O'neil was never a lab assistant that majored in Art. Splinter was also from that lab. If this is the case how in gods name did he learn Martial Arts? Now I haven't read past the first issue but this made my blood boil.