Ninja Turtles Makin' A Comeback!

[James Harvey]

Check this:

Director John Woo ("Mission: Impossible 2") is developing a computer-animated feature film based on the $4 billion "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise, according to Variety.

"I've always loved the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," Woo said. "It's one of the greatest action-adventure properties ever."

The film will return the heroes "to their darker, edgier comic book roots," according to 'Turtles' co-creator Peter Laird.

Woo will work on the project with his production partner Terence Chang. The picture's estimated production cost will fall between $40 million and $60 million. No Hollywood studio is attached to co-finance or distribute the project which is tentatively scheduled to hit theaters in Christmas 2002.


Neat!

[The Dork Knight]

Oh god no. I'm sick of the Ninja Turtles. Loved em as a little kid now I hate them. It'll probably flop after one week.

[James Harvey]

I think it's gonna be awesome becuase it's in good hands!

[The Mad Hatter]

Hey, DG, where did you read this?

Well, I've read the _original_ original TMNT comics way back in the day (back before they were done by Archie), and they weren't too bad. If they're done that way, then why not?

[The Mad Hatter]

Wait, I just read the key word. This was in VARIETY?? Good lord. I could have sworn this was a rumor that Harry Knowles took as gospel, but this looks like the real deal.

Well, chalk up another surprise. I could have sworn George Lucas wouldn't release the Phantom Menace on DVD till 2006, but we're getting it this fall.

[Vin]

Woo, Digital, Mirage on 'Turtles' pic
Estimated prod'n cost to fall between $40 mil-$60 mil

By TIM SWANSON

HOLLYWOOD -- Director John Woo and producer Terence Chang's Digital Rim Entertainment have inked a deal with Mirage Studios to develop and produce a CGI-animated feature film based on the $4 billion "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise.

Pic's estimated production cost will fall between $40 million and $60 million and will return the shell-backed heroes "to their darker, edgier comic book roots," according to "Turtles" co-creator Peter Laird, owner of Mirage Licensing, which reps Mirage Studios.

Digital Rim has already produced a new animated "Turtles" TV pilot, which inspired the company to pursue the film rights. The pilot is currently being shopped at the networks.

"John and I look forward to working with Peter to incorporate these original extreme martial arts characters into a terrific first CGI film for Digital Rim, fusing traditional Hollywood creative know-how and highly advanced computer technology," Chang said.

"I've always loved the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' " Woo added. "It's one of the greatest action-adventure properties ever."

Honolulu-based Digital Rim was formed last October when Woo and Chang linked up with vidgame and TV production company Rainbow Studios and South Korea-based J.G. Lee's Digital Dream Studio (DDS) to produce digital and CGI-animated pics and vidgames.

Rainbow Studios and DDS will handle the animation duties on the still untitled "Turtles" film. Woo and Chang's Lion Rock Prods. will collaborate on the development and production. No Hollywood studio is attached to co-finance or distribute the pic.

"Were not looking for financing or distribution right now," Digital Rim prexy Earl Jarred told Daily Variety. "We are looking to develop a script and see what happens with the TV series."

Although already working on "Ark," another CGI film, "Turtles" will most likely be Digital Rim's feature film debut. Pic is tentatively skedded to hit theaters in Christmas 2002.

William Morris Agency repped both Digital Rim and Mirage on this project.

[Flying Grayson]

At least this one was spaced from the last ones.
After the second one it was like... what... two weeks later the have the third?
I loved them when I was younger. I don't know How I would react now.

[DerekPowers]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANT WAIT TO SEE SHREDDER IN CGI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tim Drake]

The first season was great. When it was still the Japanese anime with english dubbing. Then the japanese version left america and we were left with some american crap version. Ah well. I'd still like to see how TMNT ended in the japan version

[James Harvey]

I hope they adapt some of the early Mirage series. I can rmemeber in one of the books where the silders comletely trash Leonardo. They throw him though a fence, whip him with chains, and beat the snot out of him in a snowy construction site.

[The Mad Hatter]

When it was still the Japanese anime with english dubbing. Then the japanese version left america and we were left with some american crap version. Ah well. I'd still like to see how TMNT ended in the japan version

Um, there never was a Japanese version. The show was always made by MWS, an American company. They just had some superb overseas animators for the first season or so, before switching to cheaper animators. So the TMNT series has always been American.

[James Harvey]

Since the crew behind the animaiton of ROUGHNECKS is handling it...I'm not worried. ROUGHNECKS had some great CGI, especially in the action scnees and some movements. I think they'll do a great job reproducing the gritty look of the original TMNT and NYC.

[Nightwing]

What I wouldn't give to see TMNT in it's better years of animation on TV again. For once in a blue moon those American organizations did an excellent job piecing it all together.

Originally posted by DickGrayson
I think they'll do a great job reproducing the gritty look of the original TMNT and NYC.

That's what I'm looking foward to the most too. And I wouldn't worry about those "nostalgic fears" either -you love it when you're younger but when you look at it a decade later it's horrible- because I have the first TMNT movie on DVD and I loved every second. I even noticed some things a younger me wouldn't have.

And Woo is doing it. So like DG said, it's in REALLY good hands!