Earlier this week, a very negative script review of Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes’ Ninja Turtles surfaced and quickly made the rounds on various movie sites.
This comes after the reports from earlier this year that the title had been shortened from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” to Ninja Turtles. Back then, Bay had said that the turtles in the upcoming movie would be of alien origin. After much criticism, he said in March that “Paramount marketing changed the name. They made the title simple. The characters you all remember are exactly the same, and yes they still act like teenagers. Everything you remember, why you liked the characters, is in the movie. This script is being developed by two very smart writers, with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles. They care VERY MUCH about making this film for the fans. Everyone on this team cares about the fans. Just give them a chance. Jonathan the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE’S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN.”
We also talked to director Jonathan Liebesman in March who added: “I heard about it, and I’m glad there’s such a passionate fanbase–I think that was good news for everyone–but literally, I’ve just been locked in a room with Kevin Eastman. I think what we’re developing, the fans will love. I’m a fan, and I love what we’re doing. It’s a lot of stuff Kevin’s been thinking about for a long time and just hasn’t done. Anything we expand will tie right into the mythology, so I think fans will go apesh*t when they see it.”
After the script leak this week, Bay took to his site and said that the “leaked script for Ninja Turtles that different sites continue to comment on was written well before I, or anyone at Platinum Dunes, was involved with the project. That script saw the shredder a long time ago. This is tired, old news — Wait for the movie!”
This didn’t stop the negative reports, however, as it was first reported that Platinum Dunes got involved with the project in May of 2010 and the script was dated 1/30/12.
Bay finally made the following comment that seems to explain the situation:
“To end this stupid merry go round and explain the math…Yes we signed on two years ago to Turtles, but with no deal in place. Deal completed towards end of last year. And yes, thats how long deals sometimes take. So no work was done on the script. Blame Paramount, not us for the first draft.”
The studio is planning a May 16, 2014 release for Ninja Turtles, a date the film has to itself for now.
