Michael Bay Responds to TMNT Complaints

Posted by on March 20th, 2012   Filed under: Action, Books/Comics, Fandom
Source: Shoot for the Edit

Just in case you missed it yesterday, here’s the back story on Michael Bay’s latest attempt to incite a nerdpocalypse on the interweb. Over the weekend, a video clip found its way onto the web with Michael Bay talking briefly about his plan for the upcoming live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot. In his attempt to hype up the project, he let it slip that the Turtles in his movie would actually be from an “alien race,” which would seem to contradict the mutation origin story depicted in the comics and animated series (yes, even if the ooze itself came from outer space). As you might expect, fans flipped out… perhaps prematurely. Now Michael Bay has taken to his own website with a short message to try and placate fans. Here’s what he had to say:


“Fans need to take a breath, and chill. They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles to help expand and give a more complex back story. Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world.”

I don’t know about you, but I feel better already! Seriously though, I will admit that if Kevin Eastman is actually involved in the film (he was responsible for getting the reboot started in the first place), that is probably a good thing, although I’d feel a lot better if these reassurances were coming from him rather than Bay. Plus I am kind of intrigued by the idea of having Krang and other wacky Dimension X creatures being involved, if that’s what they are implying.

I don’t think we can judge the movie based on one or two sentences from Michael Bay, however, I do think we can judge it based on Michael Bay’s previous track record. I still don’t have high hopes, but for what it’s worth, the latest draft of the script is being written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol). What do you think, does this make you slightly less outraged? Will you give Michael Bay’s Ninja Turtles a chance or will you avoid it like the plague?



  • Theman

    Why is there a debate on if they’re aliens or Mutants? Its in the fucking title.

  • Not anymore. Bay’s movie is supposedly just going to be called Ninja Turtles.

  • rjdelight

    People should be more concerned with who’s attached to direct this. Jonathan Liebesman? That guy hasn’t done anything worthwhile.

  • that quote shouldn’t put anyone at ease, Bay isn’t good with scripts

  • They have a new series with an original creator involved that’s supposed to be really good and in that series, it is revealed that the turtles are actually the reincarnated spirits of of Splinter’s slain warrior sons. People who have read the series say it works. There are many versions of the turtles from the original guys. in the original self-published comic that became a huge unexpected hit, Splinter is killed in the first issue. The animated series is way more kid-friendly and the Archie comic has Mutanimals and crazy stuff. Even though it’s all different. It was all a total blast. Turtles is just unique that way. I think it’s because the core concept is so strong. Just some thoughts from a guy who misses his hundred TMNT toys.

  • Derek McFarland

    Tarantino and Rodriguez would have been a great team, sharing the directors chair; and doing a gritty spin on the movie, like the original Ninja Turtles comics.

    Just hearing Michael Bay’s name, makes me cringe.

  • This just in, the turtles will actually be using Kung – Fu… seriously though, even if its not a big deal if the turtles are actually aliens in the grand scheme of things, its Bay’s history of irreverence for source material that bothers fans. Nolan has made significant changes to Batman lore, but he is also a good director.

  • Nobody should ever be at ease about any film as long as Bay is attached to it.

  • Theman

    “Nolan has made significant changes to Batman lore, but he is also a GOOD Director.”

    Also Nolan’s vision is more in line with the comic lore than any of the previous films. I don’t think By has earned fans respect….

  • Brendan

    Well, as long as it has a poor story, paper-thin characters and muddy action sequences like Bay’s other films, I’m on board!

  • Gerry

    Michael Bay looks a bit like Toby from The Office.

  • Rogo

    I’ve decided to write a biography of Michael Bay. I am changing his back story slightly to make it richer don’t worry I’m still keeping everything you love about him. She’s now Michelle Bay, a hard working milk maid from Iowa who dreams of one day owning a donkey and settling down with the local butcher, who only butchers meat instead of beloved characters from my childhood.

  • I’m just so glad that I was too old for the TMNT’s when they were actually popular. I’d discovered pubs by that point. But all this talk of boycotts and faux shock get me down. Relax…those up in arms will see it anyway. And the term “Raped my Childhood” has been so, so overused over the years that we need a moratorium on that one. Yes, I’m grumpy, but so what!

  • And how do you get a picture (icon) on this message board? I can’t seem to find a way to edit it or link to URL etc…
    Cheers,

  • If you want an avatar in the comments, you just need to create an account at Gravatar.com and use the same e-mail address you are using here.

  • Kasper

    The whole idea of “ninja turtles” is pretty stupid, so I don’t care much if they’re mutant or alien turtles. The bigger problem is the shitty and talentless director who’ll most likely ruin any chance of the movie being good.

  • Thanks Sean…I’ll get to work on Gravatar!

  • Mark

    Michael Bay sucks a bags of dicks.

  • Freeman

    @James, The problem isn’t that “raped my childhood” is being used so frequently, it is that it is almost always associated with Michael Bay.

    Michael Bay, Please stop ruining my most beloved childhood series. Put the film away and let this one go. Unhand my MUTANTS.