So who's making the next movie, huh?

[kzekedaurus]

I see a lot of actor threads in this section; who should play who and whatnot. Generally, you guys seem good at putting faces to names. You know who you want. But I'm more interested in the people behind the big picture. The studio. The writers. The directors. The kind you don't usually follow unless the title of the movie has their name stamped above it.

Of course, we all know that Michael Bay's (speaking of faces) Platinum Dunes is producing, and that Jonathan Liebesman is directing. Darkness Falls, Battle: LA, Wrath of the Titans. Can't say I enjoyed any of those flicks, but at least I know what kind of director he is, and I can predict what kind of Turtles movie he'd make. And that's what I'm looking for: the vision.

Now. Those guys are probably there to stay with the project until either it's released or gets shelved; I can't change that. But I'm still planning to watch the damn movie.

What I want to know is, if you could pick a director for a <hypothetical> turtles movie, who would it be? Or maybe, any studios who fit the bill? Favorite writers? And what kind of vision do you think they would have for the TMNT franchise? I'm sure this has been talked about before, but I couldn't find any old threads, and I genuinely want to know. What are you looking for, and who do you think could give it to you?

And yes, you can nominate yerself!

[alliance]

Michael Bay + Megan Fox = Venus

thats what i want!!

[Powder]

Lloyd Kaufman & Troma.

[hitmonkey]

I'd love to see the Turtles directed by Robert Rodriguez. His filmography is all over the place, from Desperado to Spy Kids to Sin City. He's got a very distinct visual style, and he's pretty darned good when it comes to casting as well, proven especially by Sin City. As for the script, I'd honestly like to see it handled by the Nick TMNT crew. Those guys know what they're doing, and how to take elements from all previous incarnations of the franchise and make it into something new yet familiar.

[Andrew NDB]

I'd love to see the Turtles directed by Robert Rodriguez. His filmography is all over the place, from Desperado to Spy Kids to Sin City. He's got a very distinct visual style, and he's pretty darned good when it comes to casting as well, proven especially by Sin City. As for the script, I'd honestly like to see it handled by the Nick TMNT crew.

Oh yeah. Rodriguez could do it for sure.

Those guys know what they're doing, and how to take elements from all previous incarnations of the franchise and make it into something new yet familiar.

But who says that making a TMNT jumbalaya is the way to go? Seems fan-ficcy to me.

[Jester]

^MIRAGE OR BUST!!!!

Sorry....


I'd like to see the return of Steve Barron.

[hitmonkey]

Oh yeah. Rodriguez could do it for sure.



But who says that making a TMNT jumbalaya is the way to go? Seems fan-ficcy to me.

I don't know, I think that's what all comic adaptations seem to do. Marvel especially takes bits and pieces from various versions of their characters, and use them to create the film version. That's all I was implying, and it's currently what the Nick series is doing. It's got Mirage, it's got Fred Wolf, it's got movie 1 and it's got some IDW. I wouldn't call it fan-fic quality, though.

[Andrew NDB]

I don't know, I think that's what all comic adaptations seem to do. Marvel especially takes bits and pieces from various versions of their characters, and use them to create the film version. That's all I was implying, and it's currently what the Nick series is doing. It's got Mirage, it's got Fred Wolf, it's got movie 1 and it's got some IDW. I wouldn't call it fan-fic quality, though.

But the best received Marvel films -- or comic book movies in general -- are the ones that seem to be the most faithful to the source material. Iron Man. Avengers. Batman Begins. Dark Knight. Spider-Man. The Crow. Watchmen. New ideas and "takes" are used, sure, but any spinoff content in those movie formulas is pretty infinitesimal.

And the simple fact is that they've never even tried to do a source material adaptation of the TMNT source material. The closest they've ever come is the first movie, and that was pretty unarguably the most successful, with diminishing returns the more and more subsequent films veered from that. Why then should the solution be to try and draw from a bunch of children's spinoff material for an encore in TMNT: The Movie Part 5? It baffles me.

[hitmonkey]

But the best received Marvel films -- or comic book movies in general -- are the ones that seem to be the most faithful to the source material. Iron Man. Avengers. Batman Begins. Dark Knight. Spider-Man. The Crow. Watchmen. New ideas and "takes" are used, sure, but any spinoff content in those movie formulas is pretty infinitesimal.
I think we might be misunderstanding one another because I'm saying they should do exactly what Marvel did with Iron Man and the Avengers. They take the original version of the world and characters, then add in some of the "Ultimate" series and throw in a little bit from the Incredible Hulk TV show, and they use those ideas to craft the film version of their universe. They aren't doing straight adaptations of just the original comics, otherwise Iron Man would have been injured in Vietnam and Bucky Barnes would have been a teenage sidekick in WWII.

[rufus]

Hard question.
I'll echo Jester's suggestion on seeing Barron helm another Turtles Flick. Would be interesting to see what he would do differently.

Would also love to see some of the following
David Cronenberg.
Paul Verhoeven.

[Xav]

Zack Snyder

[Slap-Happy]

I wish TMNT could be directed by someone like Matthew Vaughn, Edgar Wright, or James Gunn. They all have a sort of strange, magical realism sensibility to their films that would fit perfectly.

[chrisdude]

And the simple fact is that they've never even tried to do a source material adaptation of the TMNT source material. The closest they've ever come is the first movie, and that was pretty unarguably the most successful, with diminishing returns the more and more subsequent films veered from that. Why then should the solution be to try and draw from a bunch of children's spinoff material for an encore in TMNT: The Movie Part 5? It baffles me.That strategy is doing pretty amazing for Nickelodeon, right now.

Honestly, I don't see how you could adapt the Mirage comics much better than he first movie did. In tone, perhaps. (Reading the first three volumes of the 'Ultimate Collection' has only made me appreciate the first movie more.) But adapting the stories of the first few issues into a movie sounds like a guaranteed mess.

Is adapting the first few issues what you would do? If so, where would you stop?

But I'm no filmmaker. And I do agree that the fact that it hasn't been done is reason enough to want it. It's been almost 30 years...

EDIT:
Hey, I forgot to answer the question.
I guess I would go Matthew Vaughn as director? I just really liked the feel of Kick-Ass. I would certainly want motion-capture suits. And I'd want Donnie Yen to do fight choreography. It's not ninjutsu, but when have the turtles ever been? I don't think anyone would care. Plus, he studies a lot of stuff... But his fights are my favorite of all.

[kzekedaurus]

Thanks all, for your responses. I was busy, so I wasn't able to write more. I'd like to contribute as well, so I'll put out John Carpenter. I love love love so many of his movies. Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York, Big Trouble in Little China, They Live... the man has the magic touch when it comes to cult classics. I love the low-key lighting and settings, and filming techniques that he uses, and I think it would be an interesting counter point to the typical flash-and-bang blockbusters. At the same time, he hasn't put out a lot in the 2000's, so I'm kind of iffy.

I'd also like to add Guillermo del Toro. Each of his movies are rich in artistry and detail and any world he could build for the turtles would be a beautiful one. Plus, the guy has access to an excellent team of make-up and costume artists, so he's got that in the bag too.

[Andrew NDB]

That strategy is doing pretty amazing for Nickelodeon, right now.

Nominally. And what works for a children's cartoon is not quite the same beast as what would work for a full length, mass-market feature film.

[Jester]

Nominally. And what works for a children's cartoon is not quite the same beast as what would work for a full length, mass-market feature film.
Barron did an okay job at it...

[zodiac brave]

the honest robert rodriguez fan and the sincerest tmnt fan in me are in %100 percent agreement that, while he IS awesome, rodriguez wouldn't do the turtles justice in a film. his style is so "HIM" that it would come off as a robert rodriguez ninja turtle flick, as opposed to a tmnt flick that was directed by robert rodriguez. weird, i know...

another property that might fit the analogy is star wars. a lot of people wanted joss whedon to direct episode 7, because, well...GEEKGASM, but his style and dialogue are so distinctly his that they would distract from the "star wars-iness."

in terms of who WOULD be good...matthew vaughn is a damn good choice. his range is much like rodriguez's but a bit more subtle in execution.

[ToTheNines]

Bret Ratner was in talks to direct before Liebesman was hired. I think he woulda been a better pick.

[Xav]

Barron did an okay job at it...
Except he didn't really. He did an Mirage based film with some OT influences
Bret Ratner was in talks to direct before Liebesman was hired. I think he woulda been a better pick.
Where did you read that?

[NinjaPug]

Joel Schumacher would be a good choice.

[Jephael]

I'd kinda like to see Joss Wheadon direct a Ninja Turtle film. He seems to know what makes a good comic book based action movie!

[NinjaPug]

If Whedon made a TMNT movie he would make April a kick-ass heroine and Casey and/or Splinter would die. Whedon would nail the dialogue between the Turtles though.

[ToTheNines]

Where did you read that?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-wrath-titans-director-290554

If Whedon made a TMNT movie he would make April a kick-ass heroine and Casey and/or Splinter would die. Whedon would nail the dialogue between the Turtles though.

Yes, because directors do the exact same thing with every movie they make.

[Xav]

I'd kinda like to see Joss Wheadon direct a Ninja Turtle film. He seems to know what makes a good comic book based action movie!Ironically Laird said Whedon would be his ideal director.

[NinjaPug]

Yes, because directors do the exact same thing with every movie they make.


I guess my sarcasm wasn't evident. I would actually love if Whedon was the director.

[ToTheNines]

Lol, my apologies. You're new (and avatar-less members all blend together for me) so I'm not used to your posting style. Plus I pegged you for an idiot after the Schumaker comment, which is surely also sarcasm.

[Cure]

I dunnooooooo. Have you guys heard what Joss Whedon originally wanted to do with Black Widow in Avengers? The ideas almost sounded like he was doing a parody of himself.

[NinjaPug]

Yes, the Schumacher comment was definitely a joke. I thought about throwing in a comment about nipples on the turtles so it was obvious I wasn't serious.

I dunnooooooo. Have you guys heard what Joss Whedon originally wanted to do with Black Widow in Avengers? The ideas almost sounded like he was doing a parody of himself.

Which was? His original script had Wasp instead of Black Widow because he wasn't sure of ScarJo's availability.

[Donnie]

I agree with Jester, I really would have been happy with Steve Barron.