Original (Non "Blue Door") Script?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Hey everyone,

Has anyone ever been able to find a copy of the script that existed before Platinum Dunes went in and bled all over it with a red pen? Not "The Blue Door", but the story as it would have been presented with Fichtner as the Shredder.

I'd really like to know what the original story was supposed to be before their poorly revised changes. As much as I disliked the thought of an American Shredder (Eric Sachs), they completely botched it with their take on Oroku Saki as the Shredder. And the mutagen as a "cure" to some virus was just terrible.

Eric Sachs as the Shredder and the mutagen being used to create super soldiers would have made a much better movie...

[TrickOrTreater]

Hey everyone,

Has anyone ever been able to find a copy of the script that existed before Platinum Dunes went in and bled all over it with a red pen? Not "The Blue Door", but the story as it would have been presented with Fichtner as the Shredder.

I'd really like to know what the original story was supposed to be before their poorly revised changes. As much as I disliked the thought of an American Shredder (Eric Sachs), they completely botched it with their take on Oroku Saki as the Shredder. And the mutagen as a "cure" to some virus was just terrible.

Eric Sachs as the Shredder and the mutagen being used to create super soldiers would have made a much better movie...

Not really.

It would have just been a different, bad movie. Definitely not better and probably not worse.

EDIT: Also, don't think any original scripts have been released besides Blue Door, to my knowledge.

[Warboss74]

The Blue Door script was the original script, or at least the one before Bay ' s alien comments led to the production being shut down.

[Powder]

The Blue Door script was the original script, or at least the one before Bay ' s alien comments led to the production being shut down.

No, it's just one of many. The real original script was done by Fusco. Then, after the buyout, Blue Door was written. What OP is asking for is the original draft of the film we got, before re-shoots took Fichtner out of the Shredder role (which none of us have).

[Candy Kappa]

I'd imagine it's pretty much the same, just without the scenes of that Japanese man we are never really told is Oroku Saki, and the face-off with Vernon and April Vs Sacks and his horrible aim.

[IndigoErth]

There was something before Blue Door? Someone needs to leak that, darn it. Get with the leaking, somebody.


Yeah, I doubt the original version of the used script is too much different. Figure the Shredder suit footage doesn't matter as they could just dub over another voice with ease, tweak some dialogue a little and shoot a few short pieces of Asian Shredder to make it look legit.

[Candy Kappa]

Considering Shredder never takes off his helmet nor do we see him don the armor, it's not reaching to conclude it's the exact same rendered scenes from the Shredder!Sacks period. And probably a good explanation on why April gets the "killing blow" on Shredder.

[TrickOrTreater]

Considering Shredder never takes off his helmet nor do we see him don the armor, it's not reaching to conclude it's the exact same rendered scenes from the Shredder!Sacks period. And probably a good explanation on why April gets the "killing blow" on Shredder.

Yep. And when Splinter is talking about Shredder and it really obviously and jarringly keeps cutting to Megan Fox while he's talking.

They didn't even bother reanimating anything.

[IndigoErth]

And probably a good explanation on why April gets the "killing blow" on Shredder.
Hmmm, good point, if she was dealing the final blow to the man responsible for her father's death. (Even if I still wish either way it would have been the Turtles.)

[Galactus]

Considering Shredder never takes off his helmet nor do we see him don the armor, it's not reaching to conclude it's the exact same rendered scenes from the Shredder!Sacks period. And probably a good explanation on why April gets the "killing blow" on Shredder.

Definitely. If I remember correctly one of the Japanese trailers that used footage with Fichtner's voice coming out of the Shredder armor looked exactly the same.

I gave the movie another show last night and I noticed a few things. One being that Shredder's body language when holding up Splinter seems a bit "off" with how Masamune played the character but it fits exactly with how Fichtner played Sacks.

I'd imagine it's pretty much the same, just without the scenes of that Japanese man we are never really told is Oroku Saki, and the face-off with Vernon and April Vs Sacks and his horrible aim.

There was also a plot change that we know of. The journalists that were invited to the set to watch a scene being filmed described that the mutagen was to make super soldiers and Sachs who was definitely the Shredder injecting three of his ninja with the mutagen he extracted from the turtles.

Yep. And when Splinter is talking about Shredder and it really obviously and jarringly keeps cutting to Megan Fox while he's talking.

They didn't even bother reanimating anything.

The scene in the lair is a bit of a mess in general. I do think the reanimated some small parts as we know Vern was in the lair with them and I'd say that scene is the most obvious Megan is interacting with super imposed characters as I'm sure they didn't have as much time to redo that scene given it was a late addition but there's definitely some odd cuts that I feel was to cover things up.

[Warboss74]

No, it's just one of many. The real original script was done by Fusco. Then, after the buyout, Blue Door was written. What OP is asking for is the original draft of the film we got, before re-shoots took Fichtner out of the Shredder role (which none of us have).
The original as in what Platinum Dunes was going to do.

[Powder]

The original as in what Platinum Dunes was going to do.

Well, yeah, but no. Blue Door was Platinum Dunes too, you know.

[TrickOrTreater]

The original as in what Platinum Dunes was going to do.

Well, yeah, but no. Blue Door was Platinum Dunes too, you know.

"In late May 2010, it was announced that Paramount and Nickelodeon had brought Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Bradley Fuller and Andrew Form on to produce the next film that will reboot the film series. Bay, Fuller, and Form would produce alongside Walker and Mednick. For the script, the studio originally hired Matt Holloway and Art Marcum to write the film for close to a million dollars. According to TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, the John Fusco version was a little too edgy for what Paramount wanted."

http://deadline.com/2010/05/platinum-dunes-steers-turtles-relaunch-44238/

Literally from the very beginning.

And yes, Blue Door was Platinum Dunes

"In August 2012, an early version of the script, dated 1/30/12, titled "The Blue Door" and written by Appelbaum and Nemec, was leaked online"

Note the dates.

[d_osborn]

The OP was asking about the original shooting script, dated around 3/13, not the early development drafts. The early shooting script has never popped up online, but I wouldn't be shocked to see it at some point.

It's pretty well documented that THE BLUE DOOR was a Platinum Dunes development script.

There was something before Blue Door? Someone needs to leak that, darn it. Get with the leaking, somebody.

Yeah, Eastman said the Fusco script was more in the vein of Nolan's Batman. I've been dying to read this thing for years. Fingers crossed it leaks.

[Commenter 42]

"In late May 2010, it was announced that Paramount and Nickelodeon had brought Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Bradley Fuller and Andrew Form on to produce the next film that will reboot the film series. Bay, Fuller, and Form would produce alongside Walker and Mednick. For the script, the studio originally hired Matt Holloway and Art Marcum to write the film for close to a million dollars. According to TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, the John Fusco version was a little too edgy for what Paramount wanted."

http://deadline.com/2010/05/platinum-dunes-steers-turtles-relaunch-44238/

Literally from the very beginning.

And yes, Blue Door was Platinum Dunes

"In August 2012, an early version of the script, dated 1/30/12, titled "The Blue Door" and written by Appelbaum and Nemec, was leaked online"

Note the dates.

It's really interesting how the production just flat out lies when leaks emerge.
" that wasn't our script" blah blah blah.
Why not come clean, " yeah, we thought it would be a cool idea, but the fans have spoken, and we are listening! We want to make the best movie we can, so hearing from the fan base is crucial! I'm glad the leak happened, it's valuable insight to have!"

[TrickOrTreater]

It's really interesting how the production just flat out lies when leaks emerge.
" that wasn't our script" blah blah blah.
Why not come clean, " yeah, we thought it would be a cool idea, but the fans have spoken, and we are listening! We want to make the best movie we can, so hearing from the fan base is crucial! I'm glad the leak happened, it's valuable insight to have!"

And the scariest thing is, some morons on this very message board bought it hook, line, and sinker.

They bought the lies and spin and threw money at them for it.

[IndigoErth]

It's really interesting how the production just flat out lies when leaks emerge.
" that wasn't our script" blah blah blah.
Why not come clean, " yeah, we thought it would be a cool idea, but the fans have spoken, and we are listening! We want to make the best movie we can, so hearing from the fan base is crucial! I'm glad the leak happened, it's valuable insight to have!"
Yeah, it's just irksome. Smarter people with a dose of humility could have simply said or implied "Yeah, it was a thing, but that has been tossed out, here's the better thing we're doing instead..." and kept some level of respect for doing so. Lie, as if they believe the public won't know the difference, and the trust is gone. Aliens "taken out of context" my ass. Tired of power seekers who believe not admitting or being wrong and covering their ass is more important.

[Leo656]

Thing is, they have to lie. They can't just flat-out say, "We don't know how to make the movie, we don't know the material." Why would people pay them to make it, or pay to see the finished product? Like, if you knew for a fact that your car was built by a crew of Autistic chimpanzees, would you still buy it, just because it "seemed" fine by outward appearances? All things in life operate on the assumption that Other People Know What They're Doing.

If they told the truth about the movie, they'd have to admit that only Fans have any business writing scripts for properties based on cartoons and comics, and they'll never do that. Hollywood works entirely based on "We're professionals, we know better than you." And while there are Fans working within "The System", outing oneself as a "fan" is the quickest way to get kicked off a project, because they are "too close to the material" and "not willing to experiment or try out new ideas for a broader audience". :roll:

So, you get hacks who "research" by looking at cover art with zero context, they slap some "script" together on a Starbucks napkin, and tell themselves, "It's a visual medium, as long as it looks exciting people won't care. I mean c'mon, it's (Property X), who's even going to know?"

Basically, "Hollywood" thinks they're smarter than you, and the entire system is built on The Lie. They can't expose the lie or everything falls apart. They will NEVER ask for "fan input", or if they do, it's only the absolute minimum amount of acceptable lip service before they go do their own thing anyway. They need your money, so they want you to feel important, but you're not.

It's how I knew that "Eastman is working closely with us on the movie" was a blatant, desperate lie. If anything, he probably begged them to be involved in even the tiniest way. They definitely didn't go to him. Kevin Eastman is a "Lowly Comic Book Writer" who was married to a D-level model/actress, while even people who FAIL in Hollywood get to write "real movies" and bang "Real" actresses. There is an entire system set up to keep people like Eastman from having ANY real input whatsoever. Because "If he knew anything he'd be one of them". You have to understand how people who are In the system look at people who are Not.

[TrickOrTreater]

Thing is, they have to lie. They can't just flat-out say, "We don't know how to make the movie, we don't know the material." Why would people pay them to make it, or pay to see the finished product? Like, if you knew for a fact that your car was built by a crew of Autistic chimpanzees, would you still buy it, just because it "seemed" fine by outward appearances? All things in life operate on the assumption that Other People Know What They're Doing.

If they told the truth about the movie, they'd have to admit that only Fans have any business writing scripts for properties based on cartoons and comics, and they'll never do that. Hollywood works entirely based on "We're professionals, we know better than you." And while there are Fans working within "The System", outing oneself as a "fan" is the quickest way to get kicked off a project, because they are "too close to the material" and "not willing to experiment or try out new ideas for a broader audience". :roll:

So, you get hacks who "research" by looking at cover art with zero context, they slap some "script" together on a Starbucks napkin, and tell themselves, "It's a visual medium, as long as it looks exciting people won't care. I mean c'mon, it's (Property X), who's even going to know?"

Basically, "Hollywood" thinks they're smarter than you, and the entire system is built on The Lie. They can't expose the lie or everything falls apart. They will NEVER ask for "fan input", or if they do, it's only the absolute minimum amount of acceptable lip service before they go do their own thing anyway. They need your money, so they want you to feel important, but you're not.

It's how I knew that "Eastman is working closely with us on the movie" was a blatant, desperate lie. If anything, he probably begged them to be involved in even the tiniest way. They definitely didn't go to him. Kevin Eastman is a "Lowly Comic Book Writer" who was married to a D-level model/actress, while even people who FAIL in Hollywood get to write "real movies" and bang "Real" actresses. There is an entire system set up to keep people like Eastman from having ANY real input whatsoever. Because "If he knew anything he'd be one of them". You have to understand how people who are In the system look at people who are Not.

Exactly this.

This is also how you get the new Fantastic Four reboot, and how awful IT sounds.

For example. Victor Von Doom, mighty leader/dictator of his own f*cking European country, genius, regal, larger than life super villain, the villain that inspired the creation of DARTH VADER...is now Victor Domaschev, "anti-social programmer who is known on blog sites as 'Doom.'"

That is, word for word, straight from the mouth of the actor playing him.

Somebody got PAID to do that to Victor Von Doom for the new movie.

[Leo656]

"Just wait and see. I'm sure they had a good reason for doing it and the final movie will vindicate it. Besides, it's different."

........................Wow, just typing that was physically painful. :lol: I'unno how some folks can actually think that way.

To be fair, "Victor Von Doom" is a pretty sh*tty name to begin with, but Stan Lee is a pretty sh*tty writer to begin with. I can't fault anyone for wanting to tweak that part, but the rest is just asscrackers.

[IndigoErth]

Yeah, with a big liar banner strapped to their heads along with a stupid arrogant grin. (What's wrong Bay, Liebesman, etc., couldn't make it in politics?)

[Leo656]

:lol: I don't think Bay would be a believable politician. Simply because, he's not a believable anything. He literally looks as if every word he says is false. He comes off as a completely unlikable, untrustworthy person. And he always looks kind of greasy.

[d_osborn]

It's how I knew that "Eastman is working closely with us on the movie" was a blatant, desperate lie. If anything, he probably begged them to be involved in even the tiniest way. They definitely didn't go to him.
I've actually heard the exact opposite. Both Laird and Eastman were approached by the production to consult and bounce ideas. As courtesy? Out of respect? Bragging rights? Who knows. Probably a little of all. Laird wanted nothing to do with it, and Eastman agreed. They didn't go to E&L at Day One in the process, obviously. For better or worse, PD already had their concept in place and end goal in mind. Eastman even worked on some concept art pretty early on. Here's one of his Shredder concepts from 2011. This general look/idea carried over pretty far in development throughout THE BLUE DOOR version, so his thoughts were obviously considered pretty heavily by the production.
http://i.imgur.com/JTJ4bWg.jpg?1


Kevin Eastman is a "Lowly Comic Book Writer" who was married to a D-level model/actress, while even people who FAIL in Hollywood get to write "real movies" and bang "Real" actresses.
Damn, you guys are harsh.

Back on topic, I saw a new post on a big script retailer site that listed TMNT '14, but it was unfortunately THE BLUE DOOR draft, not the shooting script. Fingers crossed that more drafts leak, out of sheer curiosity.

[Leo656]

That comment is how "real writers/producers" from Hollywood would think it/say it. I personally think most comic writers have better skills than anybody working in movies. And I'm fine with Julie Strain, although one could hardly call her a "star" or anything.

I was putting it in terms of how "Big Shots" would look at it. From their perspective, Eastman's practically Nobody, because that's how everyone working in Hollywood thinks of everyone who Doesn't. "If they knew anything, they'd be here, but they're not, so they don't."

[d_osborn]

That comment is how "real writers/producers" from Hollywood would think it/say it. I personally think most comic writers have better skills than anybody working in movies. And I'm fine with Julie Strain, although one could hardly call her a "star" or anything.

I was putting it in terms of how "Big Shots" would look at it. From their perspective, Eastman's practically Nobody, because that's how everyone working in Hollywood thinks of everyone who Doesn't. "If they knew anything, they'd be here, but they're not, so they don't."
That's a pretty broad generalization. I know many screenwriters and producers, both young and old. Independent, big studio, small movies, big budget comic franchises, and a lot in between. I'm sure they're out there, but I've never run across or heard of anyone with that much of a malicious attitude towards non-industry people. To them, it's just a job, like any other.

In many above the line circles, you would probably find that producers (and DEFINITELY screenwriters) would jump at the chance to swap places with Eastman's TMNT success, if not downright respect it. I'm not exactly sure where his ex-wife fits into any of this.

[Venom]

For anyone interested in reading The Blue Door script and hasn't, PM me your email.

I've forgotten which draft it is, but it's the Casey/April-heavy, alien warrior Turtles, General Schrader version.

[TrickOrTreater]

There's also a 12 minute synopsis video on youtube, just search "blue door tmnt"

[d_osborn]

I've forgotten which draft it is, but it's the Casey/April-heavy, alien warrior Turtles, General Schrader version.
The commonly available leaked THE BLUE DOOR script is the 1/30/12 draft.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

After reading the full 119-page "Blue Door" script, all I can ask is...

Did that screenwriter do bathsalts, LSD, or both to come up with that idea?

Some of the dialogue between the Turtles was good, and the Splinter versus Bebop & Rocksteady fight was good. The rest...

No matter how bad some of us may think the movie was, THIS was 1000 times worse.

[TrickOrTreater]

After reading the full 119-page "Blue Door" script, all I can ask is...

Did that screenwriter do bathsalts, LSD, or both to come up with that idea?

Some of the dialogue between the Turtles was good, and the Splinter versus Bebop & Rocksteady fight was good. The rest...

No matter how bad some of us may think the movie was, THIS was 1000 times worse.

It was written by the exact same people.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Unfortunately, you are exactly right. :tcry:

It was written by the exact same people.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

And the worst part of it is, "The Blue Door" feels like it actually had a lot of effort put into it.

The final result just feels like the production team said, "Oh, they didn't like that? Well, the IDW origin has them as lab animals... take out the reincarnation because that's complicated... take out Casey because he's written as Shia... WTF, good enough. Let's go get lunch."

I think I'm actually depressed now. :ksad:

[IndigoErth]

After reading the full 119-page "Blue Door" script, all I can ask is...

Did that screenwriter do bathsalts, LSD, or both to come up with that idea?
LOL!! I know, right?

And the worst part of it is, "The Blue Door" feels like it actually had a lot of effort put into it.
Having just recently read it... felt the same. There is more depth to that script, but then it's slathered in too much WTF.

If it was a script for characters no one had ever heard about before, were not already attached to for the last 30 years and might never hear about again -- it might have worked out just fine. It could have been an interesting script. But. You can't do that to the Turtles.

The last portions of that was painful to get through. Moistened the eye slightly I admit, but not in a good way. Clearly they wanted to leave off on an emotional note, but one that leaves you with a bad feeling is not a good aim. I get that they tried to put a positive message into it there at the end, but these are the Turtles... so in order to incorporate that message the Turtles have to lose everything they ever knew, including each other, and 'we'/Earth lose them? Oh hell no. Took me a day or two to get over the feeling it left me with. :ohwell:

Also kinda showed the lack of fandom/understanding of the writers imo, given that such ideas were great in their mind while most fans prob would not want that.


On a positive note, I laughed WAY too hard when Casey is dealing with April and, if I'm recalling it correctly, Leo tells him it's nothing that a dinner at a nice French(?) Bistro couldn't fix. :lol::lol::lol: Leo, such a cultured romantic you are! Totally knowing about those things out of zero experience. lol


That and the part after Leo and Raph fight in the U-Haul that says...

Raph releases Leo. Don and Mikey standing between them as the Turtles catch their breath. After a beat, Leo, while eye-f***ing Raph, addresses Mikey:

WHAT?? I get that there is use of those words that means he was basically glaring aggressively at Raph, but that is not the only meaning and NOT the first that came to mind. Geeze...leave it for the back alley fan stuff... Forget being creative in the writing, just say he was "glaring aggressively!" LOL

[Powder]

*art*

Somehow, I, the ever-informed image collector, have never seen this before. :o

Is there more concept art from KE? Please share it, if so. :tsmile:

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Depth + WTF + Dude, do you even know TMNT?

This isn't Volume 4; you don't end the movie with the four splitting off and going their separate ways...

Y'know, if they had removed the Turtle Warriors of Dimension X and Shredder as a Bladed Alien in Disguise, this would have actually been better than what we got. Not that it would have been great, but it would have been better.

Now that I've read the script, I've lost ALL HOPE for TMNT 2 being anything as good as what I postulated for a "City at War" sequel. I'm... I'm honestly afraid to try to figure out what they'll do.

The Honest Trailers guys were right: "Man... the Ninja Turtles are f*cked."

Having just recently read it... felt the same. There is more depth to that script, but then it's slathered in too much WTF.

If it was a script for characters no one had ever heard about before, were not already attached to for the last 30 years and might never hear about again -- it might have worked out just fine. It could have been an interesting script. But. You can't do that to the Turtles.

The last portions of that was painful to get through. Moistened the eye slightly I admit, but not in a good way. Clearly they wanted to leave off on an emotional note, but one that leaves you with a bad feeling is not a good aim. I get that they tried to put a positive message into it there at the end, but these are the Turtles... so in order to incorporate that message the Turtles have to lose everything they ever knew, including each other, and 'we'/Earth lose them? Oh hell no. Took me a day or two to get over the feeling it left me with. :ohwell:

Also kinda showed the lack of fandom/understanding of the writers imo, given that such ideas were great in their mind while most fans prob would not want that.

On a positive note, I laughed WAY too hard when Casey is dealing with April and, if I'm recalling it correctly, Leo tells him it's nothing that a dinner at a nice French(?) Bistro couldn't fix. :lol::lol::lol: Leo, such a cultured romantic you are! Totally knowing about those things out of zero experience. lol

[IndigoErth]

Have to admit that reading it made me fearful that they could get ideas of trying to go back to it eventually. Film people, don't even think about it. (Ironically I just got stuck with my fingers trying to spell the word "film" as "fail"...) Do not try to end a series of movies that way. Seriously.