Tag: Kevin Eastman

Kevin Eastman Explains The Delay On Michael Bay’s Ninja Turtles Movie

by Shawn Madden

Not too long ago it was announced that we would be would be getting a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Fans were excited until they saw Michael Bay’s name attached to it. However, since day one co-creator Kevin Eastman has been telling us not to worry about it, stating how much he was loving it and that he was on board. He even did an hour long Geekscape in which he allayed our fears.

Last June it was announced that the movie would be pushed back until May of 2014 thus leaving many wondering what was going on with it. Well, Eastman has given a bit of an update as to the reasoning behind the decision.

“Essentially they pushed it back for two reasons: One is the director, Jonathan Liebesman, wanted to make sure he could do the effects to the level he wants them at, and the fight scenes to the way they should be. Also, their release date is almost exactly on the 30th anniversary. May 5, 1984 is when the first Turtles comic came out. May 16, 2014, is almost exactly 30 years after. So basically it’s an anniversary movie now.”

“I tal”ked to [producer] Scott Mednick yesterday, and he’s seen the most recent 50 [script] pages and said it’s as good as the last version — they’ve really knocked it out of the park,” Eastman said. “I’ve seen a chunk of it, and it’s going to be a great movie, despite what everybody thinks.”

And apparently Eastman is busy working closely with Liebesman, Mednick and writers Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec.

“Doing sketches, drawings and character designs, bouncing stuff around with the writers, talking with the director and the producers — I’m actively involved.”

Source: CBR

UPDATE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reboot Pushed Back to 2014

by Shawn Madden

For those who were looking forward to seeing the pizza loving turtles return to the big screen in 2013…I have bad news for you. THR is reporting that Paramount has decided to move the film back to 2014. This makes the third Paramount movie to get a massive delay.

Sources are claiming that the reason for the delay is due to the script which is being written by Kevin Eastman and Andre Nemec. Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans) is set to direct and the movie is being produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Could this be like GI Joe: Retaliation where there is more to the story than is being told? I mean…what could be wrong with a TMNT script written by well…the creator?

UPDATE: Deadline is reporting now that Paramount pushed production back 10 weeks in order to cut the budget down $10-20M to $125 million. Also, the new release date is going to be May 16th, 2014.

First Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Illustration Sells For $71,700! Jonathan Outbid!

by Jonathan

Okay, so I didn’t really bid. I knew that the original TMNT illustration was going to go for boku bucks when Kevin Eastman came on Geekscape and talked to me about this amazing auction! Go back and listen to the hour plus episode if you haven’t already!

And now it has. According to the below press release, the original piece of Eastman artwork (pictured below) sold for $71,700 on Friday, May 11, at Heritage Auctions in Dallas.

Congrats to Kevin and the entire TMNT crew!

If you are jones-ing for some old school Ninja Turtles, IDW just put out a colored version of the original Eastman and Laird first issue last week in comic shops. Definitely seek it out. I read it last night before going to sleep and Laura asked me why I was crying in bed. I told her “tears of joy, my love, half-shelled, weapon slinging tears of joy.” She said “you’re weird” and went to sleep.

Here is the original press release from Heritage Auctions:

First Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Illustration brings $71,700 at Heritage Auctions

Auctioned by Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman via Heritage Auctions; The first full artwork of the TMNT, which led to one of the most successful comics character franchises in history

DALLAS – The first-ever full artwork of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird – the illustration that launched one of the most successful character franchises in history – sold for $71,700 on Friday, May 11, at Heritage Auctions in Dallas as part of a Vintage Comics & Comic Art Auction. It sold to an anonymous buyer.

The drawing was consigned by Turtles Co-Creator Kevin Eastman, who drew it with Laird one night in late November, 1983. Eastman has designated an undisclosed percentage of profits from the auction proceeds to benefit The Hero Initiative, a non-profit he is active with that provides a financial safety net for comic artists and writers (www.heroinitiative.org).

“What an incredibly exciting week this has been! The Turtles have been blessed with the best fans on the planet, so I chose this event to make available personal historical TMNT items for those really hardcore supporters – but WHOA – what a response!” wrote Eastman in a statement to the auction house. “My many, many, thanks to all the fans that have given me the best job in the world, and for their love for a great, goofy, bunch of green guys that just wanted to be normal teenagers – Mutant Ninja ones anyway!”

“There was widespread international interest from collectors and fans of the Turtles alike,” Barry Sandoval, Director of Operations for the Comics Department at Heritage, “and the impressive price realized for this artwork is tribute to that. For 30 years the Turtles have been a worldwide phenomenon, entertaining hundreds of millions of children and that influence shows no sign of slowing with the upcoming TV and film projects featuring the team. This is a piece of pop culture that will only increase in value and influence over the coming decades.”

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $800 million, and 700,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

Geekscape 260: TMNT Co-Creator Kevin Eastman

by Jonathan

If you’d have told me at age 10 that Kevin Eastman would be hanging out in my living room talking to me about co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, my head would have exploded! And you know what? It’s just as fantastic today! Kevin emailed me last week about coming on the show and we get right to business, talking about his upcoming Heritage Auction of original Ninja Turtles items, the new TMNT series from IDW, creating the Turtles, the Michael Bay controversy and his return to making comics! We also talk about his ownership and publication of Heavy Metal magazine, the different interpretations of TMNT over the years and why he really disliked the 2nd Ninja Turtles movie! This is a pretty awesome interview that is definitely going to be a favorite if you’re a Ninja Turtles fan or not! Cowabunga!

Find it on iTunes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:26:04 — 52.6MB)

These Bad Ass TMNT Paintings Will Make You Hate Michael Bay Even More!

by Jonathan

My friend Leo (irony?) brought these images to my attention on his Facebook wall. They are the work of Dave Rapoza and the guy is seriously talented. Just check out his full lineup of TMNT characters in the below gallery.

Seriously, why isn’t this guy a part of the new film? With designs like these, presenting cartoonish characters taken seriously on a level that both adults and kids can appreciate, this would be a Hollywood adaptation that we’d actually want to see! If the filmmakers like the idea of aliens so much, can we get them seats on the next satellite launch off planet (permanently)?

Check these out and try arguing that these wouldn’t make a bad ass TMNT movie: