Liebesman To Direct “Turtles”

The heroes on a half-shell have found a new director.

Wrath of the Titans diretor Jonathan Liebesman will helm the big-screen reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller are producing the live-action adaptation of what first was a cult black-and-white comic in the 1980s before turning into a kiddie sensation with a Saturday morning cartoon series and toyline. TMNT first leapt to the big screen with a hit 1990 movie from New Line that grossed $202 million worldwide, but two sequels generated diminishing returns. Warner Bros. gave it another go in 2007 with TMNT to merely fair results.

TMNT centered on four turtles given anthropomorphic qualities through a chance encounter with radiation. They take on the names of Renaissance artists – Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo and Donatello – and, through the teachings of a rat-turned-sensei named Splinter, hone ninja fighting skills to combat their arch-nemesis, an evil martial artist named Shredder. The brand prompted a slew of merchandising (Halloween costumes, video games, clothing).

Scott Mednick and Galen Walker, who produced the 2007 film, are also producing the new iteration, which was written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (they wrote Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol for Paramount).