Ninja Turtles Co-Creator Not Happy With Megan Fox Playing April ONeil
The announcement that Michael Bays Platinum Dunes would be rebooting theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesmovie franchise has always faced harsh criticism from those who feel the words Platinum Dunes and Michael Bay aresynonymous with wholesale slaughter of sacred cinematic cows.
EvenTMNT co-creator Peter Laird had harsh things to say when a supposed script for the re-brandedNinja Turtlessurfaced one in which the characters origins had drastically revised into a sci-fi opera about extraterrestrial beings. Whereas Lairds former collaborator Kevin Eastman is supporting theNinja Turtlesreboot, Laird has been pretty forthcoming with his displeasure including casting Megan Fox as April ONeil the spunky reporter who befriends the warrior turtle gang.
Laird took to his personal blog recently, and had this to say regarding the Megan Fox issue:
My only exposure to Megan Fox as an actress is through her role in two Transformers movies and the wretched (but happily forgettable) Jennifers Body. It may not be fair to judge her range of acting skills just from those three movies, but I think it is safe to say that there are probably hundreds of better choices for the role of April ONeil. Of course, her name has promotional value, and maybe thats what they want. Who knows? I cant get myself too worked up about it.
Just so were clear: Peter Laird has no say or control over what happens with this new film so if youre counting on him to be the sane man in the room who helps this project somehow avoid what looks to be impending disaster youre faith is in the wrong place. Lairds well-measured words DO have the power to rile up the most ardent fans who will likely point to this case as evidence that the Platinum Dunes crew are (once again) screwing up their childhood. After all, if one of the TMNTcreators doesnt like it
The most interesting thing about all of this is watching the almost bi-polar divergence in opinion between the two men who first createdTMNT. BetweenEastmans impassioned defense of Ninja Turtles and Lairds figurative sighs of disappointment (see above), one b! egins to ! wonder if one party isnt more responsible than the other for the propertys transformation from an imaginatively gritty and violent series of comics, to the over-milked, bubble-gum-flavored cash-cow it has become over the years. Not sayin, just sayin
Do you agree with Laird that there are hundreds of better choices than Megan Fox for the role of April ONeil, or do you think having Americas premiere piece of eye candy back in the hands of Bay is match made in heaven?
Ninja Turtlesflies into theaters on June 6th, 2014.
Source: Peter Laird (via CBM)