New Info on Casey & Colin Jost's Live-Action TMNT Movie
In 2020, Nickelodeon announced a new animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie called "Mutant Mayhem" with Seth Rogen attached as a producer. The news was exciting. We were getting a new TMNT movie. However, a year later in 2021, Deadline reported that Colin and Casey Jost were writing a separate Ninja Turtles movie for Paramount as well. Unlike the Rogen-produced film, this project was rumored to be live-action. Casey Jost even added fuel to the fire by posting a childhood photo of himself and his brother dressed in Ninja Turtles costumes on Instagram the same day the news broke. After a period of silence, Casey Jost recently appeared on the Funbearable podcast as a guest and revealed some details about the TMNT project that he and his brother are working on. So, what's the latest on the Jost brothers' Ninja Turtles movie? Let's dive in:
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The movie will be written by Casey and Colin Jost, who are brothers and lifelong fans of the Ninja Turtles. The Jost brothers have confirmed that they have finished writing the script, but there is still a long way to go before the movie is filmed. The studio could still give notes or ask for rewrites, and the Jost brothers have acknowledged that they don't know what direction the script will take in the end.
Despite this uncertainty, the Jost brothers have shared some exciting details about the script. They have tried to balance the fun and action of the franchise with the darker elements that have always been present in the Ninja Turtles universe. They have also drawn inspiration from some of their favorite movies, such as Ghostbusters and other fun action-comedies.
Jost emphasized that they want to make a good story first and foremost. They have acknowledged the challenges of dealing with a pre-existing IP, but they have also said that it is easier in some ways because the Turtles already have a well-established framework. They are excited about the possibility of casting and incorporating Easter eggs (such as a Kevin Nash cameo) and references to the franchise, and they have even hinted at the possibility of incorporating toy ideas into the movie.
One of the most interesting tidbits of information that Jost shared is their desire to make the movie feel closer to the 1990s Turtles movies and the original look of the franchise. They want to avoid overusing CGI and instead invoke the practical effects of the original movies.
Finally, Jost shared a hilarious anecdote about a scene that did not make it into the script. They wanted to include a moment where Mikey talks to Optimus Prime from the Transformers franchise, but unfortunately, it did not make the final cut.
Overall, it sounds like the potential new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie could be in good hands with the Jost brothers. They seem like passionate fans of the franchise who are committed to creating a movie that honors the beloved characters and storylines while also bringing something fresh and exciting to the table. Fans will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting more news about the movie as it progresses through development.