Michael Bay Tells Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fans to ‘Chill’ about Adaptation

By Jason Boog 

Transformers director Michael Bay is producing an upcoming live-action adaptation of the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, but he angered fans when he noted changes in the Turtles’ mythology: “These turtles are from an alien race, and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely loveable.”

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created the Turtles in a black and white comic in 1984 (original concept sketch pictured, via), telling the story of turtles mutated into action heroes by radioactive sewer sludge. Removing these mutant origins, Bay’s new take generated a wave of online criticism.

Bay responded in a forum post on his personal site: “Fans need to take a breath, and chill. They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles to help expand and give a more complex back story. Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world.”