It looks like Paramount has finally learned their lesson the very, very hard way. After scuttling three movies slated for a 2012 release into 2013 — "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters," "World War Z" and "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" — it seems studio executives have decided to actually read the script of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," and they don't like what they see. They really don't like it.
Even though pre-production was underway in Vancouver, with a Christmas 2013 release date planned, the studio has delayed "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" pushed the release date back to May 16, 2014. It seems inconceivable to us that a movie about four talking turtles with martial arts skills from an alien planet (or something), with a sewer rat for a sensei, could possibly have story problems…right? But as Deadline elaborates a combination of script issues and concerns about keeping the budget down to around $125 million (!?) have forced the delay.
But the effects of the hiatus on the pic have further reaching consequences. THR adds that the film was being seen as something that could not only revive the brand, but the ratings-challenged Nickelodeon itself (owned by Paramount's parent company Viacom). But clearly, Paramount is not ready to fall down another financial rabbit hole with this one until everything is the right place creatively. You would think they would've learned this a few movies ago…
Director Jonathan Liebesman is still on board, and we suppose Kid Cudi is too, though hew have no idea who he might play. But it looks like Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo will have to wait a bit longer to get another shot at eating pizza on the big screen. And it looks like super-fans, who were worried by what Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes were going to do to their heroes on the half shell, can breathe a sigh of relief. For now.
