Living Ninja Turtles?

Those famous half-shell heroes certainly have made the media rounds — from comic book to videogames, action figures, live-action feature, cartoon series, CG-animation, and now… back to live-action?

That would seem to be the case, according to TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES co-creator Kevin Eastman. While the recent (and surprisingly enjoyable) computer-animated flick was popular enough to make a sequel possible, Eastman recently posted on the Heavy Metal forums: “There has been much talk between Imagi and Warners to do a better “re-invention” (newest Hollywood buzzword) of the TMNT’s, in a live action film–like what was done with Batman. Back to basics, back to the origin and the intro of the Shredder, etc…there have been talks, trips to Northampton to talk to [TMNT co-creator] Mr Laird, and discussions with the original “first” TMNT film director Steve Barron to come back and do it right–but no official word yet…will keep you posted.“

It looks like those formerly fun-loving, toxically enhanced pet store refugee martial artists are “going dark”, one of the inevitable downsides of THE DARK KNIGHT’s massive profitability (Warner Bros. reportedly plans to take the same brooding direction with all their DC superhero movies).

Then again, I believe Eastman no longer holds any legal or financial rights to the TMNT property, so he could just be repeating rumors…