John Fusco, writer of The Forbidden Kingdom, has been hired to write the script for the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. However, this is no ordinary screenwriter. This screenwriter can also kick ass!
From Variety:
Fusco will certainly be able to handle the action elements. He’s been practicing martial arts since he was 12, and continues to study Shaolin kung fu.
“It is always exciting when you can come aboard a project that bridges the worlds of what you do with what you love,” Fusco said. Fusco will incorporate elements of the “Turtles” comics, created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman in 1983, for the new adventure, which is being planned as an origins story.
No director or studio are yet attached to the project, which is being funded through Lightbox Prods. 4Kids Entertainment is handling licensing for the pic.
Casting for martial artists to perform stunts in the film began over the weekend at the Hollywood and Highland complex.
I wouldn’t really call myself a TMNT fan, but I would definitely be up for a non-cheesy Batman Begins-style origin movie. Producer Scott Mednick recently said that the live-action film may employ face replacement technology, which would allow the turtles to be much more expressive. This suggests they could be a mix of both actor and CGI.
