Timeline-Bazaar/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2008 film)

***Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*** (sometimes abbreviated as ***TMNT***) is a 2008 computer-animated coming-of-age superhero comedy film based on the characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. Produced by Nickelodeon Movies, Village Roadshow Pictures, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, and Mirage Studios, and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it is directed by J. J. Abrams and written by Jon Vitti, Brian Lynch and Judd Apatow based on a screenplay by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. The film stars the voices of Liam Aiken, Taylor Lautner, Zeno Robinson, Ben Schwartz, Jackie Chan, Laura Bailey, Freddie Highmore, and Eminem.
In the bustling streets of New York City, crime and chaos run rampant. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo) have been vigilantly protecting their beloved city from the shadows, alongside their mentor, Splinter, who has raised them since they were babies. Now, they are about to face their most formidable foe yet when a new villain emerges to threaten their existence – the legendary and ruthless Shredder. Development on *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* began in February 2004. The year prior, Viacom had acquired the rights to the franchise from TimeWarner, with every future *Turtles* film being produced by Paramount Pictures. J. J. Abrams was attached to direct, with Jon Vitti, Brian Lynch, and Judd Apatow writing the story. Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall produced the film, with the animation produced by Animal Logic in Sydney, Australia. Christopher Lennertz composed the score.

*Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* premiered in Broadway on June 19, 2008, before it was released on July 4, 2008 in the United States. It later had its release in Australia and New Zealand on August 24, 2008 by Roadshow Films. It received praise for its voice cast, plot, screenplay, story, music, faithfulness to the source material, and depiction of the turtles, with some citing it as one of the best *Ninja Turtles* films. It grossed $436 million worldwide against its budget of $88 million, becoming the tenth highest-grossing film of 2008 and the fourth highest-grossing animated film of 2008. A sequel was released in 2010.

## Voice cast

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* Liam Aiken as Leonardo, the leading member of the Turtles.
* Taylor Lautner as Raphael, the hot-headed member of the Turtles.
* Zeno Robinson as Donatello, the tech genius member of the Turtles.
* Ben Schwartz as Michelangelo, the carefree party-loving member of the Turtles.
* Jackie Chan as Splinter, a mutant rat who is the Turtles' father.
* Laura Bailey as April O'Neill, a news reporter and high school senior.
* Freddie Highmore as Casey Jones, April O'Neill's love interest.
* Eminem as Shredder, the leader of the Foot Clan, and the main antagonist. Eminem's voice performance of Shredder marked it his first animated film role, and his first role in a PG-rated film.
* Julia Roberts as Karai, a member of the Foot Clan, who is a high-ranking member.
* Steve Carell as Dr. Baxter Stockman, a brilliant but mad scientist who works at Sacks Industries.
* Will Arnett and Seth Rogen as Bebop and Rocksteady, a mutant warthog and a mutant rhinoceros whom are a duo.
* Sara Ramirez as Principal Adriana, April's school principal.

## Production

### Development

Following the release of *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III*, New Line Cinema did not release any further *Turtles* films. By then, a planned fourth film was cancelled after the third film's overwhelmingly negative critical reception, which led to the series being languished in development hell for several years. In 2002, Warner Bros. Pictures announced a computer-animated *Turtles* reboot was in production, scheduled for release in late 2005.

In 2003, media giant Viacom, owner of Paramount Pictures, acquired the rights to the *Turtles* franchise in August for $250 million, while still holding a share with current owner Mirage Studios. In November, Paramount President and CEO Sherry Lansing announced the computer-animated *Turtles* reboot would be made. Originally to be directed by Mike Mitchell, J. J. Abrams took the position, with the film officially entering production in February 2004. The film's production would eventually involve Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall of their Kennedy/Marshall Company.

### Writing

During the film's development stage, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger were signed to write the screenplay for *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*. The screenwriting process was in process for 5 months, with several starting drafts, before the writing process began. In addition to writing the screenplay, Jon Vitti, Brian Lynch, and Judd Apatow wrote the film's story and script.

Unlike the previous films, where the Turtles were shown to me more adult-like, Aibel and Berger showed interest in having the Turtles be represented as actual teenagers, still growing up and learning more, and being more responsible of their actions. The choice was a wise one, though creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman wholeheartedly approved of the choice, with them having more creative delving into the personalities of the Turtles.

### Casting

Liam Aiken, Taylor Lautner, Zeno Robinson, and Ben Schwartz were cast as the four Turtles; Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Director J. J. Abrams envisioned the Turtles as actual teenagers, a vision that was never seen in the previous installments, where the Turtles are depicted as adults. Creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, who supervised with writing the story, approved of the decision to have the Turtles be teenagers.

Jackie Chan, Laura Bailey, and Freddie Highmore were added to the cast, voicing Splinter, the Turtles' father; April O'Neill, a news reporter and high school senior; and Casey Jones, April O'Neill's love interest. Highmore had previously been acting for the Nickelodeon film *The Spiderwick Chronicles*, also released in 2008.

Shredder was voiced by hip-hop icon Eminem after he gave a very genuine and angry-sounding voice performance in the recording studio. He described his voice recording sessions as "the most fun [I have] ever had". Test audiences adored his performance as Shredder. While voicing Shredder, Eminem gave his own twist to the character by adding references to his most popular albums and songs.

*More coming soon!*

### Animation

The animation for *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* was handled at Animal Logic in the Australian city of Sydney, with additional animation produced at its Los Angeles division in Rideback Ranch, and at its Canadian division in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company also provided the visual effects for the film.

*More coming soon!*

## *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack*

### Studio

Eastwood Scoring Stage,
Warner Bros. Studios

### Producer

Christopher Lennertz • Dr. Dre • Max Martin • Dr. Luke • Lil Yachty • "Weird Al" Yankovic • The Neptunes • Snoop Dogg

The score for *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* was composed by Christopher Lennertz, while the songs were produced and made by N.E.R.D., "Weird Al" Yankovic, Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Drake, and Lil Yachty. Lennertz's 14-piece score was included in the album, and was released through Geffen and Interscope Records on July 15, 2008.