'Ninja Turtles' delayed to 2014 over budget concerns

Paramount Pictures' planned "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" reboot has run into new trouble, pushing both the production's start date and the film's release date.

The new film is now targeting 2014.

Deadline is reporting the studio is pushing back the production's start date 10 weeks in an effort to trim the budget by $10 million or $20 million. The film, which was slated for a Dec. 25, 2013, release is now targeting May 16, 2014.

According to the report, the studio is looking to get the budget down to $125 million.

This isn't the first trouble for the reboot. Producer Michael Bay courted fan outrage earlier this year when he mentioned that the Turtles' origin story would be more alien in nature than in the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" comics, cartoon series and movies. This was compounded when Paramount Studios announced the title for the upcoming movie was being shortened to "Ninja Turtles."

The new film will be directed by Jonathan Liebesman ("Wrath of the Titans") based on a screenplay from Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol").

'Ninja Turtles' to start filming later this year

Amidst controversy over the potential retooling of the characters' origin story, producer Michael Bay's "Ninja Turtles" will begin filming later this year.

Filming is expected to begin this fall.

The Province is reporting (found via Comingsoon.net) that production will start in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in either late summer or early fall.

Bay courted fan outrage earlier this year when he mentioned that the Turtles' origin story would be more alien in nature than in the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" comics, cartoon series and movies. This was compounded when Paramount Studios announced the title for the upcoming movie was being shortened to "Ninja Turtles."

In March, Bay responded to the controversy on his website, posting:

"Paramount marketing changed the name. They made the title simple. The characters you all remember are exactly the same, and yes they still act like teenagers. Everything you remember, why you liked the characters, is in the movie. This script is being developed by two very smart writers, with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles. They care VERY MUCH about making this film for the fans. Everyone on this team cares about the fans. Just give them a chance. Jonathan the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE’S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN."

The new film will be directed by Jonathan Liebesman ("Wrath of the Titans") based on a screenplay from Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol").

The movie is set for release on Dec. 25, 2013.

Fourth 'Transformers' film will be director Bay's last

For director Michael Bay, the fourth "Transfomers" film will be his last time at the helm of the billion-dollar franchise.

The fourth film will feature a new cast.

In an interview with the L.A. Times' Hero Complex about the new Transformers ride at Universal Studios, Bay said the fourth film will include some redesigns for the robots and an entirely new cast.

He added that the film will set up the franchise "for the next guy."

Bay's involvement with the upcoming fourth film was revealed in February when Lorenzo Di Bonaventura let it slip to MTV News that they were looking at a summer 2014 release date.

Bay's latest update falls in line with what Di Bonaventura said about the film featuring a new cast, although the latter said Optimus Prime and Bumblebee would be making returns.

The three "Transformers" films have grossed a collective $2.6 billion worldwide.

'Transformers 4' to hit theaters in Summer 2014

Director Michael Bay will be returning to his multi-billion dollar "Transformers" franchise with a fourth film due out in the summer of 2014.

The third film earned $1.1 billion.

That's what producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura told MTV News today (Monday), adding that the new film will feature new characters and storylines.

"He's excited," Di Bonaventura said of Bay, who directed all three "Transformers" films, which have grossed a collective $2.6 billion worldwide.

"I think the challenge there is we really are going to do a reboot," he said, but added he did not mean it in the "Spider-Man" sense in which "The Amazing Spider-Man" is throwing out everything from Sam Raimi's trilogy and started from scratch.

"It's an evolution," Di Bonaventura said. "There's still continuity that's going on and yet there's going to be a lot of new cast. It's going to be a whole new story."

Although at first he said he couldn't say for sure if anybody would be returning due to the fact that there is no story at this time, he did say that Optimus Prime and Bumblebee would be back for the fourth film.

'Ouija' joins Universal's board game scrap heap

It's been three weeks since Universal dropped its plans to adapt the board game Clue into a feature film, and now it appears the studio is boxing up its Ouija adaptation as well.

Ouija is the latest project to be scrapped.

Vulture is reporting the studio has put the project, which features producer Michael Bay ("Transformers") and director McG ("Charlie's Angels," "Terminator Salvation"), in turnaround.

According to the report, Ouija was part of a gigantic deal between Universal and Hasbro to develop up to six films based on the toy company's products, including Candy Land, Stretch Armstrong, Battleship and Clue.

Earlier this month, Universal dropped the Clue adaptation, although director Gore Verbinski remains on the project, which he is also set to produce. It hasn't been a good month for Verbinski, with Disney pulling the plug on his Lone Ranger project as well.

As for Ouija, McG is expected to shop the project around to other studios to find a new home.

Meanwhile, Vulture reports Universal is continuing to develop Candyland and Stretch Armstrong. "Battleship" is set for release next year, with the first teaser trailer hitting the web last week.