In the alleged leaked internal Paramount e-mail outlining the studio's upcoming slate, the word on the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot was that the first draft was not good, that Paramount was "looking for another writer to come on this quickly as its a huge Viacom priority.”  It seems the memo speaks the truth: according to Deadline, Paramount has hired Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Iron Man) to rewrite the script for the cool sum of $1 million.  The studio is fast-tracking the production, hoping for a first draft by October 1st to enable a 2012 tentpole release.  One source remarked, "The studio is looking at this as its next huge franchise, like Transformers."

If that's the case, they put the right man in charge.  Ninja Turtles is housed at Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes, heretofore known for horror remakes like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street.  I'm a bit cynical about this whole process, but if we end up with something on the level of Transformers come 2012, I'll count it as a success.  Easier said then done?