Steve Barron Was “Basically Cut Out” Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles During Post-Production
Despite director Steve Barron’s cruciality to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles getting made, especially with his ties to Jim Henson from the original The Dark Crystal, Golden Harvest, the studio backing the production, was not too happy with his vision for the film, believing it to be too dark for children. With no money left for re-shoots, Barron, with Henson’s help, attempted to receive funds from then-Disney employee Jeffrey Katzenberg, but behind Golden Harvest’s back. When the studio caught wind of this, the director received word that he was being cut from his role with the film.