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Turtles All the Way Down film adaptation (2017)

project history · status: completed · last event: milestone (2024-05-21)

In December 2017 John announced that the studio behind his earlier films would try to make a Turtles All the Way Down movie. After a screenplay, the hiring of director Hannah Marks and a 2022 shoot in Cincinnati starring Isabela Merced, the film premiered in Los Angeles in April 2024 and came out on Max on 2 May 2024.

Parts: John: make more Question Tuesday videos with the Turtles All the Way Down cast and director (2022) · John asks his Turtles set-interview guests their favourite Beatle and favourite colour (2022) · Hank's title calls the Turtles All the Way Down film the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie (2024)

Told alongside: Paper Towns film: production and release (2014)

About: Turtles All the Way Down, Turtles All the Way Down (film), Fox 2000 Pictures

date event what video
2017-12-05 announced After two months of talks on telling the story visually without the old OCD tropes, John announces that the studio and production company behind his earlier films will try to make a Turtles movie. On the Movies 00:02:51
2018-08-28 milestone John has just read Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker's beautiful screenplay adaptation of Turtles All the Way Down; he thinks it might actually become a movie and is excited but nervous. (hedged) The Book Was Better? 00:00:10
2019-02-19 milestone John says Hannah Marks has been hired as director of the Turtles All the Way Down movie. Battling Apathy and Searching for Meaning on Question Tuesday 00:02:26
2022-04-08 milestone John reminds Hank that Turtles All the Way Down is really going to be a movie, and introduces a conversation with its star, Isabela Merced. · also in: John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated Hank and John Discover Chippy Butties 00:00:29
2022-04-26 milestone John reports that today is the first day of the Turtles All the Way Down movie shoot, in Cincinnati. An Amazing Day 00:00:00
2022-05-24 milestone John introduces Cree, who plays Daisy in the Turtles All the Way Down movie. Hello! Meet Daisy! 00:00:00
2022-05-31 milestone John recaps the movie's casting news (Isabela Merced as Aza, Felix Mallard and Cree) and announces that he too has been cast, as number 19 on the call sheet. (playful) A Casting Announcement 00:00:00
2022-06-07 milestone John introduces Isabela Merced, the star of the Turtles All the Way Down movie, who plays Aza. Hello! Meet Aza! 00:00:00
2022-07-05 milestone John introduces director Hannah Marks on the Turtles All the Way Down set, the day after she directed his scene. Director Hannah Marks Is Nervous To Meet You 00:00:29
2022-09-13 milestone John is going to see the first cut of the Turtles All the Way Down film this week (week of 12 September 2022); release is a long way off, and he is very excited and a little nervous. A Million Things at Once 00:00:00
2024-02-06 looked back John says that the day after Turtles All the Way Down came out, a movie studio offered to option it. The Truth of How Books Become Movies 00:00:00
2024-02-06 announced John announces he got a call saying the Turtles All the Way Down movie is coming out later this year (2024) on Max. The Truth of How Books Become Movies 00:04:22
2024-04-04 announced Hank makes an extra Thursday video to announce that the Turtles All the Way Down trailer is out and the release date is May 2 on Max, formerly (and still in Europe) HBO Max. The New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie looks WEIRD!!! 00:00:00
2024-04-09 milestone Answering viewers, John says the Turtles All the Way Down film will stream on Max in the UK, the Netherlands and other listed places, out May 2 in most places including the US. Hank and John Reunited WITH RAX 00:04:57
2024-04-16 announced John says the film's trailer is live, linked in the description, and the film comes out May 2nd on Max. I Already Got Paid 00:03:14
2024-04-23 milestone John watched the film with an audience of about 1,400 at the LA Times book festival: incredible, special to feel the room's energy and read the responses afterwards. Full Hank 00:01:40
2024-04-30 outcome John got home last night from the amazing LA premiere of the Turtles All the Way Down film, celebrated with its makers, Kirsten Dunst, YouTube friends, Rosianna and the cast; his kids saw one of his movies for the first time and loved it. Not Doing That Great 00:00:00
2024-05-03 outcome Hank says the film is on Max; in the US Max can be had through the Play Store, the App Store, Amazon Prime or Max.com. Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down 00:02:39
2024-05-07 milestone Interviewing himself, John says he is thrilled with the response to the film so far: despite a minuscule marketing budget, it has reached so many people. A Secret about Art 00:00:29
2024-05-17 looked back John shows Hank a prop from the Turtles All the Way Down film, from the grand opening ceremony of the Pickett Center for Tuatara Research; he calls the beer sword the best prop. John and Hank FIGHT FOR DOMINANCE!!! 00:00:29
2024-05-20 milestone In a clip, Jared reads the sponsor message: the video is brought to you by the Turtles All the Way Down movie, out May 2nd on Max or HBO Max, depending on country. (playful) Hang on tight, spider monkey, it's the P4A 2024 MEME REVIEW!! 00:07:12
2024-05-21 milestone John has just finished a long press tour for the Turtles All the Way Down movie, speaking to lots of nice reporters. Getting Personal about Getting Personal 00:00:13

What is said about it

59 statements, by date (the events above are the turns of the thread; these are the details).

  • 2017-12-05 · On the Movies — announcement: John says this doesn't mean there will definitely be a movie, only that there might be one. (hedged) — 00:03:06
  • 2017-12-05 · On the Movies — John says he is really excited about the opportunity and the challenge of the Turtles movie, and hopes viewers are too. — 00:03:17
  • 2017-12-05 · On the Movies — announcement: John tells readers who care about the book that he will try to listen to them throughout the process. (hedged) — 00:03:32
  • 2019-02-19 · Battling Apathy and Searching for Meaning on Question Tuesday — announcement: John says Turtles All the Way Down is being made into a movie, hopefully, and Hannah Marks, who is wonderful and often watches these videos, has been hired as director. (hedged) — 00:02:26
  • 2022-05-24 · Hello! Meet Daisy! — Cree Cicchino: Cree says she is not working today but is visiting the set out of pure love for the cast and crew. — 00:00:00
  • 2022-05-24 · Hello! Meet Daisy! — John says that what is really powerful in the movie is Daisy saying, in effect, that she admits she does not know what this is like for you but believes you; Cree says she loved that about Daisy, and that Daisy gets to make some jokes. — 00:01:04
  • 2022-05-24 · Hello! Meet Daisy! — Cree Cicchino: Cree says the cast and crew know it is a really important assignment and take it very seriously. — 00:03:24
  • 2022-05-31 · A Casting Announcement — announcement: John recalls that in March The Hollywood Reporter announced Isabela Merced would play Aza in the movie adaptation of his book Turtles All the Way Down. — 00:00:00
  • 2022-05-31 · A Casting Announcement — announcement: John adds that Deadline Hollywood then reported that Felix Mallard and Cree would also be in the movie. — 00:00:00
  • 2022-05-31 · A Casting Announcement — In a comment John says he is off to learn his one line in the movie. — creator comment
  • 2022-05-31 · A Casting Announcement — John expects he will probably be cut from this movie too, and says that is okay. (playful, hedged) — 00:00:58
  • 2022-06-07 · Hello! Meet Aza! — John: The conversation is filmed on the day John's cameo is shot, which is physically uncomfortable for him; he asks how acting works. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2022-07-05 · Director Hannah Marks Is Nervous To Meet You — Hannah Marks: Hannah says the film's palette has pops of orange and teal, the colours of Aza's and Daisy's cars. — 00:03:05
  • 2024-02-06 · The Truth of How Books Become Movies — announcement: John: In a later comment John answers whether he finally has a cameo that makes it into the movie: maybe. (hedged) — creator comment
  • 2024-02-06 · The Truth of How Books Become Movies — announcement: John: In a later comment John says yes, everyone will watch the movie together on Discord, Reddit or somewhere when it comes out. — creator comment
  • 2024-02-06 · The Truth of How Books Become Movies — John says he never expected to love the Turtles script by the writers of Love, Simon, or to care so much about the cast, crew and director Hannah Marks. — 00:02:26
  • 2024-02-06 · The Truth of How Books Become Movies — John calls the Turtles movie truly brilliant: about class, friendship, free will and mental illness, raw and honest without feeling sensationalized. — 00:02:55
  • 2024-02-06 · The Truth of How Books Become Movies — John, admittedly biased, calls Turtles a great movie that tested well, but worried because it has no superheroes and isn't a franchise sequel. — 00:03:53
  • 2024-02-06 · The Truth of How Books Become Movies — John says some viewers wanted a big theatrical release, but in 2024, for this kind of movie, streaming is a massive win and the right way to share it. — 00:04:22
  • 2024-04-04 · The New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie looks WEIRD!!! — recommendation: Hank points viewers to the trailer link in the description so they can watch it. — 00:00:00
  • 2024-04-04 · The New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie looks WEIRD!!! — recommendation: In a channel comment John links the trailer and tells viewers to watch it, then watch it again, adding that nobody is paying him to say so. — creator comment
  • 2024-04-09 · Hank and John Reunited WITH RAX — John says the movie is so good; nobody paid him to say so, and they can't, which is part of why he took the deal he took. — 00:05:23
  • 2024-04-16 · I Already Got Paid — John asks viewers to keep in mind in the coming weeks that he already got paid for the Turtles All the Way Down film, so financially he does not care whether they see it. — 00:00:00
  • 2024-04-16 · I Already Got Paid — recommendation: John calls the Turtles All the Way Down movie brilliant, with extraordinary performances, the best portrayal of OCD as he experiences it he has seen in a movie, and funny and human. — 00:01:46
  • 2024-04-16 · I Already Got Paid — recommendation: John thinks the film is important especially for people who struggle with mental health or love someone who does, which is why he will promote it heavily. — 00:01:46
  • 2024-04-16 · I Already Got Paid — John says that once in a while hundreds of people come together to make something wonderful, and that happened with the Turtles All the Way Down movie. — 00:02:45
  • 2024-04-23 · Full Hank — The description says John is a ball of stress and worry but very grateful to everyone who watched the movie with them in Los Angeles over the weekend. — video description
  • 2024-04-23 · Full Hank — John has spent days in Los Angeles promoting the Turtles All the Way Down film: fun but overwhelming, lots of talking to strangers, but he loves the movie and wants to help it. — 00:01:40
  • 2024-04-23 · Full Hank — announcement: John says the Turtles All the Way Down film comes out May 2 on Max. — 00:01:40
  • 2024-04-23 · Full Hank — John says people have been generous about the film so far, which is awesome; it is the opportunity of a lifetime. — 00:02:10
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John: Flying to New York for press for the movie, which comes out Thursday, John says he is quite tired, physically and existentially, and a bit unwell. — 00:00:29
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John says being able to publish the book at all, have it become a film and love the movie means he has won a bunch of lotteries. — 00:00:29
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John genuinely loves the movie and the people who made it, and thinks it will help people and is extremely funny. — 00:00:58
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John will be home in Indianapolis in 72 hours, back to being a middle-aged dad and nerdfighter; for now he does the press because he wants people beyond nerdfighters to see the movie. — 00:02:26
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John says the film is better if you are a nerdfighter, because it has so many little love songs to the community. — 00:02:26
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John: Life is pretty weird, and John hopes the Turtles All the Way Down film, out Thursday, captures some of that complexity. (hedged) — 00:03:53
  • 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — ask: John hopes viewers like the film enough to tell their friends, since word of mouth is ultimately the only marketing campaign that matters. — 00:03:53
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank says that although John and many others worked hard on the Turtles All the Way Down film, nothing is immune from critique, so he feels morally obliged to list everything wrong with it. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank says he no longer likes it when a dad's death is a plot point: a couple of years ago that would have been fine, but now he does not love it. — 00:02:12
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank says one particular part of the film made him cry intensely just before he had to go to a business meeting, so John should have been more considerate. (playful) — 00:02:12
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank tells John the film is beautiful, amazing and remarkable, with many beautiful, intense and touching moments. — 00:02:39
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank says he watched the whole film without picking up his phone, which is not normal for him. — 00:02:39
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank says he is proud to be even peripherally connected to the film. — 00:02:39
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — recommendation: Hank tells viewers to finish the film, then use the Max subscription to watch a long list of other shows, from The Sopranos to Deadwood. (playful) — 00:03:08
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank thanks everyone online who has supported the film and says he has loved seeing what people create from it. — 00:03:08
  • 2024-05-03 · Everything Wrong with Turtles All the Way Down — Hank says that from The Fault in Our Stars film to this one it has been something to be part of both worlds in a weird way: he has not been part of it himself, but through John he has, and he is grateful. — 00:03:08
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John assembles a cheap step-and-repeat ordered for the film's Indianapolis premiere that didn't arrive in time, and feels like a reporter at the jankiest premiere ever. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — announcement: The description says the Turtles All the Way Down film is streaming on Max now and thanks everyone who brought their deepest selves to it. — video description
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John says that even if you don't have amazing billboards in Times Square, Nerdfighteria will make you amazing billboards in Times Square. — 00:00:36
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John says that in the end word of mouth is all that matters for a movie. — 00:00:44
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John says Nerdfighteria is the best, whether fighting tuberculosis or supporting the film's turtles that represent doubt and consciousness. (playful) — 00:00:57
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John: Writing a book only he must do that, but a movie asks about a hundred people to: directors and actors, also producers, writers, production designers and makeup artists. — 00:01:26
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John says he can easily bring his whole self to some paintings, like the Raymond Pettibon spiral painting featured in the film; he can hardly look away from it. — 00:02:27
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John says it means so much to him how many people, in Nerdfighteria and outside it, have opened their deepest selves to the film. — 00:02:58
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John thanks everyone who has seen themselves in Aza, Daisy, Davis or Aza's mom for that gift, and for making the film something they could never make alone. — 00:03:23
  • 2024-05-07 · A Secret about Art — John says many hours went into the step-and-repeat gag, which isn't even a good bit: you pour yourself into something and sometimes get the film, other times the cheap step-and-repeat; that's art. (playful) — 00:03:33
  • 2024-05-20 · Hang on tight, spider monkey, it's the P4A 2024 MEME REVIEW!! — sponsor: Hank repeats that, as Jarrod said, the video is brought to you by the Turtles movie, coming out on May 2nd, very soon. — 00:19:36
  • 2024-05-21 · Getting Personal about Getting Personal — John describes the basic press exchange: he uses a content machine that turns his life and stories into content to get people to see the movie, while the reporter turns life experiences and stories into content that generates subscriptions and ad revenue. — 00:00:13
  • 2024-05-21 · Getting Personal about Getting Personal — John and Sarah attended the Turtles All the Way Down premiere together; there he met a People reporter who was great, super respectful and incredibly well prepared. — 00:01:27