Michael Bay addresses fans over "Ninja Turtles" title change

(CBS News) Michael Bay has taken to his website again, in an attempt to calm fans criticizing his upcoming reboot of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

This time, he addressed qualms about a change to the movie's title - which is now simply called "Ninja Turtles."

In a post called "'Ninja Turtles' Title," Bay, who is producing the film, wrote, "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," he continued. "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 [Liebesman] the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN."

Last week, Bay asked fans to "take a breath and chill" after it was revealed that the film would change the Ninja Turtles' origin story - they'll come from an alien race, instead of being transformed by radioactive ooze.

"Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of 'Ninja Turtles' to help expand and give a more complex back story," he wrote on his website. "Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world."

The film is scheduled to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2013.