First pics of Megan Fox as April O'Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

April O'Neil looks to have ditched the yellow jump suit...

The first pictures of Megan Fox playing the TV news reporter have been snapped from the set of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'.

[Related story: Ninja Turtles creator slates Megan Fox casting]
[Related story: Ninja Turtles casts its Splinter]

Shooting on 5th Avenue, the pictures show Fox's O'Neil inexplicably – for now – bouncing on a fitness trampoline and hanging out with cast and crew.

The pictures have also revealed the identity of Will Arnett's character in the forthcoming reboot of the mutant reptile comic strip.

The 'Arrested Development' star will be playing Vernon Fenwick, April's cameraman, who in the cartoon series was a cowardly foil to the plucky reporter.

Whether the pictures will alter the opinion of the Turtles creator Peter Laird remains to be seen.

The writer poured scorn on Fox's recruitment as O'Neil when it was announced.

“My only exposure to Megan Fox as an actress is through her role in two 'Transformers' movies and the wretched (but happily forgettable) 'Jennifer's Body',” he said.

“It may not be fair to judge her range of acting skills just from those three movies, but I think it is safe to say that there are probably hundreds of better choices for the role of April O'Neil.”

Ouch.

Michael Bay, who is producing the film, recently recanted on talk that the turtles would be alien creatures and not genetic mutations as depicted in the comic books.

“There was that quote saying that we're making [the Ninja Turtles as] aliens. We're not. It's the ooze,” he said.

“It's from the original source material... I do listen to the fans and I do want this to be authentic. I think they're going to be really happy with this movie. When I see the digital stuff, the turtles look great.”

It's being directed by 'Wrath of the Titans' helmsman Jonathan Liebsman and is due out on 16 May 2014.