TMNT: Seinfeld Actor Replaced As Voice Of 'Master Splinter' Exploring Legal Options

TMNT: Seinfeld Actor Replaced As Voice Of 'Master Splinter' Exploring Legal Options

Last week, Deadline reported that Tony Shalhoub ("Monk") would be voicing 'Master Splinter' in the Michael Bay-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Which came as a surprise to Seinfeld actor Danny Woodburn who physically performed the role.

By nailbiter111 - Apr 08, 2014 03:04 PM EST
Source: Danny Woodburn
Last week, Danny Woodburn, who is best known for his roles in Seinfeld and Watchmen, was shocked to learn that he had been replaced as the voice of 'Master Splinter' in the Michael Bay-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He isn't taking the news lying down, and has responded, "my legal team is looking into it." While it sounds interesting, it doesn't seem as though the actor has a leg to stand on. That's according to a source for Deadline's Mike Fleming  who said, "the actors were only guaranteed to physically perform the roles in costume."
The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES directed by Jonathan Liebesman ("Wrath of the Titans"), and produced by Michael Bay ("The Rock"). The script was written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, based on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The cast includes: Megan Fox as April O'Neil, Alan Ritchson as Raphael, Noel Fisher as Michelangelo, Danny Woodburn as Splinter, Jeremy Howard as Donatello, Pete Ploszek as Leonardo, Will Arnett as Vernon and William Fichtner as Shredder. It lands in theaters August 8, 2014.
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Pasto
Pasto - 4/8/2014, 3:43 PM
Sue them bitches.
Pasto
Pasto - 4/8/2014, 3:44 PM
Lmao at the fact that they didn't tell him he was going to be replaced in the voicing department.
staypuffed
staypuffed - 4/8/2014, 3:52 PM
Everything about this film makes my insides hurt.
GenerationX
GenerationX - 4/8/2014, 3:52 PM
It was a surprised? ok....
Starfox
Starfox - 4/8/2014, 3:54 PM
*sigh* Michael Bay...
GenerationX
GenerationX - 4/8/2014, 3:55 PM
Also, if it was not in his contract saying he could not be replaced there ain't shit he can do about it...good luck with your battle guy, you ain't gonna win
Indy
Indy - 4/8/2014, 3:56 PM
JatevinM
JatevinM - 4/8/2014, 3:57 PM
There is nothing he can do about that
Batman52
Batman52 - 4/8/2014, 4:01 PM

okay Michael Bay you trick me for the last time..
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 4/8/2014, 4:08 PM
Lol. Let's blame Bay for a recast he most likely had nothing to do with.
Batman52
Batman52 - 4/8/2014, 4:12 PM
@MrCBM56 alright I'll also blame the guy who made wrath of the titans.
Floke
Floke - 4/8/2014, 4:30 PM
So now he can join the David Prowse-club?
ForMeToPoopOn
ForMeToPoopOn - 4/8/2014, 4:32 PM
Seriously, he has no place to complain. He's got to be making bank on "Game of Thrones", plus residuals from "Willow".
HellBoyzBetter
HellBoyzBetter - 4/8/2014, 4:34 PM
Is that really any better? What is James Kyson Lee doing these days?

Looking Fabulous!
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 4/8/2014, 4:52 PM
He's heightening
santoanderson
santoanderson - 4/8/2014, 5:04 PM
Wow, every day there's another piece of news that shows how disorganized and ass-backwards this production is.
Spock0Clock
Spock0Clock - 4/8/2014, 5:10 PM


It's about being told you're gonna be an actual actor in a movie then finding out they used you as a dwarf puppeteer. That's pretty much humiliating. If he was told he was going to be voicing the character when he took the job, then he should sue. (Don't know if he'll win, but he should sue.)

Just another train load of fail arriving from Bay City to get dumped on My Childhood Blvd.


@MrMartinMarvel

I have significant problems with a lot of Snyder's Watchmen film, but goddamn, Jackie Earle Haley was absolutely perfect... Seeing that clip again made me smile from ear to ear.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 4/8/2014, 5:14 PM
I think the Turtles look a lil too big but who know, could look good at the flicks?

Not that excited, but I'd take this over a certain Superhero movie that's out next year ten times over.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 4/8/2014, 5:24 PM
This movie hasn't even come out yet and it's already in deep shit. Sad
Nerdgasm73
Nerdgasm73 - 4/8/2014, 5:27 PM
Maybe David Prowse should sue 20th Century Fox because James Earl Jones voiced Darth Vader and not himself.
MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 4/8/2014, 5:40 PM
Better lawyer up quick.

Maybe the movie has a chance of becoming a failure before it gets released to theatres.
thor2273
thor2273 - 4/8/2014, 5:46 PM
don't you understand? He's Mickey Abbott! he stood in for the Cosby kids!
smell
smell - 4/8/2014, 5:51 PM
Don't dwarfs have unions? Or is that just a warcraft thing?
Humperdink
Humperdink - 4/8/2014, 5:55 PM
@Smell

You mean 'guilds'.
If he's going to win that suit against the studio, he'll need to level up.
campblood
campblood - 4/8/2014, 6:07 PM
he's not going to get anything. they paid him for his services end of story
RexDartEskimoSpy
RexDartEskimoSpy - 4/8/2014, 6:07 PM
Isn't Splinter, y'know, Japanese? Why would he have a Philly accent? Tony Shalhoub is clearly a better choice. He can use that wacky faux European accent he did on Wings. Cuz Michael Bay is a douchetard.
StrangerX
StrangerX - 4/8/2014, 6:09 PM
I believe when he says his lawyers are looking into it, it means what the details of him being replaced entails. I doubt its about suing since ge prob already got paid for the job
smell
smell - 4/8/2014, 6:11 PM
@Humperdink

I know. :) t'was a joke.
huckfinnisher
huckfinnisher - 4/8/2014, 6:16 PM
There is no way they pulled this out of the blue, unless they are content in just paying both actors. If Woodburn had a contract then he would have to be compensated, I believe this is evidenced by when Nicholas Cage was paid to play superman when he never did because it was written in the contract.
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