TMNT: Shredder Actor Tohoru Masamune Talks Fandom Expectations & Michael Bay's Involvement

TMNT: Shredder Actor Tohoru Masamune Talks Fandom Expectations & Michael Bay's Involvement

Also discusses the confusion behind William Fichtner's initial casting as Shredder and which other major CBM franchise he'd like to appear in.

By DougMcCausland - Aug 11, 2014 01:08 PM EST
Source: alternativenation.net

Japanese-Canadian actor Tohoru Masamune was revealed to be the actor playing Shredder, as opposed to initial casting of William Fichtner, who was apparently rewritten as the villainous businessman Eric Sacks. On the behind-the-scenes turmoil and rewrites that plagued the film's production, Masamune tells AlternativeNation.net that he was confused himself, yet just liked the opportunity to play Shredder:  For all I know they were working three different version of exactly where they were going to go with the character. I just kind of came in as an actor, and of course, if you’re offered Shredder, you’re not going to question it.

Though detractors of the TMNT reboot are quick to point out the "fact" that its a Michael Bay film, Masamune says from his own experience that Bay wasn't really that hands-on during the filmmaking process, saying "I personally did not see Michael Bay a lot, except for the occasional “this isn’t working”. Not a major thing, often a technical thing. Record at a higher bit rate, or something. He was never telling me to play my character differently." Masumune goes on to praise Bay for his eye of action filmmaking.

Masamune is very vocal about his love of the TMNT franchise, and when asked about which other franchises he'd like to appear in, he said Sin City because of his love of dark films, continuing: "I really enjoy these franchise movies… its weird because there’s a certain responsibility because of expectations surrounding a character, which is very hard for an actor because he or she can’t be held to expectations… they just need to be the character entrusted to them, they embody them, and it needs to come from them 100%. It’s very tricky. "

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Invictor
Invictor - 8/11/2014, 2:15 PM
I don't ever recall seeing his face in the movie.
cyclopstb
cyclopstb - 8/11/2014, 2:39 PM
I've seen his face in the shadows almost similar to the Shredder from the Secret of the Ooze when his face was covered in shadows.
Nick56
Nick56 - 8/11/2014, 3:08 PM
I really enjoyed the film, as a Ninja Turtles fan growing up I felt it nailed most of the key elements. The "real" Shredder was one of my favourite parts.
TelaVizion
TelaVizion - 8/11/2014, 3:12 PM
This Shredder really made the old school Shredder from first 2 movies look like sh*t. Disney XD was playing all 3 original movies last night.

Hell, even now, those turtles don't even look great anymore.
Bread
Bread - 8/11/2014, 6:06 PM
I'll see this when it's on TV.
BaneSmash
BaneSmash - 8/11/2014, 10:48 PM
@DIO

I HAVE!I sneak into all Marvel films :)

Thanks for the advise.
WYLEEJAY
WYLEEJAY - 8/12/2014, 2:48 AM
Lmao. I love @dio. Makes me all tingly when he digs into Banesass.
batz11
batz11 - 8/12/2014, 4:55 AM
@dio
...and here we go!
Lol, you should be a cbm counselor...
yossarian
yossarian - 8/12/2014, 5:53 AM
I will likely never see this. TMNT never did it for me. Fans seem to like it, so that's at least a plus.
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