Elysium star William Fichtner takes on the villainous role of The Shredder in the upcoming reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the versatile character actor puts a few Internet rumors about the film to rest, saying with a laugh to ETonline, "I can tell you this much: There's an April, there's a Shredder, there are four Turtles. What else do you need? Come on!"
Fans were seriously upset when Michael Bay, who is producing the movie, announced back in 2012 that the title characters would be from an alien race, and that the film's title would simply be called Ninja Turtles. He subsequently clarified his statements after there was such a huge fan backlash, telling everyone they needed to " take a breath, and chill -- they have not read the script," and the title has been restored to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
"Listen, rumor had it that people were up in arms with a few things about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," said an amused Fichtner. "I can tell you this much: The experience for me was really cool. I have nieces and nephews that grew up in the '80s, and if you were a kid, then that's what the Turtles were. But what I didn't realize when I started working on the film is how big that fan base still is. It's really huge, and … I get why Michael would want to produce a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You've got an audience that was there, but also, I think, kids are ready to see something like this again."
Asked how much the new TMNT story draws on the characters' comic book roots, Fichtner replies, "There's people who could speak to that better than I. You know, I really wasn't a Turtle aficionado and knew all of the backstory. There are some people that know all of the backstory, and that's one of the wonderful things about doing what I do, and sometimes playing a role like this. … For me, I want to find, 'What do you want to do with it now? Who is this guy to you right now? Because I'll tell you who this guy is to me.' And it's finding that collaboration that's exciting about working on this.
"But I will say this much: We've supplied the character of Eric Sachs (aka Shredder) with an awesome time, and with an awful lot of great twists and turns for a guy. But more importantly, I don't think that any version that I've ever seen of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got you ready for what this one is. This is a whole new deal. This is a whole new ballgame. These turtles are unlike anything you've ever seen. They're crazy, it's freaky, it's live-action, and it's going to look awesome. I love Jonathan Liebesman, who directed it. I really felt that he got an amazing handle on what it was and what he wanted, and we'll see. August 8, next year. Can't wait!"
And, of course, there was plenty of warm pizza on the set? "That's right!" Fichtner replies enthusiastically.
Can't wait to finally see the Ninja turtle trailer. When do you guy's think we will get it? Comment below!