William Fichtner Is Playing Shredder in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Reboot

[IronFist]

Veteran character actor William Fichtner is famous for playing bad guys. He’s well-known for his extended cameo as a crooked banker and early victim of The Joker in The Dark Knight (a role that echoed his very similar performance in Michael Mann’s Heat) and will be taking on the role the main antagonist in this summer’s The Lone Ranger.

Well, now he can add “The Ninja Turtles’ arch-nemesis” to his resume.

In an interview with Huffpost TV Canada focusing on his upcoming lead role on NBC’s cop drama Crossing Lines, Fichtner confirmed that he’ll be playing the pivotal role of Shredder, the main bad guy in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot.

After a good amount of casting speculation, the only hard evidence as to what Fichtner’s part entailed was that he was a lead with “iconic stature in the Turtles’ mythology.” Further reports refuted that statement and claimed that the actor would actually be portraying “Dr. Baxter Stockman, the evil scientist who creates “Mousers,” little robots designed to k#ll sewer rats. He also transforms into a large, humanoid fly-creature after an incident he had with a transporter device.”

Not so, apparently.

William Fichtner has personally let slip confirmed that he will be taking on the iconic role of the Ninja Turtles’ bada## main adversary, the leader of the deadly Foot Clan, Master Shredder himself. When asked about the reboot, Fichtner said:

“I play Shredder. It’s cool. It’s one of those things that came along where I thought, ‘Really? Let me think about this for a minute.’ [Laughs] Then I was like, ‘Yeah, OK, this sounds like a journey.’ I’m very glad that it worked out, I’m really glad that I’m doing it.”

We knew Megan Fox would be playing April O’Neil, we knew Arrested Development‘s Will Arnett had been cast as her cameraman, and we knew Whoopi Goldberg would probably be playing April’s boss… but until now, details on just who would portray the Ninja Turtles’ most famous villain have been under wraps.

And what of the reports that the Turtles’ new story would highlight the more sci-fi aspects of the canon? Unconfirmed – and long-since rejected – versions of the script apparently featured Krang, the Technodrome and Bebop and Rocksteady from the cartoon, but it looks like most of those elements won’t be included in the final product.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Eastman Laird William Fichtner Is Playing Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reboot

Hardcore fans know that in the very first comic book appearance of the Ninja Turtles (a far darker version than the kid-friendly cartoon series which has become the touchstone for modern audiences), Shredder was simply k#lled at the end of the story, rather than temporarily vanquished. Can we expect something similar in the reboot?

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess what’s in store for this new incarnation of everyone’s favorite heroes in a half shell (turtle power!) – though we wouldn’t be surprised if it was a cross-section of different elements from the beloved animated series, the live-action movie series, and the comic book series.

What do you think, Screen Rant readers? Are you happy with the choice to cast William Fichtner as Shredder? Let us know in the comments.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hits theaters June 6th, 2014.

William Fichtner Is Playing Shredder in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Reboot

 

[Dirty Mcdrawz]

I like William Fichtner he's a good actor but in all honesty I was kind of expecting Oroku Saki to be Japanese

 

[The Phoenix]

I like William Fichtner he's a good actor but in all honesty I was kind of expecting Oroku Saki to be Japanese

You would think for once....an exec somewhere would do SOMETHING right......sigh.

 

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

You know hollywood (someone shop an asian version of )

 

[Roman Brady]

I like William Fichtner he's a good actor but in all honesty I was kind of expecting Oroku Saki to be Japanese

 

[Bondye Vodou]

Aren't the the Turtles in this aliens?

flush this crap down the toilet

 

[IronFist]

I like William Fichtner he's a good actor but in all honesty I was kind of expecting Oroku Saki to be Japanese

same here

 

[KageDaBeast]

Aren't the the Turtles in this aliens?

flush this crap down the toilet

Basically, but I think they trashed that script... Hopefully? In that one, Shredder was General Schrader

 

[FaTaL]

shredder is suppose be Japanese

I guess there's a no asian rule

 

[Bud Bundy]

damn

no work for Asians in Hollywood.

 

[HomieSoprano]

Mos Def to play Baxter Stockman??

http://newsgeekswant.com/mos-def-to-unleash-mousers-on-ninja-turtles/

Mos Def signs to play Baxter Stockman in new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.
It looks like Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is about to get a heavy dose of star power. Rapper/actor Mos Def has signed to play the part of Baxter Stockman. Stockman is best known as the creator of the Mousers, small sharp-beaked robots that hunt the Turtles’ mentor Splinter. He will join the already cast Megan Fox, William Fichtner and Will Arnett.

Def, who has turned in great performances in films such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and 16 Blocks, is best known as a musician but has increasingly branched out into acting to critical acclaim.

Baxter Stockman has appeared in a variety of forms throughout different iterations of the Turtles’ adventures. In the original comic, he was an African-American scientist and April O’Neil’s boss who later became a cyborg. In the animated series that ran in the late 80’s and 90’s, Stockman was a white inventor who was morphed into a human fly after spending time as Shredder’s henchman. In the 2003 series he was again an African-American scientist but became the Turtles’ version of Alex Krychek, repeatedly tortured for his failures by the Shredder.

It is unknown which version of the villainous scientist Def will portray but based on the character’s history, it can only end badly for him. The film is scheduled for a 2014 release.

 

[up in here]

I like William Fichtner he's a good actor but in all honesty I was kind of expecting Oroku Saki to be Japanese

Nah he aint Oroku Saki in the film he is Orwell Sherman

 

[Jplaya2023]

Mos Def to play Baxter Stockman??

Mos Def To Unleash Mousers On

wtf mos def? throw this movie in the bushes.

no bebop or rocksteasdy

 

[Dirty Mcdrawz]

Nah he aint Oroku Saki in the film he is Orwell Sherman

orwell sherman... i'm not seeing this shyt theaters i don't care how good the trailers look.

wtf mos def? throw this movie in the bushes.

no bebop or rocksteasdy

mos def is good actor b

 

[ltheghost]

Damn I guess they are throwing Asians in the bushes for this one....look out here comes that Hollywood White-Wash!