Could Eric Sacks still be the Shredder in some international versions?
 

I know it seems crazy and I assumed all versions worldwide would be mostly the same, until I saw this trailer for the October 15th French release.


Doesn’t that sound like William Fichtner in suit as the Shredder at 1:03?

I also don’t remember April saying “Ninja Turtles?” at 0:33 in the American version. That seems to have been changed to “Ninja…Mutant…Turtle…Teenagers?”

It’s not unheard of. The 1990 film had some different fight footage and alternate takes because nunchucks were a big no-no in the UK.

It seems that there were three main complaints that lead to changes during the film’s development.

1. The turtles as aliens, but this seems to have been fixed before the film started shooting.
2. The title. People complained that it was just Ninja Turtles, not Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but the French version is still titled Ninja Turtles.
3. Eric Sacks as Shredder, which seems to have been scripted that way to increase global appeal. According to this interview with Tohoru Masamune there might've been concern that a Hong Kong audience wouldn’t want to watch a Japanese villain.

If the trailer above is indication, it seems Ninja Turtles is the full title and Sacks might be Shredder in the French version. How crazy would that be?

Maybe that would explain why the release date was moved back in some markets. That way there aren’t two different versions of the film in theaters at the same time. The backlash about Sacks as Shredder dissipates when American audiences sees the US release and then an alternate international cut is released two months later. It’s all speculation at this time, but it is interesting.

I can only hope!

Man... just think of the possibilities. Could some international versions have an extended cut with this storyline? That'd be amazing.

Good catch, sounds just like him.

I just think they didn't bother to change the voice in the trailer, I really don't think he'll be Shredder in the final cut. :)

The trailer was published 3 days ago. The film is DONE. In the can. Seems extremely lazy of it's just a case of 'we didn't feel like using the voice track that's in the actual movie.' Early on while they're still putting the movie together, I could understand. But now??

Very interesting to say the least...

Regardless, that's pretty much PROOF that Sacks WAS Shredder. Maybe he still will be for International versions.

Personally I would not trust the placement of any audio in trailers. After seeing it, it was interesting hearing what lines really turned up where, and what were never even heard.



If they do a different cut for different countries...

They leave deleted scenes and cut lines in tailers all the time. And scenes and dialouge are always mixed around in trailers, too.

I wish that was the trailer we got originally. It was great.

I always attributed it to the fact the Trailers are cut far before the film is finished.

This one is DONE. In the can. Released in half the world. This trailer was released AFTER it was put in theatres in some regions already. Why the misdirect with Shredders voice. It's no secret he's a Japanese guy in 'our' version. Why have what is obviously Fitchner's voice in this one.

Just saying it's odd 'this late in the game' to have the film maybe mis-marketed elsewhere.

Fichtner sounds pretty cool

Wow.. he actually sounds pretty good!

If it wasn't already obvious this pretty much confirms fitchner was The Shredder.

Well the Swedish version does not have him as the Shredder.

I need this alternate version too. Do it Viacom.

TMNT 2014: Director's Cut, now 20% more random connections that don't make sense. Nah but seriously, this movie could stand an alternate cut.

You make some good points, but the later international release dates have been set for a while - I don't know about other countries, but the UK release date was finalised way back in January (or possibly even before then), which I doubt is anything to do with reshoots or anything technical (it's being released to coincide with the October half-term school holiday).

Bring back white Shredder!

Cause, cause whitewashed Splinter is part of the plot so there is actually no reason for Shred to be Japanese.

This movie is so bad.

It would be cool if Viacom made an alternate movie with all the cut scenes and some from the movie like Anchorman: Wake Up Ron Burgundy.

EDIT: Also in the french trailer she didn't say ninja turtles? in the movie

I went to the premiere in Holland yesterday: Eric Sacks was not the Shredder. I doubt they will show one version in one European country and an entirely different version in another European country.

I'm pretty sure that isn't Shaloub voicing Splinter either.