William Fichtner interview. Names Shredder.

[raph27]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

He's white playing a Japanese man whose name is supposed to be Oroku Saki. That's just wrong.

Its safe to say Shredder's real name can't be Oroku Saki now, who is going to buy that name with a white looking actor? This is why it ruins the character, Shredder might as well be an entirely different character now.

And this is SHREDDDER. The Turtles most important and iconic villain, who has kept his memorable design in EVERY INCARNATION.

You look at Mirage, Fred Wolf, 4kids, Nick, Movies 1-2, and IDW Shredder and they all have the same iconic look with some armor differences here and there. And most important he's Japanese and Oroku Saki, (or in 4kids case, at least he pretended to be).

Cubed, the filmmakers can do whatever ze want. It's not like its Shredder or something. Their main villian is Shreddder.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Zulithe

Very true about Bane, I also remember all the negative reactions over Heath Ledger's Joker casting... hard to believe now though. And there wasn't even any racebending involved there. It's true that fan reactions can easily get overblown over casting that doesn't initially fit their expectations. But I'm getting The Last Airbender vibes from this casting choice, less so The Dark Knight/Rises. Fichtner is a perfectly fine actor though. Regardless of why he was cast, I think he can bring the right gravity to the character provided the direction is there for him.

The point still stands, they whitewashed an Asian man who is a ninja.

It's a disgrace. Everyone knows ninja's are Japanese. It ruins the backstory. It is an embarrassment.

[Welmanshire]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The point still stands, they whitewashed an Asian man who is a ninja.

It's a disgrace. Everyone knows ninja's are Japanese. It ruins the backstory. It is an embarrassment.

It only ruins the backstory if he isn't portrayed as a Japanese man. Watch the performance, not tbe skin colour. It's been said, but allow me to reiterate - he might not even take his helmet off.

[chrisdude]

Originally Posted by Welmanshire

It only ruins the backstory if he isn't portrayed as a Japanese man. Watch the performance, not tbe skin colour. It's been said, but allow me to reiterate - he might not even take his helmet off.

This. A white actor playing a Japanese character is not a "disgrace."

This may end up being a disgrace, for other reasons, but not because of that.

[CyberCubed]

The actor does not look remotely Japanese. I have no idea why anyone would expect them to digitally alter his eyes...that's even worse......borderline racism.

Why not just use a Japanese actor to begin with?

[Zulithe]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The point still stands, they whitewashed an Asian man who is a ninja.

It's a disgrace. Everyone knows ninja's are Japanese. It ruins the backstory. It is an embarrassment.

Just try to stay positive about it. We don't know everything that will happen in the movie yet. I don't outright disagree though.

We can't change the casting, it's already done. We've known for a long time that this movie wasn't going to be perfectly faithful. The signs have been there for a long time. Gotta hope for the best whatever the case.

[Welmanshire]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The actor does not look remotely Japanese. I have no idea why anyone would expect them to digitally alter his eyes...that's even worse......borderline racism.

Why not just use a Japanese actor to begin with?

Maybe a Japanese actor didn't test as well?

I think people are getting nitpicky with this film because details are trickling out slowly.

Certain people who have been on set and describe themselves as "long term Turtles fans" have responded positively, so until a trailer comes out, I am still trusting the filmmakers to do a decent job, as it is their profession.

[CyberCubed]

IMO this is just as bad as alien turtles, even worse because it reeks of racism and whitewashing.

What exactly is so hard about making Shredder look similar to either Mirage or the first two movies?

[Welmanshire]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

IMO this is just as bad as alien turtles, even worse because it reeks of racism and whitewashing.

What exactly is so hard about making Shredder look similar to either Mirage or the first two movies?

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer them handle The Shredder like they did in the 1990 film. I just can't see why in the situation of him not taking his helmet off, it is such a bad thing.
He is going to be portrayed somewhat Japanese, since the foot have the Japanese symbol on the military gear.
Call whitewashing all you want, it is. I'm just not too thrown by it.

[Galactus]

Originally Posted by Welmanshire

Maybe a Japanese actor didn't test as well?

I'm going to come right out and say this; do you really think they bothered seeking out any Japanese or asian actors?

Bare in mind that Schrader was part of the leaked script so they had visions of an American Shredder from early on.

I really don't think they ever considered a Japanese Shredder. They cast the movie with the actors they wanted and then considered parts that could fit. If there were none they would simply change the characters to fit.

I think people are getting nitpicky with this film because details are trickling out slowly.

Nit picking is complaining about how the turtles will be taller than they've previously been or how many scabbard straps Leo has on his belt or even what colour Megan Fox's hair will be. Making such drastic changes to the franchise's main villain and one that is intrinsic to the main characters is not nit picking. As I pointed out before imagine how other fandoms would react if the same thing happened.

Certain people who have been on set and describe themselves as "long term Turtles fans" have responded positively, so until a trailer comes out, I am still trusting the filmmakers to do a decent job, as it is their profession.

Pretty much anyone associated with the franchise since it's initial success has stated they're a fan. Only a handful have ever seemed sincere. To most people it's a just a job and that's right down to reporters who get special invites to the set.

If all that was required to make a decent film was it being made by professionals there'd be no bad movies.

[chrisdude]

"Whitewashing."
Because Hollywood knows that Americans don't think Japanese ninjas are cool, right? Give me a breaaaak.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

What exactly is so hard about making Shredder look similar to either Mirage or the first two movies?

The fact that the plot of the movie will probably have nothing to do with any of those stories...

I honestly don't know what to make of all this... are the guys at viacom even paying attention to what these guys are doing? Kevin? Anyone?

[Bauer536]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

IMO this is just as bad as alien turtles, even worse because it reeks of racism and whitewashing.

What exactly is so hard about making Shredder look similar to either Mirage or the first two movies?

Dude. Just chill. I bet if you were to never see the helmet come off of Shredder in the OT, you would probably think he was white. Plus, he could just keep his helmet on throughout the film. You never know. Besides, I can tolerate this more than alien turtles. Maybe the crew is just lazy. I don't know. Whatever the reason, it may be a lame excuse. But right now - who cares?

To be honest. I'm expecting a good (not great) film adaptation of TMNT. Whatever Kevin Eastman says about this film, I know, even with the visual effects that it will NOT be Avengers, it will NOT be The Dark Knight, and it will NOT be the definitive TMNT film that will please every fan. This could be fun, but just wait and see what happens. And if you are dying for a good, definitive TMNT film, wait a few years when someone brings back the turtles in the right fashion. It will come.

[plastroncafe]

Hollywood suffers under the delusion that the mainstream American audience is composed of nothing but white guys, and that a mainstream American audience won't pay to see someone other than themselves as the lead in a movie.

It's why they added an American to The Great Escape, why Bruce Lee wasn't the lead on Kung Fu, and why the full cast of "Bringing Down the House" was whitewashed...or racebent, as I find that term far more entertaining.

Are there exceptions? Of course.
But no where near enough to negate the rule.

If you don't think it matters, that's fine. Go about your business. Personally, I think it sucks, and it needs to change.

[Welmanshire]

Originally Posted by Galactus

I'm going to come right out and say this; do you really think they bothered seeking out any Japanese or asian actors.

Yes I do. I'm sure some Asian actors tested for the part.

Originally Posted by Galactus

Bare in mind that Schrader was part of the leaked script so they had visions of an American Shredder from early on.

First off, I don't believe the Schraders ethnicity was touched on in that script. Secondly, they have rewritten the script. Remeber months back, when they shut production down? To overhaul the script?

Originally Posted by Galactus

I really don't think they ever considered a Japanese Shredder. They cast the movie with actors they wanted and then considered parts that could fit. If there were none they would simply change them.

That's just like, your opinion, man.

Originally Posted by Galactus

Nit picking is complaining about how the turtles will be taller than they've previously been or how many scabbard straps Leo has on his belt or even what colour Megan Fox's hair will be. Making such drastic changes to the franchise's main villain and one that is intrinsic to the main characters is not nit picking. As I pointed out before imagine how other fandoms would react if the same thing happened.

BANE. I don't remember anyone complaining.

Originally Posted by Galactus

Pretty much anyone associated with the franchise since it's initial success has stated they're a fan. Only a handful have ever seemed sincere. To most people it's a just a job and that's right down to reporters who get special invites to the set.

If all that was required to make a decent film was it being made by professionals there'd be no bad movies.

You know what, what you wrote there would have passed, 10, maybe 5 years ago. But these days, people working in a lot of these positions are people who have been raised on the Turtles and have a long term connection with the franchise.

[The Stryker]

A white guy playing a japanese guy is almost as bad as a white guy playing a native american in a big budget motion picture.

Who would do that kind of thing?

[NinjaMan]

Hmm.. so I wonder how they plan on tying Shredder and Splinter's history?

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by NinjaMan

Hmm.. so I wonder how they plan on tying Shredder and Splinter's history?

They don't? Splinter will probably have no connection with Shredder.

[Welmanshire]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

They don't? Splinter will probably have no connection with Shredder.

Or they could still be connected in the exact same way?!?!?! Why wasn't there such an uproar about Danny Woodburn? How could he possibly play Yoshi? Oh, I know, they will use different actors for flashbacks...

[Martin]

Originally Posted by Welmanshire

Or they could still be connected in the exact same way?!?!?! Why wasn't there such an uproar about Danny Woodburn? How could he possibly play Yoshi? Oh, I know, they will use different actors for flashbacks...

I fail to see how that makes this any less important...

The fact that we are being a bit more vocal about this doesn't mean we think all the other things about the movie are ok.