William Fichtner confirms Eric Sacks was Shredder originally until reshoots

[Xiewin]

http://www.movieweb.com/teenage-muta...edder-fichtner

It's no secret that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles went through some pretty intensive reshoots. William Fichtner's Eric Sacks was to be revealed as Shredder in the original iteration of the screenplay, but midway through production, Japanese-American actor Tohoru Masamune stepped into assume the role. When that happened, Eric Sacks was demoted to second-in-command of the Foot Clan. Asked about the changes, William Fichtner had this to say:

"That's true. It did change, didn't it? There are people that could speak better to that, and more eloquently than I. But that was originally the plan. That Eric Sachs was Shredder. As we made the movie, there were some thoughts about telling the story in a different way. The producers would probably be better at explaining that. But what I really wanted to do was find the character of Eric Sachs. When the changes do come along, we ultimately incorporate them and make the movie work. I know that sounds like a very vague general statement to your question. But it is the bottom line. For me as an actor, if there are changes that come along because they think the storytelling might be better in one way or another way, I'm fine with that, you know? Ultimately, we made a little bit of a different movie that first go-around. Then we had some changes. I'm happy to say that when I saw the film for the first time, at the premiere, I thought, 'Okay! This is a better movie.' It was a different movie, but a really good movie. At the end of the day, that's what everyone wanted and I did too."

There is still some speculation that Eric Sacks will eventually become Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. William Fichtner won't confirm that, and even if he did, there's a possibility that the story could change between now and when the movie is finally on the big screen. He does confirm that he will return if Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 moves forward. It sounds like that is happening, as Paramount has already set a June 6, 2016 release date and confirmed Dave Green as the director taking over for Jonathan Liebesman. Asked if he'll finally get to become Shredder in the sequel, he says:

[CyberCubed]

Thank god for that. A white man Shredder was so disgusting it made my blood boil even more than Turtle nostrils.

[Autbot_Benz]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Thank god for that. A white man Shredder was so disgusting it made my blood boil even more than Turtle nostrils.

Shut up about the turtle nostrils. It wouldn't surprise me if you secretly enjoy looking at them when nobody is around.

[TrickOrTreater]

Bad ideas and incompetence from beginning to end.

[chrisdude]

I'd like to see Sachs come out as a Kraang. Or a scientist working with them. Bring them out as the origin of the mutagen.

[Leo656]

No idea what they were making from Day One. Except a toy commercial.

[NinjaPug]

I don't know which option is worse:

1) The original plan of having Sacks be Shredder

2) Having a generic Asian be Shredder in a movie rewritten to a point that the story makes no sense

[Commenter 42]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Thank god for that. A white man Shredder was so disgusting it made my blood boil even more than Turtle nostrils.

Hahahahaha.

Happy Holidays Cubed. Try and leave the house if you get the chance. This is proof of the power of the cybercube.

Where are all the Sachs as Shredder deniers? LOL! funny how bit by bit the lie is revised. in 10 years I'm sure some one will admit that this movie was a bitch to make, because no one had any ****ing idea what it was supposed to be about.

Also this was written on Dec 23, 2014 by B. Alan Orange, so take it with a grain of salt.
check the twitter feed here https://twitter.com/balanorange

[Donnieangelo]

Originally Posted by chrisdude

I'd like to see Sachs come out as a Kraang. Or a scientist working with them. Bring them out as the origin of the mutagen.

More like an evil Utrom!

[Galactus]

I'm happy to say that when I saw the film for the first time, at the premiere, I thought, 'Okay! This is a better movie.' It was a different movie, but a really good movie. At the end of the day, that's what everyone wanted and I did too.

I hope he's being diplomatic given the final product was less than average (to be kind) just how bad was the movie?

I suppose if we're to take Fichtner at his word this might also put a damper on the movie's aplogists who keep saying that flaws in the movie were down to the changes they made to supposedly appease the fans. That being said I do think he's being diplomatic. I'd speculate some like tne inclusion of a more faithful Shredder to be better some sounded like they were for the worse.

There is still some speculation that Eric Sacks will eventually become Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.

Please NO. It sucks for the actor true, to sign on to play the primary antagonist for a series of movies and then to be essentially demoted but it's no baring on him it was just a mistake to cast him as the Shredder in the first place.

I don't want to see him as Krang or a Kraang or Ch'rell or anything like that. Sack's backstory which to be fair was well thought out doesn't really gel with Krang and it's not like his performance really seemed 'alien'.

Again it's unfair but it's best to just assume Sacks was sent to jail and have Fichtner transferred to another Paramount movie. Then again it's interesting that all these actors seem to talk as if the sequel may not be happening. I realise most of them have been in the business long enough to not take anything for granted (this movie certainly showed why) but they still give the impression it's not as definite as their announcement would lead us to believe. Can we hope?

[Aaronardo]

Huh. So the movie was one big mess even BEFORE it was released.

[MrTMNT2012]

Just goes to show these guys care more for the TMNT property than any movie producer before it.

[Galactus]

Originally Posted by MrTMNT2012

Just goes to show these guys care more for the TMNT property than any movie producer before it.

How'd you get to that in regards to this interview?

Surely it suggests the exact opposite

[TigerClaw]

This is interesting, But I'm fine with the changes they made through the production, The world just wouldn't accept a white Shredder anyways.

I'm curious on what they will do with Eric Sacks in the sequel. Perhaps he will be the one who perfected the mutagen, and creates Bebop and Rocksteady to take care of the Turtles.

[bushido]

"I used to be Shredder, then I took a reshoot to the knee"

[BubblyShell22]

You know, if Sacks had been the reincarnation of Shredder, I would have been fine with that as it would have worked better and they could have used the other actor to film the flashback scenes. But sadly, this was not the case, and not only did it ruin the movie to have a separate Shredder but also no Saki/Yoshi rivalry. I wonder if said rivalry was also supposed to be in the film and they scrapped it because they wanted to tell a "better story." Instead they told an awful story.

[TurtleTitan97]

Originally Posted by NinjaPug

I don't know which option is worse:

1) The original plan of having Sacks be Shredder

2) Having a generic Asian be Shredder in a movie rewritten to a point that the story makes no sense

I'm pretty sure both are equally worst. This movie had the blandest Shredder by far.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

There are people that could speak better to that, and more eloquently than I.

Translation: "I'm POed about it too, but I'm not allowed to say that."

But what I really wanted to do was find the character of Eric Sachs.

Translation: "After being changed from Shredder to some bland evil guy, I had no real desire to be in the movie anymore."

William Fichtner won't confirm that, and even if he did, there's a possibility that the story could change between now and when the movie is finally on the big screen.

I never even thought about this. I mean, that doesn't exactly help the film crew's morale, does it? The thought that everything they're doing might be scrapped in favor of an entirely new story, since that's what happened the first time?

[Powder]

Originally Posted by MrTMNT2012

Just goes to show these guys care more for the TMNT property than any movie producer before it.

You being allowed to say things like this is proof that there is no God.

[Bry]

Originally Posted by MrTMNT2012

Just goes to show these guys care more for the TMNT property than any movie producer before it.

oh hi



But back to the topic at hand: so, like... is there any theory about what went wrong in this production that hasn't been proven true by now?

Recasting the main villain during last-minute reshoots. Holy crap. This is not competent filmmaking. It just isn't.

Originally Posted by TheSkeletonMan939

I never even thought about this. I mean, that doesn't exactly help the film crew's morale, does it? The thought that everything they're doing might be scrapped in favor of an entirely new story, since that's what happened the first time?

And even then... what kind of movie is it when can you play musical chairs with the casted, major characters and key plot points so easily? Without it even mattering much? Not a good one, that's for sure.