With an underwhelming summer at the box office, there's the suggestion that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles could be a massive breakout hit. The movie's got a huge, somewhat obnoxious ad campaign, a presold property, and the Michael Bay name as producer. Which is why the studio has felt confident showing off some of the early footage to interested parties even though the effect-filled movie is not nearly completed.
Screenrant was able to catch a peek at two isolated scenes for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and came away with the impression that this film would be more heavily based on the animated series. But it also contradicted a major previous story regarding the film: as it turns out, William Fichtner is NOT playing the villainous Shredder. No, he'll be playing Eric Sachs, a businessman who works with the evil enemy to the Turtles and head of the Foot Clan. In this previously-released trailer, you can hear Fichtner's Sachs address Shredder's need for "new armor."
This contradicts Fichtner's earlier comments claiming he's playing Shredder. So, is Fichtner playing someone who controls Shredder via remote? Does he become Shredder after the other one dies? Does Eric Sachs have a split personality? Is it possible Fichtner isn't playing Shredder because he's playing Super Shredder? Are we on pins and needles awaiting the answers to these compelling, vexing questions?
The footage shown was not very different from what we have seen thus far. The first scene shown to reporters was largely taken from the trailer, with the Turtles fighting the Foot Clan in the subway system, seen only by intrepid media personality April O'Neil (Megan Fox). She then follows the Turtles up a building to discover their true identities. The second sequence, also largely seen in previously-released clips, finds the Turtles rampaging down a snowy mountain, defying the laws of physics and quipping all the way down.
The Screenrant piece also takes great pains to alert the audience that this thing is loaded with jokes, and that despite how dark and foreboding the trailers might seem, the film will ultimately be lighthearted and silly. Some of the jokes supposedly work, while others fall flat, specifically a running gag about the Turtles finding Megan Fox attractive. Which... uh... really? Yes, that's what Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was missing: sexual tension. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles opens on August 8th. Bring a lover who is into animals.
