New TMNT Trailer Comes With Robo-Shredder And Whoopi [Video]

The latest trailer for producer the Michael Bay-produced, Jonathan Liebesman-directed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles gives us the most clarity we've seen yet on the new film based on on Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s enduringly popular characters. While fans may never accept the lusciously lipped, Shrek-like designs for the TMNT, some may be relieved to learn the apparent fact that the Japanese villain Shredder will not be played by the distinctly non-Japanese William Fichtner, as previously reported.

No, now the Shredder is a robot.

On its face, the film’s official synopsis seems pretty fitting of the TMNT — especially if you fancy the 1987–1996 animated series:

The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan.

Amusingly, the new clip features Megan Fox's April O'Neil, Will Arnett's Vern Fenwick and Academy Award-winner Whoopi Goldberg's Bernadette Thompson (a version of April's boss from the original cartoon) taking aim at the much proliferated and maligned rumors that Bay's turtles wouldn't be mutants at all but actually aliens. "That's stupid," remarks April.

The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie opens in August 8 in US cinemas.