STACK NZ Jan-Feb #59

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Who do you play in this movie?
WILL ARNETT: I play Vernon Fenwick. He’s a
videographer and the photographer for Megan
Fox’s character April O’Neil. He’s been around
a lot. He’s been in a couple hot zones. And now
he’s pretty much over it. He just wants an easy
job. She challenges him. When she first realizes
there are all these vigilantes around, she is asking
him whether he wants to get involved. And he
says ‘No’ because he’s quite happy with his job
the way it’s been going. I end up helping her out
in the end.
What drew you to this project?
In my house these turtles have always been
a hit. The second I come home, my kids ask me
if I can play Shredder. So, for me this is a 24-
hour a day job right now. There is no escaping
the turtles. That’s why I had to do it when this
came up.
In the original book,Vernon is
actually quite a mean guy. In this
movie, however, he’s not that bad
of a guy.Would you agree?
Yes, that’s true. We took some
liberties in this movie with Vernon.
He’s not a jerk. He’s a good guy. He’s
a little bit like Han Solo in this film.
Although I really don’t want to draw
those comparisons. Now, you can
write that Will Arnett thinks he’s Han
Solo. Oh, I am in trouble now. At the
end of the day, he wants to help April
and the turtles to fight the evil guy.
This is a pretty physical part for you and a little
different than what you normally do, right?
Yes, this was a departure for me. I used to
joke with a friend of mine who created Arrested
Development. I told him that I would love to do
something a little more physical. And then I am in
a movie where I am fighting with ten guys after
the first take; I was really exhausted. But then
you get the hang of it, and it’s really addicting
after a while.
Is there room for you to use your improv
talent?
Yes, there is an atmosphere to just find stuff
in the moment. The producers wanted that
from me. Again, I think the audience almost
expects that today. They want everything to
look very fresh and in the moment.
What’s it like to be acting with these guys that
have all these suits on?
You mean the turtles? You are staring at
guys with ping-pong balls and an antenna on
their head. It’s strange at first, but you get used
to having to use your imagination. It’s a good
exercise for an actor. It is something you have to
get used to for sure.
Were you worried at all about the fans that
have been following the NinjaTurtles since
the 80s.
I can see how hardcore fans want to make
sure that we held up the legacy of the original
comic strip. We are all taking this very seriously.
We wanted to stay true to the story that the
turtles are still the same characters. The action
looks great, and that’s really cool.
Did it surprise you that Megan Fox scored the
starring female lead in this film?
Megan and I had worked together before. I
knew Megan. She’s great for the part of April.
She’s a very smart woman, and it’s perfect for
ril in this movie. She is always
looking for a good story, she
wants to help. That’s a little bit
how Megan is in real life. Megan
is a gamer. And she likes the
hysical part of this movie. She
claims she could be a stunt person,
actually.
Do you plan on doing more action
movies now?
Definitely. As long as I have
access to ice and Advil, I will
continue with the Action genre. I’ve
done a lot of comedy, which is all
about the jokes and the script. And
action is just a different way for me
to express myself. Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick in Teenage Mutant NinjaTurtles.
Will Arnett is best known for his work on TV comedies
such as Arrested Development but relished the
chance to take on a more action-oriented role in the
reboot of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.
(L-R) Michelangelo, Leonardo, April (Megan Fox), Raphael, Donatello.