海角大神

Megan Fox and Will Arnett are about as opposite as it gets in terms of career trajectories. Whereas Fox became instantly famous for her role in Michael Bay鈥檚聽聽鈥� one of the biggest blockbuster franchises of the past ten years 鈥� Arnett made his nut by co-starring in聽, a beloved TV show that was canceled after three seasons for less-than-stellar ratings.聽聽

And yet, in the upcoming聽聽reboot, both Fox and Arnett are a team of sorts 鈥� like the archetypal odd couple or buddy cop duo of yore 鈥� working together in the war between the Ninja Turtles and Shredder鈥檚 Foot Clan.

Megan, of course, plays April O鈥橬eil, the Lois Lane of the聽Ninja Turtles聽universe, while Arnett plays her cameraman, Vernon Fenwick, a character originally created for the cartoon as a rival to April.

More than a year ago, we visited the set of聽TMNT聽in downtown Manhattan and watched a fight scene break out between April, Vernon, the villainous Karai (Minae Noji), and The Foot (we鈥檝e been told that this scene has since been cut from the film). While we were there, we had the opportunity to talk to Fox and Arnett about their roles in the film, how the characters have been updated for 2014, and more.

But first, check out the most recent trailer below:

(Note: Megan Fox didn鈥檛 join the interview until partway through, which is why it starts with just Will Arnett.)

Screen Rant: Tell us about your character, Vernon Fenwick.

Will Arnett: Vernon is a cameraman at Channel 6. He鈥檚 April O鈥橬eill鈥檚 cameraman. Vernon is a character who comes from the turtle mythology, he鈥檚 a real living character鈥�let鈥檚 hope. He鈥檚 someone who kind of has been around. He鈥檚 covered action before. [But now] he just wants to do the puff pieces with April O鈥橬eill and just kind of 鈥� he doesn鈥檛 want to have to stretch too hard.

So he fights ninjas?

Arnett: Yeah, reluctantly. Reluctantly.

Does he have fighting experience?

Arnett: A little bit, but it鈥檚 sloppy. He鈥檚 very sort of unorthodox but he can kind of take care of himself.

Can you talk a little about the [since deleted] scene we saw being shot, specifically what you were doing with the gurney?

Arnett: Yeah, that particular moment, one of the characters is coming at April and about to inflict some major damage on her and Vern is in his own situation. You just sort of caught the tail end of that and he comes out just at the right moment [and] hits Karai with the gurney and knocks her off balance a little bit. Then April kind of finishes her off.

When you look at your character 鈥� he hasn鈥檛 really been in any other movies. Did you draw from the show to develop him?

Arnett: Well, there鈥檚 not a ton to draw upon in terms of his depth, he鈥檚 not a character that was fully fleshed out, but we鈥檝e been trying to work within the context of the bounds that we have with him. Really, he鈥檚 someone who can be an ally of April, someone who can help her in her journey, ultimately in her quest to accomplish what she needs to accomplish.

He鈥檚 sort of a rival in the cartoon. Is he not a rival in the reboot?

Arnett: He鈥檚 not as much of a rival. I would say that he鈥檚, again, because he has to help her out, at first he 鈥榮 reluctant to help her out and he鈥檚 kind of looking out for himself. And then as it becomes more real and he gets more into it, he ultimately kind of sides with April and ends up helping her out.

Who鈥檚 your favorite Turtle?

Arnett: That鈥檚 a loaded question. [Laughter] For me, personally, probably Michelangelo just because he鈥檚 my kids鈥� favorite Turtle and he鈥檚 the funniest. But they鈥檝e all got great qualities. I love Donatello because he鈥檚 obviously the nerdier of the Turtles. Leo is cool. I鈥檓 going to list them all. [Laughter] There are traits in all of them. Leo鈥檚 the leader and Ralph鈥檚 the loose cannon so he鈥檚 kind of cool in that way, too, and he鈥檚 kind of the thrill seeker, the danger factor.

Does your character do a lot of action? I mean, as you鈥檙e being confronted by ninjas, it seems a little more physical than roles you鈥檝e taken in the past.

Arnett: Way more! Way more physical. [Laughter] Yeah, it鈥檚 a real departure from me in that sense. That鈥檚 been super fun, doing that. Today, we鈥檒l get into more of that. But the action side of it is very enticing to me, and I wanted to wait until [鈥�] later in life to do it. [Laughter]

Do you have a lot of interaction with the Turtles?

Arnett: Yeah, quite a bit. It takes a while but once Vern kind of gets into 鈥� is brought on board, he is fully immersed with the Turtles. We鈥檝e started to create these relationships between 鈥� some of it鈥檚 in the script and some of it just comes out of performance and stuff, and you have relationships with the Turtles. Vern and Ralph kind of butt shells a little bit. [Laughter] Ralph is not super psyched about this guy and Vern gives Raph a hard time. He sort of makes remarks about his size and his shell and stuff, and Raph isn鈥檛 into it.

So you鈥檙e still flexing comedic muscles in some way as well?

Arnett: Yeah, for sure. Vern is kind of a little bit wise-cracking, but ultimately also at the end we鈥檒l see that he kind of comes through.

You鈥檙e a dad that has kids. Is聽Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles聽a kids鈥� movie? Is this something you want to bring your kids to?

Arnett: Well, we鈥檒l see in the final 鈥� when we finally see the movie, but I think it鈥檚 going to really capture 鈥� there鈥檒l be something in it for everyone. And as somebody who has to go and sit through a lot of kids鈥� movies, it鈥檚 going to be great for people like me because it鈥檚 going to have those elements that you want to see.

My kids are big Turtles fans because there鈥檚 been this resurgence, especially with the new series on Nickelodeon. It鈥檚 funny, I often have long days here on set and then I walk in the door and my kids 鈥� this is not a joke 鈥� go, 鈥淒ad, can you be Shredder鈥�? [Laughter] Like, oh my god. I鈥檝e had my sons here with their nun chucks and they鈥檝e been displaying their skills for the Turtles. It鈥檚 so weird, worlds colliding.

Were you yourself a聽Turtles听蹿补苍?

Arnett: 鈥楾he Turtles鈥� kind of came later, it kind of caught me, I was [鈥�] not really in the demo for it [when the 鈥楴inja Turtles鈥橾 came out. Like, when the movies came out, I was [an] older teenager and maybe even in my twenties. Gulp. [Laughter]

So how grounded is the reboot? I mean, it鈥檚 obviously聽Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but did the world feel like the world we know or is it heightened?

Arnett: The world feels very, very real. And that鈥檚 obviously one of the decisions that you have to make right at the start in terms of tone, and I think it鈥檚 really important to try and keep it grounded in reality, keep it grounded in this world.

Especially with what everyone knows now, unless you鈥檙e making some sort of supernatural thing that鈥檚 insane, audiences are pretty savvy, so you want to make something that feels accessible and real. I think we do a really good job, actually, of straddling it. In the moments you need to, you do that and other times you keep it really real.

(Note: At this point in the interview, Megan Fox arrived to take part.)

Megan, how did you get involved with this film?

Megan Fox: I think I did a lot of talking in the past, when I was on the 鈥�Transformers鈥� press tours, about this being one of my favorite comics and cartoons and film franchises when I was a kid. So, I think my name was sort of always floating around the idea of the movie, and then when it started becoming a reality I just went in for a meeting with Jonathan and with Andrew and I imagine that I was, of the actresses on the table, probably the most legitimate or biggest fan. Which is why I鈥檓 glad they picked me [to play April], because I really wanted to do it badly.

How do you think this modernizes the聽Ninja Turtles聽and examines what they鈥檙e all about? Even your character 鈥� has she been modernized?

Fox: I think it was sort of the same thing with 鈥楾ransformers,鈥� everybody was like, 鈥淗ow is this going to translate to a live action movie and how is it going to be interesting for adults? How is it not going to just be a kids鈥� movie?鈥� And this is , it鈥檚 [the special effects company] ILM, obviously ,which is the same folks that have brought you many other amazing things. It鈥檚 just a darker, scarier world than you鈥檝e seen previously and it鈥檚 very realistic. And, I think that鈥檚 a big thing, just selling the reality so you stop thinking, 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at mutant turtles鈥� and it just becomes 鈥� these are the heroes of the film and you sort of separate from the toy or cartoon aspect of it.

What was not modern about April O鈥橬eill? She was always pretty modern. Minus that jumpsuit, she was doing all right. But those are making a comeback. [Laughter.] I think we鈥檙e just trying to play it as if this were to happen in this year, what would it be like. And where I鈥檓 from in Tennessee, I was born next to a chemical plant and I鈥檝e seen mutated creatures. So, it鈥檚 not totally unrealistic.

Arnett: Now that makes sense. A lot of sense. [Laughter]

How is it working with the actors who play the Turtles? Because you鈥檙e staring at an actor and then the contraption with the eyes 鈥� is there any kind of imagination in play then?

Arnett: Yeah, any time you do something where you鈥檙e not just talking to just a person in street clothes you have to suspend that 鈥� not use your imagination, but鈥�

Fox: The hardest thing is that you want to look into their eyes.

Arnett: Yeah.

Fox: It鈥檚 very hard to look into the Ping-Pong balls.

Fox: But they鈥檙e great. They鈥檙e all so happy to be doing this and so enthusiastic.

Arnett: Super talented guys.

Fox: Yes, and they bring an amazing energy to the set. It鈥檚 so fun to work with them.

Arnett: Yeah, and they鈥檙e really well cast for each of their parts.

Fox: Exactly.

Arnett: Such distinctive characters, those guys.

I feel like we鈥檙e seeing, at least from the scene we saw shot upstairs, we鈥檙e seeing a different side of April, a little bit more of a fighting April. Would you say that we see that side of her this time around?

Fox: Yes. I mean, she鈥檚 got no choice. She gets into a situation where it鈥檚 that or be killed. So, she鈥檚 not what I would call a badass, per se, I would say it was forced upon her and she must do it to defend her life and the lives of those she loves. She鈥檚 not like a CIA-esque character, she鈥檚 a girl that gets caught up in this and ends up maybe developing a few skills along the way.

But she鈥檚 got those (garbled) weapon in boots, it鈥檚 a pretty professional set-up there.

Fox: As a personal choice, I did not (laughter) 鈥� I was tired of running with them in the scene and we needed to put them somewhere and we couldn鈥檛 put them in the back of my pants because that was dangerous, so I decided to put them in the boots.聽

Arnett: Yeah.

Fox: It happens in these sequences that you鈥檝e been watching. Sort of a transformation, I guess.

I think it鈥檚 been a while since we鈥檝e done a great movie that鈥檚 shot on the streets of New York. Does that add something to the experience?

Arnett: [New York is the] other character in the 鈥楾urtles鈥� mythology, really. It鈥檚 such a New York-centric story and I think that was crucial that it happened here. So, being here has been awesome, in the streets, and again, I think that authenticity has been tremendous. And yeah, shooting in New York is always interesting.

Megan 鈥� you said you鈥檙e kind of a聽Turtles聽nerd. I鈥檓 curious to know how you found them. Was it the comics, the movies?

Fox: It was the movies. I have an older sister [wh] is 39, 38, so she was watching the movies when I was really young. Maybe I was only four when I saw the first one, and I remember seeing them out of sequence, actually. I saw the second one before I saw the first one, because that came out when I was old enough to watch the VHS once it came out.

So, I started out with that and then I started watching the cartoons. I never actually owned any of the comics, that鈥檚 the truth. I know I can鈥檛 pretend, because I鈥檒l be at Comic-con and I鈥檒l get shattered (laughter) if I pretend that I owned them and I didn鈥檛.

The director, Jonathan Liebesman (Battle Los Angeles), showed us the Turtle heads and the giant molds and described each of them with different movie character references. I wonder when he鈥檚 talking to you, or even initially about the movie, if movies enter the conversation in how he talks about it?

Arnett: Yeah, Jonathan鈥檚 references are all movies.

Fox: All movies.

Arnett: That鈥檚 how we move through a conversation with him, which is why he鈥檚 a great guy to do this. I mean, he鈥檚 such, I don鈥檛 know what you call it.

Fox: Movie nerd.

Arnett. Movie nerd. If you really want to roll your eyes at me I鈥檒l say cinephile. [Laughter] Those are his points of reference and he knows movies and it鈥檚 actually a really effective way to convey whatever he鈥檚 trying to [convey] 鈥� like tone.

Fox: If you鈥檝e seen the movie.

Arnett: Ha, yeah.

What are the specific movies that he brought up to you?

Fox: We have to be careful that he would want this information released.

Arnett: Yeah.

Ghostbusters聽has come up a couple times. Is聽Ghostbusters聽a film he鈥檚 sort of referenced, especially with April, the character going around with these four lunatics?

Fox: Well, [...] in reference to her relationship with the Turtles and where it ends up, they wanted [it] to be sort of a Wendy and the Lost Boys relationship where she鈥檚 the mom they never had, and then of course 鈥� oh, I almost said something I shouldn鈥檛 say. I almost revealed a plot point!

Arnett: I want to be really careful, too. [Laughter]

We know some stuff, we know that they start with you, April, as a little girl.

Fox: Yeah. I was going to reveal something that you didn鈥檛 know that I shouldn鈥檛 reveal.

Arnett: You go first.

Fox: What question are we finishing? Are we finishing the movie question, the Jonathan question?

Yeah.

Arnett: Or not.

Fox: He 鈥� I don鈥檛 want the wrath [of exposing spoilers]. [Laughter] I think anything that鈥檚 been a big summer blockbuster that has done well and is visually stunning has been referenced on a daily basis, multiple times.

Why would that affect you guys?

Fox: Because every time before we do a shot, it鈥檚 like 鈥� [Laughter] It鈥檚 referenced like that, for scale purposes, let鈥檚 say. Like if you鈥檙e not playing something鈥�

Arnett: He鈥檒l say, 鈥淒o you remember that shot in that鈥� 鈥� he referenced actually, in that scene 鈥� what was the movie he referenced in that scene when the van came through?

Fox: The wall?

Arnett: Yeah, and he said [with South African accent], 鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 like that scene in that,鈥� and he referenced some movie.

Fox: 鈥�Jurassic Park鈥�?

Arnett: There was a 鈥�Jurassic Park鈥�聽reference, but in that same conversation he was like [with South African accent), 鈥淚t鈥檚 like that scene in鈥︹��

Fox: It鈥檚 like that. To give you perspective, maybe on your question, [...] it鈥檚 an iconic moment [compared] to another iconic moment so you know.

Arnett: His idol, his absolute idol is Steven Spielberg, and obviously that guy has told so many great stories and created so many iconic images and moments in film. Things entering [the] frame and push-ins and beautiful shots, ways to tell stories, epic ways.

Fox: He also is a lover of the J.J.

Arnett: Yeah, J.J. of course.

Fox: J.J. gets some love.

Arnett: The J.J. Yeah, you probably saw that at the monitor.

Fox: The lens flare? Is that what you mean? [Laughter]

Arnett: Yes, I didn鈥檛 say that, so I can鈥檛 be quoted. But it did get to the point where he referenced so many movies once in a direction that the next day on set I asked him in front of Dave, the camera guy and couple of guys, 鈥淚s it like 鈥� do you remember 鈥�Look Who鈥檚 Talking 2鈥�?鈥漑Laughter] But he鈥檚 got a good sense of humor about it, too.

In the first movie, the Turtles were lost boys in a way, kind of teenage boys, and in this movie they look like mercenaries. How have they evolved?

Fox: Well, I think that just adds into the believability of the current world that we live in. It would probably be harder to sell that these are like kids that have run away from home or like mad because their step-dad works too much and doesn鈥檛 pay attention, and they run away, or whatever.

Arnett: And I think that movies that are sort of based on comic books, the audiences have gotten much more savvy and you need to find ways to tell.

Fox: I think they wanted to build a significant threat so there鈥檚 a real fear and a real risk in the scenes. It鈥檚 not as frightening if they are fifteen year-old boys. I don鈥檛 think.

The movie wants to take a slightly serious tone, but is playful 鈥� do you get to play on it?

Fox: I don鈥檛 think so, I think that鈥檚 the Turtles鈥� job, right? Or your job, it鈥檚 not my job.

Arnett: Yeah, and you do too. It鈥檚 playful.

Fox: It鈥檚 playful, but I don鈥檛 think I play the comedy beats, I wouldn鈥檛 say.

Arnett: No, when you鈥檙e on your journey, maybe not, but certainly at the top, April and Vern have a kind of bantery, lighter relationship and are kind of jabbing each other a little bit more. Then she gets real.

We saw Shredder鈥檚 outfit with the crazy blades and everything, and he was saying there鈥檚 only half of it on there. Are you guys able to tell us if you interact with that costume? I鈥檓 curious about the physicality of that as opposed to the Turtles where it鈥檚 not actually there yet.

Fox: I haven鈥檛 interacted with it yet, have you?

Arnett: Yeah, not yet.

Fox: I haven鈥檛 seen it, to be honest.

You will at some point?

Arnett: Yeah.

Fox: Is that the 鈥� I don鈥檛 know. I haven鈥檛 seen it.聽聽 I mean, wait. [Laughter]

What do you think is going to be the standout? Every summer we get so much CGI, 3D, big budget nonsense. Is there going to be a core element to this that鈥檚 going to make it special?

Fox: For me, I will say, anyone my age or up to very early forties, I just feel it has a huge demographic, that it鈥檚 such a nostalgic piece of my childhood. I mean, I was just so in love with it and it meant so much to me that I would go see it no matter what. And then it鈥檚 got, your children even, the new cartoon [has created] a resurgence and all of these little children now also love the movie.

Arnett: And it鈥檚 got Megan Fox. [Laughter]

Fox: I just think, what makes it special and different, why is it so much [more] than 鈥�厂辫颈诲别谤-惭补苍鈥�?

Arnett: It just is.

Well, do you think the movie has a strong theme to it or a lesson that it鈥檚 teaching? Like if kids go see this movie, is it just action or does it have an underlying theme?

Fox: I think the underlying theme is the need for family and for help and support from others. That no man is an island.

Arnett: Yeah, absolutely. That is always what has been such a great thing about the Turtles, is family and inclusion and that鈥檚 always kind of been the message. And I think that鈥檚 what kids will be left with.

Last question, guys. Do the Turtles eat pizza and say, 鈥�Cowabunga鈥�?

Fox: Yes, and [we鈥檙e] working that in, the second part. But definitely the pizza is there.

So who was your favorite Turtle?

Fox: My favorite turtle was Michelangelo because he was the funny one. He was actually my first crush, and I know everyone thinks that鈥檚 weird, but little girls have crushes on cartoon characters because it鈥檚 what we鈥檙e exposed to first. So, him and Zack Morris. (laughter) were my first crushes. He was my first favorite, and if I had to pick a second I would go with (sigh)鈥� See, I feel like this is a good psychological- it鈥檚 revealing of the psychological nature.

Arnett: It鈥檚 tough.

Fox: Because it reveals so much about you. Who鈥檚 your favorite? Raphael?

Arnett: I basically said all four. (laughter) Once I started down the path, I was like, 鈥淏ut鈥︹��

Fox: Definitely Mikey (Michelangelo), then I guess I would go with 鈥� Leo鈥檚 too serious all the time, so I guess I would go with Raphael, but he鈥檚 such a pain in the ass. I would go with Mikey, Raphael.

Arnett: I said Donatello second, I said Mikey first, too.

Fox: I would put Leo last because he鈥檚 too stoic for me, I can鈥檛 take it. He鈥檚 too serious. He takes himself too seriously.

Arnett: But, anyway, we鈥檙e not going to get into this now. (laughter) You know Leo will save the day鈥� anyway.

What are your characters鈥� reactions the first time they see the turtles?

Arnett: It鈥檚 at different times.

Fox: Different times, yeah. Initially, it鈥檚 sort of one of those shock and horror things because they鈥檙e enormous and I wouldn鈥檛 say unfriendly-looking but they鈥檙e meant to be slightly grotesque looking because they are mutated turtles and we鈥檙e trying to make them realistic, so it鈥檚 frightening at first.

Arnett: Yeah, imagine she鈥檚 this young reporter and she鈥檚 small and these things are huge and they鈥檙e turtles (laughter) talking to her.

So it鈥檚 not played for humor, necessarily?

Fox: Not the initial meeting. Well鈥�

Arnett: It鈥檚 pretty hardcore, though.

Fox: I didn鈥檛 play it for humor but there are humorous beats in it.

Arnett: Yeah.

Ben Moore blogs at .