William Fichtner cast as Shredder in 'Ninja Turtles'

Credit: Screen Crush

William Fichtner has had a long career rife with versatile roles. But the actor, best known for his work in films such as Armageddon, Heat, and this summer's The Lone Ranger, as well as TV series such as Prison Break, is venturing into entirely new territory.

Fichtner has confirmed in an interview with Huffington Post Canada that he has signed on to play the role of Shredder in the upcoming live-action, Michael Bay-produced, Jonathan Liebesman-directed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Naturally, the reboot will eschew the character's native origin as a former Japanese warrior named Oroku Saki, but it isn't as if this is the first time Shredder has been played by an American, as professional wrestler Kevin Nash portrayed the role in 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze while James Avery (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's Uncle Phil) voiced the character in the hit 1980s cartoon series.

Fichtner joins a cast that includes Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Danny Woodburn, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Arnett, Abby Elliott and Mos Def.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hits theaters on June 6, 2014.