This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content may change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available.

Transformers
Directed by	Michael Bay
Produced by	Tom DeSanto Don Murphy Lorenzo di Bonaventura Steven Spielberg
Written by	Story: Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci John Rogers Screenplay: Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci
Starring	Shia LaBeouf Josh Duhamel Jon Voight Megan Fox Bernie Mac Tyrese Gibson Rachael Taylor Amaury Nolasco Kevin Dunn Peter Cullen
Distributed by	DreamWorks Paramount UIP
Release date	July 4, 2007 (USA) (Canada)
Language	English
IMDb profile

Transformers is a live action film based on the popular Transformers franchise and toy line. The film has a projected release date of July 4, 2007 and is currently filming. The feature is being directed by Michael Bay with Steven Spielberg acting as the executive producer. The official announcement of the project was made at Comic-Con International in July 2005. The Transformers characters are expected to be CGI. Filming officially commenced on May 29, 2006. This will be the Transformers' first big screen adaptation since Transformers: The Movie in 1986.

Transformers is a joint collaboration among DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures, and Hasbro, Inc. DreamWorks will be the domestic distributor; United International Pictures, the joint venture of Paramount and Universal Studios, will handle the international release through Paramount. There is a deal between Hasbro and Paramount (whose parent Viacom bought DreamWorks in late 2005)^{[citation needed]} in which Paramount releases DVDs of films and TV shows based off Hasbro properties. Hasbro will take an active role in the film's production, along with its promotion and merchandise tie-ins. Since Paramount will distribute DreamWorks' films (which began with Over the Hedge), they in effect have distribution rights to Transformers in North America as well - particularly through its distribution on DVD.

Plot

Writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci said that the storyline will not be based upon the original Generation 1 series, but will feature many of the original characters. Ain't It Cool News reported a scene where a giant robotic scorpion Decepticon named Scorponok attacks a middle- eastern Army base.

Director Michael Bay recently claimed on his official forum that character names used in leaked versions of the script are "codenames" for the actual characters set to appear in the film. The real names will not be revealed until the toy boxes are printed^[1]. However, this would seem to conflict with photographic evidence, at least in the case of the character of Bonecrusher, whose name is clearly displayed on his vehicle in pictures taken on set.

On April 23, 2006, Ain't It Cool News posted an interview with Bay that took place at the director's offices in Los Angeles^[2]. Amongst the subjects covered included confirmation of Scorponok's existence in the film, a chase scene featuring Optimus Prime and an unidentified Decepticon truck, and the fact that Prime's faceplate would be retractable so that his mouth would be visible. The subjects most heavily stressed, however, were the advanced kinematics and realistic engineering of the Transformers themselves. Arcee, who was originally announced to be among the ten, has since been announced to be removed, for "story purposes."

Production history

Producer Don Murphy negotiated the rights with Hasbro for a Transformers film. He then brought on DeSanto who had worked on X-Men. The two were turned down by every studio. Eventually Mike DeLuca at DreamWorks "got the property" and bought it.

ILM is producing CGI models. Principal photography began on May 22, 2006. Bay had originally confirmed a teaser trailer and teaser poster would be released on July 4, 2006, however, the poster (above) was released at the time the teaser site went live. The teaser trailer was released on June 29, 2006 at both the Transformers teaser website, as well as on Michael Bay's website, supposedly released early after it was discovered that an insider had leaked the teaser trailer onto popular video site YouTube.

Two Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey helicopters (of only three in the United States Air Force inventory) were filmed in flight at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on May 26 for the film. Other military aircraft are also being filmed at Holloman and at nearby White Sands Missile Range.

As of June 9th, filming was onsite at the Hoover Dam with several vehicles and military helicopters.

Initial cast

Jon Voight has recently been confirmed as playing Secretary of State "Keller" alongside the already-cast Shia LaBeouf (his costar in Holes) as "Spike" and Megan Fox as "Mikaela," the love interest, and Kevin Dunn as "Spark Plug," Spike's dad.

Confirmed

Voice actors

In July 2006, at the San Diego ComicCon, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura announced that Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime in the original animated series, will reprise his role for the film.^[12] A possible implication is that if Cullen plays Optimus again, he may well also reprise his voice role as Ironhide.

It is known that director Michael Bay has auditioned veteran Transformers voice actor Frank Welker to reprise the role of Megatron^[13]. Welker has reportedly sent in an audition tape for the role.

The logic to using the original voice cast is that a famous name makes no difference to the one half demographic, which is children, while retaining the original voice cast would please the fans. However, since several original voice actors such as Scatman Crothers (Jazz's voice actor),Chris Latta (Starscream's voice actor), and Don Messick (Ratchet's and Scavenger's voice actor) are deceased, those roles will require new talent if they are used in the movie.

Recently Mark Ryan was hired to be on set, to act as a stand in for the Transformers, giving actors someone to react to and act against during filming, both physically where appropriate and providing dialogue. Despite some reports ^[14] it is extremely unlikely that his voice will be used for any of the Transformers in the final cut.

Transformers on screen

An official list of Transformers slated to appear in the movie has yet to surface. Director Michael Bay has stated on his personal message boards that with the exception of Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, and Starscream, they cannot reveal the names of any other Transformers appearing in the movie until Hasbro has movie merchandise prepared^[1]. Indeed, Bay has claimed that the Transformer names found in an early leaked draft of the script were placeholder names. He has said that along with the most popular Transformers characters, there is a possibility of some new characters created for the film. Among the Transformers that have been hinted at by Murphy and found in a later leaked script from February 2006 are:

• A beat-up Chevrolet Camaro as Bumblebee (the sighting of both an older-model Camaro and a Saleen-modified concept Camaro suggests that Bumblebee will get an upgrade at some point during the movie). Though the change in alternate mode has been lamented by many G1 fans, it was more or less necessary--Volkswagen, creators of the VW Beetle which Bumblebee's original alt. mode was based on, is said to have repeatedly denied offers by Hasbro to license the vehicle for official use in the Transformers line. Still, fans have questioned the decision to move from a compact car to a muscle car, which may conflict with the identity of the original G1 character.
• A military mine-clearing vehicle named Bonecrusher (the sighting of a large military vehicle marked “Bonecrusher” seems to confirm that this will be the final name for this Transformer).
• A Decepticon police car named Brawl (the sighting of a Saleen-modified Ford Mustang police car on the set confirms this). Current name is unknown but it is unlikely to be Brawl.
• A large tank named Devastator (an on-set sighting of a modified tank with two different turrets seems to confirm this, though Bay specifically used this one as an example for a script-name that isn't the real one). In fact, this character may actually be named Brawl, just like his G1 namesake.
• A mechanical scorpion appropriately named Scorponok (mentioned in an interview with director Michael Bay on Ain’t It Cool News; a newspaper article in the Northwest Florida Daily News confirms a scene between the military and a large mechanical scorpion).
• A Special Ops helicopter that can deploy “minions”. Originally slated to be Soundwave after early CG cinematics were shown at San Diego Comic Con in 2005, but this may have changed after Hasbro made it known they wanted Soundwave to have a musical device mode in the movie. In early drafts of the script this character was named Grimlock, then according to Murphy was named Vortex. Current name is unknown, but is rumored to have been changed for a fourth time.
• A boom-box Decepticon, whose transformation is rumored to involve "stretching", leaving him with a four foot tall robot mode and who appeared in a February 2006 version of the script as Soundwave. Extreme fan backlash over the character has led to the character being renamed and Soundwave being held over until a sequel, where Murphy said at a recent fan con "...we can get him right." The character was rumored to be renamed Soundbyte, but this has recently been dismissed by official sources. The character now seems most likely to have been renamed as Frenzy, after the G1 character who was a minion of Soundwave.
• An ambulance (previously a fire rescue vehicle) named Ratchet (was mentioned during pre-production by Murphy several times).
• Fan-favorite Jazz, originally a slant-nosed Porsche 911 but described in early drafts of the script as being a "cool sports car".
• Autobot Ironhide has apparently replaced the controversial choice of Arcee in the February 2006 draft of the script. He is believed to be a modified GMC Top Kick C4500 4WD Crew Cab. [1] A picture of Ironhide in this alternate form has surfaced on the internet.[2]
• A long-nosed cab fashioned with red/black-flames artwork has been seen on set; discussion with Bay representatives seems to affirm this is indeed Optimus Prime's alternate form. On G4 channel's Attack of the Show, an interview with Lorenzo DiBonaventura confirmed that Optimus was scaled to be 32 feet in robot form, and definitely a semi in auto form.^[15]
• Cybertronian forms and alt modes as well as Cybertron itself are hinted at making an appearance in the movie.

Autobots

• Bumblebee
• Ironhide
• Jazz
• Optimus Prime
• Ratchet

Decepticons

• Bonecrusher
• Brawl
• Devastator
• Megatron
• Scorponok
• Soundwave or Frenzy
• Starscream
• Vortex

The Official announcement

The first teaser trailer was released on the internet on June 29, 2006 at the official website for the film and on Michael Bay's official website. Mars was where most of the action took place, and this caused some suspicion with fans. Bay assures fans that none of the film will take place on Mars.

It was actually meant to be released online on July 4 - exactly a year before the actual movie's release - as suggested by a timer that was on the teaser site before the trailer's release. However, an intentional leak by an unknown source of the teaser onto popular website YouTube prompted decisions by the studio to officially release the teaser the same day.

The teaser has appeared in some North American theaters attached with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. The images and storyline from this teaser trailer have been confirmed as not being in the movie.

Trailer synopsis

The trailer depicts the launch of the "'Beagle 2 Mars rover," which was announced "crashed" in 2003. The trailer claims this was a cover-up to keep the public unaware of its final transmission, which was decreed Top Secret.

The teaser then shows the rover's final transmission where it moves off its landing pad and onto the ground where seconds after it has scouted about a bit a shadow falls across its field of view. The camera turns to the object briefly, when a large mechanical humanoid promptly attacks the rover, cutting its transmission.

Then a blank screen with the words "It was the only warning we would ever get" comes up. This is followed by a view of the Earth from space. As the camera pans backwards, the movie logo 'transforms' onto the screen. It then changes again into 7.4.7 (July 4th 2007 – the film's release date), then transforms again into the Autobot insignia and the teaser ends with the credits.

Trailer vs. reality

There really was a Beagle 2 Mars mission, which was lost upon arrival at the Martian surface in 2003. However, in reality Beagle 2 was merely a stationary lander, while the craft depicted in the trailer is a rover. Indeed it appears to be based on NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which, as of 2006, have been operating on Mars for almost three years without mishap.

The Beagle 2 was also a British-led European Space Agency mission, launched on a Russian Soyuz 2 rocket from Baikonur. The mission control depicted in the trailer consists entirely of American voices, and the rocket was an American Delta II.

"Mars" depicted in the trailer bears little resemblance to the Mars of reality. Its sky is blue and streaked with white clouds, whereas Mars' sky is butterscotch brown, though thin clouds and indeed, even a light dusting of snow have been observed. The surface of the trailer's "Mars" is yellow, while Mars' is red, and is obviously a dry salt flat, which only occurs in areas once covered by water. While Beagle 2 was sent to search for water, to date no Mars probe has found anything close to salt flats on Mars' surface.

Internet leaks

In addition to the CGI model that is generally assumed to exist, Autobot Bumblebee's robot mode has been constructed as a physical prop as well^[16]. A leaked picture briefly appeared on the net before being removed at the request of the studio, although mirrors of these image can be readily located.

A photo of a heavily modified Sierra pickup, which is believed to be Ironhide, has appeared on the internet. An Autobot emblem on the tailgate seems to confirm this.

A photo of what is alleged to be Optimus Prime in his vehicle mode was leaked onto the internet. His alternate form is a dark blue Peterbilt semi truck with red flames painted on the sides. This has caused some controversy with both fans and critics from Ain't It Cool News and other sites expressing disapproval of the changes to the character's appearance from his Generation 1 incarnation^[17]. It should be noted, however, that this color scheme closely matches one of the G2 Optimus Prime toys^[18].
Indeed, a source has said Prime in alternate mode is similar to his G2 look but in robot mode is similar to G1. ^[19]

References

1. ^ ^a b a little secret from Michael Bay. Michaelbay.com forums (2006-05-11). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
2. ^ Quint sits down with Michael Bay and sees tons of TRANSFORMERS stuff!!!. Ain't It Cool News (2006-04-23). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
3. ^ LaBeouf in Final Talks for Transformers. Comingsoon.net (2006-03-28). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
4. ^ Voight Is A Transformers Man. Empireonline.com (2006-05-03). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
5. ^ ^a b c d Transformer casting. JoBlo.com (2006-05-03). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
6. ^ http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NCC=1701
7. ^ Transformers Dunn Casting. IGN (2006-05-19). Retrieved on 2006-07-11.
8. ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/people/casting_call.jsp
9. ^ Carroll, Larry, "Movie File: Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Alba, Hayden Christensen, 'Transformers' & More", MTV News, 2006-06-08. Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
10. ^ T'formers: the quickening. JoBlo.com (2006-06-12). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
11. ^ Cullen is the Voice of Optimus Prime. comingsoon.net (2006-07-21). Retrieved on 2006-07-21.
12. ^ ^a b "Peter Cullen Confirmed As Movie Prime", 2006-07-21. Retrieved on 2006-07-22.
13. ^ "Frank Welker Auditions for Live Action Transformers Movie", 2006-07-21. Retrieved on 2006-07-22.
14. ^ Mark Ryan Casted As Transformers Voice Actor. TFW2005.com (2006-07-09). Retrieved on 2006-07-20.
15. ^ G4 Attack of the Show Transformers Movie SDCC Special. Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
16. ^ Hoover Dam update with set photos!. CybertronCimena.net (2006-06-11). Retrieved on 2006-07-09.
17. ^ If you want to know what Optimus Prime looks like in vehicle form you might... have to wait!!. AintItCool.com (2006-07-11). Retrieved on 2006-07-20.
18. ^ Takara's Laser Rod Optimus Prime Re-issue at Ultimate Toys, Malaysia. UltimateToys.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-20.
19. ^ "Transformers Movie Optimus Prime Robot Mode Information", 2006-07-20. Retrieved on 2006-07-22.

• Transformers Touchdown In 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2005.
• Is Transformers Happening?. Retrieved July 17, 2005.
• Concept Chevrolet Camaro From the Transformers Movie
• New Chevy Camaro to star in Transformers Movie

External links

• Official Transformers Movie Website
• Official Michael Bay Website
• Official Hasbro Transformers Website
• Teaser
• Transformers at CanMag
• Axalon Underground RPG Transformers roleplaying in forum format.