Chris McCarver
04-20-2005, 06:02 AM
CybertronCinema.net (http://www.cybertroncinema.net) just posted a summary of a Q&A Transformers producer Don Murphy conducted on his boards.
Here're some of the highlights:
--Arcee, the female Autobot from the '86 movie, will be part of the cast, and is likely a motorcycle
--Prelim design work is underway
--The film will focus on five members each of the Autobot and Decepticon factions
--Optimus Prime, Megatron, Arcee, Soundwave, Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Jazz are confirmed
--Bumblebee will likely NOT be a VW Beetle due to licensing issues
--Hasbro demanded that Soundwave's size-changing ability be left in, which means Soundwave WILL likely be some form of portable media device
--The overlying theme of the film will be a "hidden war" wherein the 'Bots and 'Cons have been secretly warring under the noses of humanity for decades, and the secret gets out
--There's some debate as to whether Ratchet, the Autobots' medic, will be an ambulance or a fire/rescue truck
--Tentative production schedule: Final character selection next month, character designs finished July 1, pre-production begins Sept. 1, shooting begins Dec. 1
--No Quintessons (the five-faced aliens from the '86 movie) at least in this first film
--Dreamworks has filed licensing proposals with the major auto manufacturers
--The fight to cast Peter Cullen and Frank Welker (the original VAs for Optimus and Megatron) is uphill, Murphy wants them (BADLY), Hasbro and Dreamworks are indifferent, and the writers and co-producer Tom DeSanto want name actors in the parts
--The film will be PG or PG-13 and Hasbro and Dreamworks have placed no restrictions thus far in regards to violence
--There will be a cast of human characters (not just one) interacting with the Transformers
--The film will be set in the Southwestern U.S.
--Steven Spielberg is playing his part as executive producer VERY hands-on
--Michael Bay is nearly a lock as director
--The Decepticons will not be flight-capable in their robot modes
--ILM is being looked at for the movie's effects house
--The Transformers will each have fleshed-out personalities
--One of the main ten Transformers will very likely die in the film
--The Autobot Matrix of Leadership will figure into the larger overall plot
--Murphy intends to make Bay very aware of what the fans want (so far, original voice talent and the classic transforming sound effect is on the list).
--Soundwave's "cassettes" will be included; he and his tapes are being considered as one casting selection for the Decepticon roster
Here're some of the highlights:
--Arcee, the female Autobot from the '86 movie, will be part of the cast, and is likely a motorcycle
--Prelim design work is underway
--The film will focus on five members each of the Autobot and Decepticon factions
--Optimus Prime, Megatron, Arcee, Soundwave, Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Jazz are confirmed
--Bumblebee will likely NOT be a VW Beetle due to licensing issues
--Hasbro demanded that Soundwave's size-changing ability be left in, which means Soundwave WILL likely be some form of portable media device
--The overlying theme of the film will be a "hidden war" wherein the 'Bots and 'Cons have been secretly warring under the noses of humanity for decades, and the secret gets out
--There's some debate as to whether Ratchet, the Autobots' medic, will be an ambulance or a fire/rescue truck
--Tentative production schedule: Final character selection next month, character designs finished July 1, pre-production begins Sept. 1, shooting begins Dec. 1
--No Quintessons (the five-faced aliens from the '86 movie) at least in this first film
--Dreamworks has filed licensing proposals with the major auto manufacturers
--The fight to cast Peter Cullen and Frank Welker (the original VAs for Optimus and Megatron) is uphill, Murphy wants them (BADLY), Hasbro and Dreamworks are indifferent, and the writers and co-producer Tom DeSanto want name actors in the parts
--The film will be PG or PG-13 and Hasbro and Dreamworks have placed no restrictions thus far in regards to violence
--There will be a cast of human characters (not just one) interacting with the Transformers
--The film will be set in the Southwestern U.S.
--Steven Spielberg is playing his part as executive producer VERY hands-on
--Michael Bay is nearly a lock as director
--The Decepticons will not be flight-capable in their robot modes
--ILM is being looked at for the movie's effects house
--The Transformers will each have fleshed-out personalities
--One of the main ten Transformers will very likely die in the film
--The Autobot Matrix of Leadership will figure into the larger overall plot
--Murphy intends to make Bay very aware of what the fans want (so far, original voice talent and the classic transforming sound effect is on the list).
--Soundwave's "cassettes" will be included; he and his tapes are being considered as one casting selection for the Decepticon roster