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We have a tiny tidbit of Transformers 4 news from the man himself, director Michael Bay. Coming Soon was in Miami to cover the press junket for Bay's soon to be released film Pain & Gain, and asked if he could give any details on 2014's Transformers 4. While remaining tight lipped it seems he plans to top the freeway chase scene in Transformers: Dark of the Moon with a "Chase from Hell" in the next film.
MTV has posted an interview with Michael Bay and Mark Wahlberg as they promote their soon to be released film "Pain & Gain". During the interview they discuss their other joint venture, 2014's Transformers 4. According to Bay he only wanted to do one more Transformers film, but Wahlberg has been harassing him to do more. The full interview can be viewed in the video embedded below.
"One day he was just like, 'Hey, do you want to do another movie?' and I said yes," Wahlberg recalled to correspondent Josh Horowitz. "He goes, 'You wanna know what it is?' [I replied] 'Well if you want to tell me, but I want to do it." That film turned out to be "Transformers 4," a project that Wahlberg jumped at the chance without even knowing the role he would play. "[Michael Bay asked] 'Do you want to know what the part is or what the story is?' I go 'Whatever you want to tell me, tell me, but I'm in.' "
Bay's desire to return to the franchise, one he seemingly concluded with 2011's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," came while the director waited in line for the Transformers ride at Universal Studios. "I was like, 'Wow, a lot of people like this.' I wanted to do it one more time... but then I brought Mark in and he's actually harassing me to do more."
Our friend Ricky Brigante with Inside the Magic dropped by with a Transformers: The Ride 3D update from Universal Orlando. The construction walls around the new attraction have come down and the Megatron walk-around character is making the rounds! The walk around character speaks several quotes from the various incarnations of Megatron throughout the franchise history. The ride opens later this summer, but a temporary meet and greet area has been set up with alternating appearances by Optmus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron. We've embedded a video and a few images from Inside the Magic below, click here for their full coverage with additional images.
One of Chicago's very own, famed film critic Roger Ebert, succumbed to his long standing battle with cancer earlier today two days after publicly announcing that he was taking a "leave of presence".
Chicago Sun Times wrote:Ebert, 70, who reviewed movies for the Chicago Sun-Times for 46 years and on TV for 31 years, and who was without question the nation’s most prominent and influential film critic, died Thursday in Chicago. He had been in poor health over the past decade, battling cancers of the thyroid and salivary gland.
To say the least, Roger Ebert wasn't the biggest fans of the Transformers films. However, Mr. Ebert mentioned Seibertron.com in a July 2009 article he had written defending his views about Transformers Revenge of the Fallen which you can view here.
Roger Ebert wrote:Now about those who sincerely believe "Transformers" is a good, even a great, film. I sincerely believe they are wrong. I don't consider them stupid--at least, not (most of) the ones who write to me. Some of the posters at certain popular web forums are nine blooms short of a bouquet. But on the other hand look at the spirited discussions on the movie forums of the all-Transformers-all-the time seibertron.com, where a Paramount exit poll showing "90% of those polled thought the second film was as good or better than the first one" has been received with ridicule. Significantly, those are moderated forums.
Roger Ebert's reviews of the live action Transformers films can be found by clicking on the links below (please note that at the time of this article, his website seems to be having difficulties loading):
I swear I've read a review he and/or Siskel wrote about the original animated Transformers film. If anyone has a link to that, I would like to update this news story with that review. I think I've only read it in a book and haven't seen it online before.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Ebert's wife and family. You can share your thoughts on our forums here at Seibertron.com.
Paramount Pictures has released a press release announcing a cooperation agreement with Jiaflix Enterprises and the China Movie Channel regarding Transformers 4. The agreement includes filming, casting, possible post-production, and promotion. See the full press release below:
Paramount Pictures, China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises announced today that they have entered into a Cooperation Agreement regarding the production of “Transformers 4” in China. The Cooperation Agreement was signed on April 1, 2013 in Beijing and Los Angeles.
Pursuant to the agreement, China Movie Channel, under the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), will cooperate with Paramount in broad-based support of the production of the film in China. “Transformers 4” is expected to be released in China on or about June 27, 2014. The parties also intend to cooperate in a number of other areas related to “Transformers 4,” including the selection of filming sites within China, theatrical promotion, and possible post-production activities in China as well as casting of Chinese actors and actresses in the film.
This agreement represents the first time that China Movie Channel will work with a western studio in the production of a major motion picture.
The unprecedented agreement followed a meeting with Mr. Tong Gang, Vice Minister of SARFT with the Transformers 4 production leaders including director Michael Bay, producer Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore, along with Jiaflix Chairman Sid Ganis and President Marc Ganis at SARFT’s official Reception Hall in Beijing. Minister Tong expressed support for the newly formed China Movie Channel/Jiaflix cooperation with Paramount.
The “Transformers” movies are among the most popular films ever released in China, and Michael Bay is among the most popular directors with Chinese audiences. Transformers 3, Dark of the Moon, released theatrically in 2011, grossed $165 million in China and over $1.1 billion worldwide.
“I’m proud and honored by how ‘Transformers’ has been embraced by Chinese audiences,” said Michael Bay. “I look forward to working with China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises to help reach more people here and deepen their passion for this ongoing story and its characters.”
“China Movie Channel and our official movie web site M1905.com have been long term trusted partners with Jiaflix,” said Yan Xiaoming, Chairman of China Movie Channel. “We have been working together in the field of importing Hollywood movies for Chinese television and internet, including Paramount movies, as well as introducing Chinese movies to the North American market and are very delighted with the results we have accomplished together.”
“This is the beginning of a new era of collaboration with the Hollywood studios,” Mr. Yan continued. “We are very confident that the China Movie Channel/Jiaflix cooperation with Paramount will result in the famous Transformers brand being an even bigger success.”
Jiaflix, through its partners, Sid Ganis, Marc Ganis and Kenneth Huang, was the driving force in bringing the new arrangement to fruition. Said Sid Ganis, Chairman of Jiaflix, “Paramount was the first major studio to officially join with us for the distribution of its films over the Jiaflix platform in China, so we are delighted to join our partners at China Movie Channel together with Paramount on this groundbreaking initiative. ‘Transformers 4’ are paving the way.” Jiaflix has recently entered into a long term agreement with Paramount, under which Paramount will supply more than 250 films a year to the new video streaming partnership between Jiaflix and M1905.com, a unit of China Movie Channel.
“We are excited by and grateful for the opportunity to work with China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises on the production and promotion of ‘Transformers 4,’” said Paramount Vice Chair Rob Moore. “We see this relationship as a reflection of the global power and appeal of both this unique franchise and Michael Bay’s talents as a filmmaker.”
Director Michael Bay's official website has posted a update stating the next three Transformers films will be filmed back to back to back beginning in June. Keep in mind today is April Fool's Day, so the details to follow may be nothing more than a message stating this is a joke. We'll keep you posted.
Transformers 4, 5, & 6 will begin filming back to back starting June 2013.
More details to follow.
Given the long standing relationship between the two franchises it was only a matter of time before someone asked the producer of both the Transformers and G.I. Joe films, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, if a potential crossover film between the two was in the cards. During a recent interview with Cinema Blend he was asked about the possibility of such a film. He doesn't rule the concept out, but at the moment it doesn't appear to be on the radar. See his quotes below:
Once again, getting back to the evolution of the blockbuster movie franchise, one of the things that we are seeing a lot of right now, and it’s in great deal due to The Avengers and The Expendables is kind of the idea of both continuity explosion, like the idea of creating a larger universe and also just creating a team and I’m just curious, what’s your perspective on that personally and is it something you could see being part of future projects you’re working on?
In terms of Joe or just in...
Well, in terms of Joe, for example like G.I. Joe and Transformers both happen to be Hasbro, Paramount and you.
I guess it’s possible. I don’t know. I think I probably at this moment, I resist it. I don’t know necessarily why, but I just think there’s so much that’s so rich in the mythologies that I don’t think they need to draw from the other. I think, I didn’t rule it out for me and I think those things have somehow for me, sort of in the past, they made me feel like a little bit cynical exercises in just drawing money out of something. It’s not to say you couldn’t do it well, but both these properties have such rich mythologies with so many characters, that you could go a lot of movies before you start running out of ideas of what to do. But it’s not to say, if we found the right… I’d hate to set out to do that, but if I heard a story where we went, “Oh my God…,” I could see a story right now about machination, machination of war and that could lead you sort of intrinsically to a Transformer. I think in general, Marvel is doing it within their own universe, right? And so it doesn’t feel gimmicky in that way. I think that’s what I would really try to resist.
Director Michael Bay's official twitter account has released a couple of Transformers 4 details. It has been announced that Nicola Peltz has been added to the film's cast, presumably in the role of Mark Wahlberg's daughter. Second, we have confirmation that Transformers 4 will be shot in 3D.
Prime1Studio will be producing an officially licensed polystone statue of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Megatron! The statue is highly detailed, measures almost 32 inches tall including it's base, features LED light up eyes, and interchangeable arms. Price is a bit prohibitive at 189,000 Yen or almost $2000.00 USD. Images mirrored below.
The Michigan Film Office has posted a press release confirming Michael Bay's Transformers 4 will be filming in Detroit. Both the 2007 Transformers live action movie and Transformers: Dark of the Moon filed in Detroit. See the press release below.
Update: Plot Details Removed Upon Request.
Transformers Returning to Michigan, Approved for Film Incentive
March 20, 2013
LANSING – The Michigan Film Office announced today Michael Bay’s Transformers 4 has been approved for a film incentive from the state. Transformers 4 will film this spring in metro Detroit.
“It speaks volumes about all Michigan has to offer that Transformers is returning once again to our state,” said Margaret O’Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office. “This project will shine another bright spotlight on Michigan and provide tremendous opportunities for our cast, crew and support services.
Transformers 4 was awarded an incentive of $20 million on $81,933,992 of projected in-state expenditures. The project is expected to hire 368 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of 339 jobs.
Transformers 4 is the third film in the series to use Detroit as a backdrop. The first Transformers, released in 2007, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, released in 2011, also filmed in metro Detroit.
In Fiscal Year 2013, 13 projects have been awarded a total of $30,962,806 on $120,172,305 of approved production expenditures for the year. These projects are expected to create 1,190 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 559 jobs.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Film Review Committee, comprised of senior MEDC staff including the Michigan Film Commissioner, reviews all completed applications using the statute to guide approval decisions.
The Michigan Film Office was created in 1979 to assist and attract incoming production companies and promote the growth of Michigan’s own film industry. The Film Office also administers the incentive program for film, television and other digital media production in Michigan. For more on the Michigan Film Office, visit: MichiganFilmOffice.org.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation markets the state with a focus on business, talent, jobs and helping to grow the economy. For more on MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.
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