Transformers Live-Action Announced

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RBison
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Transformers Live-Action Announced

Post by RBison »

I was just looking around on the net when I found this.

Here's the official release on the live-action announcement:


"The Transformers" -- the ever-morphing Hasbro toy line introduced in the mid-1980s that has gone on to spawn comic books, multiple television series and an animated feature -- are being prepped to change shape again, this time into stars of the big screen. Angry Films topper Don Murphy (whose next film is "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") and writer-producer Tom DeSanto ("X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United") have teamed to produce a feature-length, live-action movie based on the popular brand. The duo are expected to shop the project to studios shortly, and DeSanto said they have already received interest from a handful of directors hoping to get involved in the project. DeSanto is currently working on a story treatment for the project before he and Murphy hire a screenwriter to adapt it for the big screen.

It's from Comingsoon.net
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Computron
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Post by Computron »

BBC one ceefax page 546 for us Uk'ers
Best selling toys The Transformers are set to return to the big screenin a new live action adventure

Several Directors are said to be interested in the project about a group of robots who have th eability to change into different objects

The toys, first introduced in 1984 have continued to enjoy popularity, spawning a tv cartoon series and numerous comic books

An animated film Transformers the movie was released in1986
I support a ban on powerposting
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[cable]-Iacon
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Post by [cable]-Iacon »

Sounds like we got a new TF-thing to look forward to..:)
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Brave Maximus
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Post by Brave Maximus »

Hummm, time to go pester some people and see what's in the works.

Seems like it's true though. Wonder what kind of budget they'll land and what story they're going to run with
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Post by Hound »

What continuity are they using? That's what I want to know.

It's a given that all the TFs are gonna be CGI. Does this mean that the character cast will be somewhat limited due to budget? Are they gonna get original voice actors? Who's gonna play the main human characters?

Is there anyone who can honestly say they don't really want this to be based on the original series?

Outside of all that superficial stuff I just hope the story is good...

Oh yeah, and that Hound is in it too. :)
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Post by StoneCold Skywarp »

sent in by Kato via e-mail to news@tfarchive.com!
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... formers_dc

By Chris Gardner

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "The Transformers" -- the ever-morphing
Hasbro toy line that spawned comic books, TV series and an animated feature
-- are ready to change shape again, this time into live-action stars of the
big screen.

Angry Films chief Don Murphy (whose next film is "The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen") and writer-producer Tom DeSanto ("X-Men" and "X2:
X-Men United") have teamed to produce a feature-length, live-action movie
based on the popular brand.

The duo are expected to shop the project to studios shortly, and DeSanto
said they have already received interest from a handful of directors.

DeSanto is currently working on a story treatment for the project before he
and Murphy hire a screenwriter to adapt it for the big screen.

"Transformers enjoys an amazing fan base worldwide, and we believe that we
can create an incredibly fast-paced, exciting movie that will be appealing
to anyone who loves action films," Murphy said in a statement.

Added DeSanto: "Transformers is one of the properties I have been infatuated
with for a long time. Like 'X-Men,' Transformers offers an amazing mythology
with all the elements to create a successful ongoing franchise, iconic
characters, global themes and a world that has never been seen before
onscreen."

Introduced in the mid-1980s, the Transformers brand centers on a group of
robots that are able to change into a variety of objects, such as cars,
trucks, planes, ships and other technological creations.

The feature film will tell the story of an intergalactic war between two
races of robots: the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. When their
fight comes to Earth, the future of humanity inevitably hangs in the
balance.

"We loved the creative take that Tom and Don presented to us," said Jane
Ritson-Parsons, president of the Hasbro Properties Group. "And for Hasbro,
the center of our corporate strategy is extending our core brands in a
variety of entertainment forms ... This is a franchise where the next story
arc and the next destination is on the big screen."

The Transformers was introduced in the United States by Hasbro in 1984 as a
boy-friendly toy line. But even though the brand has been around awhile, it
enjoys continued success, with sales up 64% in 2002 over 2001, according to
Hasbro.

Currently, they can be seen seven times a week via the series "Transformers
Armada" on the Cartoon Network. According to Hasbro, additional television
programs and comic books are on the schedule for 2004.

The only time Transformers came to the big screen was in 1986 with the
animated feature "The Transformers: The Movie."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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Post by Lambda prime »

I'm very sceptical about a live action film, firstly it may turn popular characters into figures of humor like the Star Trek films did to Data and Worf. Secondly it'll have goofy kids at the focus of the story. The Transformers may end up being military projects or something. A CG animated film would serve introducing Transformers to a new audience better then live action. And the script will end up having moral lessons about ethnic groups and war due to September the 11th that perpetuates TV and films these days.
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Post by Brave Maximus »

Well, it stated that TF's do come to earth and that gets rid of the idea that they'll be a military project.

Anyone remember that CG animated Beetle about a year ago? show's that it can be done well
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Post by Unicron »

This won't end well...
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Post by Viewfind »

I just post the very same topic, i need to look better :(
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Post by swdarin »

I posted some threads like this a long time ago. I'm so happy it's coming true. The problem is, who do you think can direct it?
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Post by Nevermore »

Originally posted by Brave Maximus
Well, it stated that TF's do come to earth and that gets rid of the idea that they'll be a military project.


You know how Hollywood studio bosses think... To have an idea what to expect of a big budget live action TF movie, read how a

movie about DC's Metal Men would probably look like... :\
They're probably gonna introduce a brand new female Autobot named Starbolt and make her the female lead character next to Big Op, and they're also gonna introduce a black Transformer to make sure no-one complains about excluding minorities... :D
The Autobots will sign to the US government while the Decepticons ally themselves with a man named Samal ben Ladir (Abdul Fakkadi anyone? :D )...
Anyone remember that CG animated Beetle about a year ago? show's that it can be done well


Still, it's sad that the planned short movie by the same people never got finished... All we got is three seconds of a non-transforming Optimus Prime truck. :(
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Post by Gruff »

i hope to hell that they base it on G1 and nothing else!! and the only annoying kids in it are the Witwicky boys!!

as for directing hmmm Glen Morgan and/or James Wong can handle CGI and character development quite well as they cut their teeth on the X-Files and then had their own excellent series in Space:Above and Beyond plus both had moderate success on the big screen with Final Destination and The One.

i'd also tout Roland Emmerich, he's another guy who can handle CGI and isn't afraid to demolish major cities in fantastic ways like in Godzilla and Independance Day.

other guys i wouldnt mind helming it would include Rob Cohen (Fast & The Furious, Triple X), Paul Anderson (Event Horizon, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat), Randall Wallace (We Were Soldiers) and Ridley Scott (Black Hawk Down, Alien, Gladiator).

guess we'll just have to wait and see.

and personally i hope they bring back as many of the original voices and some of the other TF cast members to fill out the cast.
Vin Diesel as Bliztwing would be cool seeing as Ed Gilbert has passed on and i'd love to hear David Hayter in it, if they cant get Frank Welker for Megsy then get Diesel or David Hayter, that would make my day!!

oh and Shawn Ashmore to play Buster Witwicky
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Blaster_86

Post by Blaster_86 »

Then there is the problem of Jazz, who would do him?
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Post by Gruff »

Originally posted by Blaster_86
Then there is the problem of Jazz, who would do him?


Levi Stubbs from the 4 Tops, he did the voice of the giant plant in Little Shop Of Horrors, he'd be good for that!!
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Post by Ultimate Weapon »

The Transformers don't neccessarily need to be all CGI. They car modes can be real life automobiles. I would love to see a red and gray semi with an Autobot symbol on the trailer.
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Post by RID Scourge »

I have a bad feeling about this. I don't think that movie making has evovled to the level that it needs to be at to truly do justice to the TFs.
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Post by Ravage »

I think we are all being paranoid. At least it has a pretty decent sounding crew heading it up. Let's wait and see what happens, but I am worried this Transformers Energon may be a movie tie in.
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Post by Brave Maximus »

more than likely that's the way it going to go (furthering my idea that Energon is going to tie into G1)

I think if they get ILM to do the CGI intergrading it should come out decent (of course about the time they're looking for them Lucas will have the whole place wrapped up in episode 3)

for directors: Alex Proyas of the Crow fame could do an interesting twist, but probably get it away from the kids. If you're looking for a team that's not to afraid of SFX, and does good work then you have to go with:
James Cameron for directing
Stand winston for physical visual effects
ILM for CGI
Riddley scott as producer

the only problem with this is you better have a huge fricking budget, cause none of these guys actually know what one is. :D

and I agree, the witwickys would be the best humans to put in.
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Post by Grimlock »

It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.
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