Sunday, May 29, 2011

Red Ferrari No Longer Called Mirage? (Updated)

What is my name?!?Nelson dropped a minor bomb over at the Shoot for the Edit forums when he posted that the red Ferrari 458 Italia is no longer going to be called "Mirage" in the movie. He wrote, "All I will say is that he speaks with an Italian accent and is named after a famous Italian.”

The name Mirage was first confirmed due to an unintentional leak from Hasbro with an image of the Mirage Speed Stars toy and repeatedly verified in the various novel and comic book adaptations recently released. However, Nelson's response to that is "That doesn't mean shit. In the comic and novels the twins are still in it." His point being that the Twins where cut from the film (to the point of a $25k bounty if see them in it).

A thing to keep in mind is all adaptations are based on the near or final draft of the film. However, that is in pre-production and a lot can change during principle photography and post-production. Something the adaptations simply do not have time to account for unless the publishers want to release them month or so after the movie is out which few would agree too. Having said that, I doubt Hasbro is pleased unless of course they were told of the change before the box packaging was produced. This would explain why a Speed Stars vehicle is currently the only Mirage toy that has leaked up to this point. Strange considering all the other leaks that have occurred for nearly all the other characters in the film.

Now most are once again going to bring up "he's lying!" or "misinformation campaign". Again the question of motive comes to mind. To be blunt, the name of a Transformer character is not important to anyone but Transformers fans. The regular movie goer simply isn't going to give a crap if the red Ferrari is called Mirage or not even named at all. Until the question of motive for lying is answered, there is little reason to assume this information about "Mirage" is not correct.

So once again, the question has become "What is the name of the Ferrari 458 Italia?" with the only hint being that he is a famous Italian. Considering the long history of the country and its many contributions that is a very long list. My guess is Leonardo da Vinci as he is one of the top 5 most famous and his depth of knowledge and inventiveness fits the Transformers. Add your guesses in the comments. Thanks to NHLfan for the heads-up.


Update: For those guessing "Enzo" for Enzo Ferrari, founder of the company and car that was the on set reference for the character, Nelson wrote, "But it's changed since Enzo." To that I breath a sigh of relief. He also mentioned, "In the movie script, he was never called Mirage to begin with." Also added the pic from the Chicago set that Nelson tweeted (in various languages for some reason).

73 comments:

  1. But I liked the name Mirage... :( too bad. I hope this isn't true, and the red Ferrari will still be referred to as "Mirage" in the film for heaven's sake!! Hahaha!

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  2. So no Silberbolt, no Mirage, no Devastator, no other Gestalt/Combiner like Superion and Menasor...
    This is a realy disappointment. Just some alien spaceships that could be Quintessons ones BUT there are no Quintessons in the movie at all and there is no Unicron either.
    And a shorter runtime than the first two.
    What should anyone get excited about this movie anymore,really?

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  3. I will be extremely pissed if he is not named mirage. hasbro should be pissed, there is no reason the name should change

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  4. If his new name is MARIO or LUIGI, I'll just be flat out PISSED!

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  5. Nelson is a douche bag!!!

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  6. well Obviously his name will be "Enzo"

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  7. ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!ENZO!

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  8. bunch TURD...thats a good Italian name..."TURD"

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  9. He was confirmed Mirage in a kids book. It gave us a picture of the car mode and robot mode! If they change wheeljack to some other character, I will be extremely pissed!

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  10. Who said there is no Silverbolt? The planes would be cgi in the movie and there wouldn't be any need for the voice actors to be on set. Last I heard james Avery was doing Silverbolt's voice unless I missed something. I wouldn't think they would bring him in just to do the video game voice.

    http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Dark_of_the_Moon_%28film%29
    Silverbolt (James Avery)[5]

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  11. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0043041/

    as unreliable as it is at times james Avery is listed as Silverbolt's voice both in the movie and in the game

    On topic though I wonder what famous Italian could he be then?

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  12. correction: lists James Avery as the voice of Sentinel Prime & Stratosphere in the game

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  13. Martinus Prime5/29/2011 10:33 AM

    Yeah why the hell is the awesome name Mirage changed?? Who the hell came up with that stupid idead? They better come up with an awesome name!

    It doesn't matter if the regular movie goer doesn't care about the names.
    WE DO!!!!!! THE MOVIE IS CALLED TRANSFORMERS, SO YOU GIVE THEM OFFICIAL TF NAMES!!!!

    I will still be a little pissed, if the "Einsteinbot" isn't called Wheeljack. Wheeljack is the inventor of the Autobots, so you call him Wheeljack, not Brains. And I'm still NOT convinced that the blue Mercedes is the blue bot behind Optimus in the trailer.
    But in 4 weeks we'll find out everything.

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  14. Nelson says in TFW2005 that they can't call it any Hasbro names.

    Bull.Shit. If Ferrari didn't want their car named a Hasbro character name they they shouldn't have let Bay use it in the first place. Nelson is full of shit and I can't wait to be done with him after TF3 is released.

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  15. His name is Enzo. That's what Michael Bay called him on set. Enzo is one of the most famous Italians in history as he is the father and creator of Ferrari. It makes sense, seeing how the car is a Ferrari. However, he needs to be Mirage.

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  16. Meh... I don't care about the name unless it was already a major character I knew from the 80's w/o considering sideswipe was in ROTF, I would have thought sideswipe, but Bay only considers consistency in a few characters like prime and starscream in alt modes and color schemes (sort of) every other transformer has changed.

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  17. can anyone name one good reason why we should believe this guy?...really? I sure as hell don't.

    Cutting the twins out is just an edit....but changing the character name from a transformer that is already on Hasbro's toy line does not make sense...do they even have the "rights" to do such a thing? I have no clue.

    But I do know that I don't believe MB's wannabe b!t@h, just because he opened his big mouth lol !

    Time will tell I guess...

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  18. Even in the childrens books they introduce mirage (illistrated as the red ferrari) and explain how he has the ability to disappear. The only autobot transformer I remember having that ability was mirage...hence the friggin' name !

    so..
    - hasbro says it is Mirage
    - Official childrens books say it is mirage (listing his "mirage" ability)
    - the official movie adaptation comic says it is indeed Mirage.

    MB b!otch wannabe...comes out late and says "no"...they are all wrong...he is not Mirage :/

    ummm ya...someone "more important" would need to come forward before I believe that...

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  19. Micheal bay...you shall pay...for destroying everything the fans hold dear...

    but before we do so....why?

    WHY?

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  20. Still no word on Silverbolt whatsoever. I say that once again, they're talking out of their ass and somehow trying to desperately keep that cute little misinformation campaign of theirs going. He's either still named Mirage OR the whole thing about him being named after a famous Italian is a lie as well and he's actually named...*drumroll*...Cliffjumper.

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  21. ...lame. If he gets a ninja turtle name or something dumb like Enzo or Galileo, they're seriously blowing it.

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  22. "Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Leonardo Da Vinci... ROLL OUT!"

    IT JUST DOESN'T FIT!!!

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  23. I honestly think they should go with Hot Rod. A red ferrari definitely fits with Hot Rod.... just sayin'.

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  24. no chance of it being called 'hot rod'?

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  25. tickets are now on sale on fandango. at least they are in my area. just thought people might want to know

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  26. I hope his name is not Mario

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  27. I hope it's not Mario -_-

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  28. So, what will his name be, Mussolini?

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  29. I think that it's a possibility that the car manufacturer pushed for a change of name. And because it's a Ferrari they could have named him after the their founder, Enzo Ferrari.

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  30. If his name is "Enzo" I am going to KICK MICHAEL BAYS ASS, PUT IT IN A TRASH COMPACTOR, AND REMAKE DOTM MYSELF AND ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE FING FANS....DANG U MICHAEL BAY, DANG U!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  31. I don't think they would be continuing the misinformation campaign now? I mean the movie adaptation books are out now.

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  32. He had the code name Enzo in the scripts most likely after the Enzo Ferrari.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzo_Ferrari_%28automobile%29

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  33. umm for those who dont know, the red ferrari is a decepticon, not an autobot.

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  34. I really hope this bullshit isn't true. GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH BAY! Just call him Mirage!!!!

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  35. "umm for those who dont know, the red ferrari is a decepticon, not an autobot."

    umm, he has blue eyes?.....

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  36. this is exactly what is wrong with fanboys...you mean to tell me that the film is (objectively, though that word means nothing to you) better if the red car has the name of a character you like? WTF, wasn't he blue and white anyways.

    stop this shit please, it's bloody embarrassing.

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  37. OF COURSE THE RED FERRARI HAS A ITALIAN ACCENT AND LOOOVES SPAGHETTI. WHEELJACK AND SOUNDWAVE WILL HAVE A GERMAN ACCENT AND DRINK BEER!

    PERFECT!

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  38. Anonymous 5:59pm

    The ferrari is an autobot

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  39. Anonymous 7:15:

    and you had to come on and post something that has very little to do with the thread because why?

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  40. should we called him "Pizza"?

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  41. If they say its the Godfather of the Autobots or something like that Don Corleone? Or Italian stallion Rocky Balboa or something worse, all i can say is your starting to make it sound like the movie is gonna be a pass. Put the twins back in the movie! Tell Hasbro we want a LEADER class Optimus and Megatron with TRAILERS. Its cool to get Leader Sentinel Prime and Ironhide but its BS for Bumblebee to be the size of leader. 1st movie had 2 leader decepticons and 1 leader autobot. 2nd movie had 2 leader class autobots and 1 leader class decepticon. and now all 3 are autobots and 1 of them doesn't deserve to be the same size as the Primes. Its the last movie and changing the names of characters, dropping transformers like the twins, jolt and barricade. If they haven't been killed they should still appear. If it truly is the last TF movie don't start by disappointing the fans with the last movie, and the toys.

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  42. I know why Mirage's name won't be mentioned in movie. Do you remember when Bay told about this character by saying it to have an Italian accent and said his nickname being "Dreadbox". That was after the filming was complete. He said he didn't know the character's name. Explanation is clear. Name wasn't yet decided and that's why we won't hear it in movie.

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  43. @Anonymous 7:15PM 5/29/2011

    What YOU fail to realize is EXACTLY WHY some are complaining about this $hit: it's not so much the name change, as it is the REASONS (if you can even call them that) behind changing Mirage's name:
    1)Naming him after an Italian, since,
    2)It's an Italian car, and then, to add insult to injury,
    3)Giving the robot's voice an "Italian" accent. WTF????!!!!!!!. So let me guess, is Bay also gonna throw in some tired-ass Godfather quotes from Marlon Brando, and have whats-his-name eating the cybertron equivalent of spaghetti and meatballs, running around like the PREGO guy saying, "It's in there! It's in there!",and then have him act like James Gandolfini in 'The Sopranos'???!!!!!!! Knowing Bay, I wouldn't doubt it one bit.

    And to top it off, the arrogance and indifference that many hollyWEIRD execs, (and some of the sheeple, who just fork down their money on anything without knowing what an EDUCATED CONSUMER is, and wouldn't know, if it bit them in the a$$) who just go along with this hollywood bull$hit just to get along with it.

    That's why people those that are pissed off are pissed off. Yeah, I'll still see DOTM - ONLY to confirm whether or not my suspicions of it turning out to be just more of the same fetid, excruciatingly foul-smelling bovine excrement that the first two were, is true. I'm pretty much glad that this is Bay's last TF film, and I've become convinced that Bay's iterations of TF, based on the statement that he made when first offered the film (that it was a 'stupid kid's toy'), prove one thing: that the TF Bayverse is nothing but a half-ass inane attempt at parodying something that he does not fully understand, isn't fully enthused about, and is just rushing through just so that he can end his contract with Paramount and Hasbro. Only problem is this: he can't even do a parody right. Bay should stick to being a stunt coordinator, a DP, or an action sequence guy, and leave storytelling, directing, editing, and the other elements to QUALIFIED people.

    Rant over.

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  44. this is ridiculous. actually shows how weak the script must be and how bay is still treating the bots as secondary characters. seriously think about this, if you can change a character's name this far in post production, means 3 things. no other character says his name, he's not going to have a personality, and no character development.

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  45. This is some dumba$$ bull$hit. So is The Autobot-formerly-known-as-Mirage-but-no-longer-is-because-of-some-dumbass-reasoning going to also:
    a)talk with his hands; b)sound like, "Mamma Mia, Mea lovea toa eata tha meatballsa"; c)act like he's a mafioso and recite lines from , "The Godfather"; d)love to eat the cybertronian equivalent of meatballs and spaghetti, too????!!!!!!!

    I've come to this conclusion: I'm convinced that Bay's "contribution" to the Transformers universe is nothing but a "satirical", "parodic" attempt at "satirizing" and "parodying" it's source material. The thing is this, though: a satire or parody usually implies that something is seriously wrong with the thing being satirized or parodied. Where Bay is wrong is there's nothing seriously wrong with science fiction - but there is with Bay's half-ass, ill-informed "attempts" at the science fiction known as Transformers.

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  46. This is beyond idiotic. So I guess that The Autobot-formerly-known-as-Mirage-but-no-longer-isn't-because-of-some-stereotypical-simpleton-logic is going to also: a)talk with his hands; b)talk like, "Mamma Mia, Mea Lovesa Toa Eata Tha Meatballsa"; c)deal with the Decepticons "mafioso" style; d)be hairy; and e)idolize "The Sopranos", too, right??? By the way, I hate mafia films and I also hate the aforementioned stereotypes.

    The Bayverse iteration of Transformers is nothing but an ill-informed "attempt" at satirizing and parodying its source material. By definition, satires and parodies imply that the thing being satired and parodied is problematic. Only thing is this: Transformers sci-fi isn't the problem; it's Bay's, "just a stupid kid's toy" mentality-clouded hack job. I can't wait to see "Robot Chicken" and "Supernews" satirize Bay!!!!

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  47. @ anonymous "Nelson says in TFW2005 that they can't call it any Hasbro names.

    Bull.Shit. If Ferrari didn't want their car named a Hasbro character name they they shouldn't have let Bay use it in the first place. Nelson is full of shit and I can't wait to be done with him after TF3 is released."


    From what I understand the reason for that is because Mattel owns the rights to Ferrari toys so they can't use the Hasbro name. But who knows and it really doesnt matter in the slightest.

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  48. Changing names after books\toys have already been printed\distributed using the name Mirage? Not that I am complaining, its a bid odd though

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  49. are yall really ranting about this??? Go get some pussy or something sheesh

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  50. I don't know if I'm wrong, but if a crazy ass autobot named Enzo which the viewer has no relationship to ...dies...he just don't give a shit.

    Isn't a movie about caring for the characters?

    But maybe we shouldn't care at all...

    People...in this business there are certain things we better not know...just watch the movies and have a good time.

    But let us not be spoiled. Michael bay does an awesome job with this franchise though.

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  51. just to throw this out there.....blue eyes mean autobot. so the red ferrari is indeed an autobot.

    And also being a fan of transformers since i was little and since they very first started i say his the red ferrari should be named Hot Rod. I know for sure it wont be but it definetly should be. it follows the story and the original TFs. But we all know bay messes all that up.

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  52. this is kinda bullshit, dang...you guys are all getting so pissed off, its funny to read lol, im going see the movie any way, cus i dont care if he is named after a damn italian bc im a TF fan, been there since the begining, personally i didnt think bay ruined transformers, like some of you believe, i think it was awsome, loved the first one, second one was decent, third one, well..cant wait

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  53. dude above me that is NOT appropriate little kids come on here... like me!
    For Anonymous at 5/30/2011 at 4:23

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  54. Nave in the nasa of optimus prime not ARCA.
    Yes XANTIUM.

    ALEXANDRE/BRASIL

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  55. since names don't matter to some u guys; maybe in the next Batman film they'll change Bruce's name to Rufus Jenkins. since names obviously do not matter.

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  56. Anonymous said...
    dude above me that is NOT appropriate little kids come on here... like me!
    For Anonymous at 5/30/2011 at 4:23

    5/30/2011 12:43 PM

    ---LOL my bad... its just these people are aggy over a simple name change to a character they havent even seen yet lol. I'd understand the uproar if it was BB or Megatron but Mirage...err whatever his name is lol... who the f**k cares?

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  57. mario or situation

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  58. First let me say, I am not an all-consumed fanboy. I have a job, wife, kid, good relationship etc. I do not have a room full of toys or anything and to those that do, there is nothing wrong with that. I grew up Transformers and all the eighties cartoons and toys. The uproar about the name change isn't without merit. It is like any change that Hollywood makes with a beloved classic. Be it the mess they made of "The Scarlet Letter" with Demi Moore or the changes to Transformers. There is a story in place. A history exists.

    The reason these films make money, the reason they are chosen to be the subject of a film is because there is a huge fan base that exists and is guaranteed to pay to see them. If there wasn't, then Hollywood would come up with there own original ideas. The simple issue is that "Mirage" or any other character is a part of what we grew up with. We watched as kids and wondered what it would look like if the technology ever existed to put it on the big screen. Now the technology exists and it is hard to swallow too many pointless changes. I agree, changing a name is not a huge deal. But at the same time, changing a name is not a big deal so why change it? "Mirage" is part of what got the franchise to where it is so why change it? I agree with the previous comment about Batman. You cant just change the things that make the subject matter great.

    Part of what makes Transformers great is the names, the personalities, the special powers, whatever. It takes something special to take a toy, turn it into a cartoon, to a comic book, build a complex story and mythography, and ultimately become a successful movie franchise. The films are a success because of what came before them. Bay and Spielberg have created some beautiful and exciting imagery and who else could do it so well? But you have to respect what got it there. If the groundwork hadn't been laid down by the toys, cartoons, and comics, no one would be paying to see a movie about alien robots that turn into cars much less spend hundreds of millions of dollars to produce them.

    It can be a movie, a business, a restaurant, a car, a movie, any product, the name can make or break it. Just ask any film producer, advertising executive, or salesman. The original title of "Star Wars, A New Hope" was "Adventures of Luke Starkiller, As Taken From the Journal of the Whills, Saga 1: The Star Wars" The Star Wars franchise would have started and ended with that one movie if that was the title. Just putting it out there.

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  59. hmm maybe his name is Dante

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  60. Anon, 10.18: "just to throw this out there.....blue eyes mean autobot. so the red ferrari is indeed an autobot."

    I have one word for for you, sir/madam: Frenzy.

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  61. ^ i agree lol

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  62. It's called a background character. Ever heard of it? Movies generally don't put much development into them because they're their for the BACKGROUND. Probably to make the film feel more populated or make the more busy...

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  63. It pisses me off that people are offended by 2 little CGI robots. There are those that complained it offended the black community, umm, HELLO! A black guy did the voice for one the Twins. But hey, I guess the movie studios are too scared to anger some idiots with out a sense of humor.

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  64. His name will be FERRARI ! He is a famous Italian who created Ferrari duh!
    LOLOLOLOLOL! :P

    It better not be :(

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  65. I love how worked up you guys get... I mean, seriously. I just read this whole thread and lol'd so hard, im sure a lil bit of pee came out. :D
    I'm a huge transformers fan, but im not gonna get caught up in a HUGE debate and wild stories over the naming of some robot.

    Jeez... get out and get a life :)

    Much love :P x

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  66. The name is a minor point. Paramount struck a deal with Ferrari when they have a business deal with a rival toy company Mattel. Ferrari denied Hasbro the right to license the body style of the italia, yet they allowed their car to be turned into a robot for the movie. Someone didn't think this through enough.

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  67. does it really matter?. look at how many transformers went unnamed in ROTF! and even if he did have a name it would probably only be said once in the whole film.

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  68. the name is never really mentioned in the movie, so call him whatever you want.

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  69. Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari to honor Enzo Ferrari's son

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  70. I love how pissed you all are over something as stupid as a name. In the movie he's called Dino, but we call him Mirage, even THEY admitted he's Mirage. Oh, but Micheal Bay ruined your childhood, right? Can't look at Transformers ever again. Here's a thought, get over it. You know who they're supposed to be (Que is Wheeljack, Dino is Mirage), so call them Wheeljack and Mirage. All agreed? Yes? Good.

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