Michael Bay Considering Non-Transformers Movie

Variety is reporting that director Michael Bay is circling "13 Hours" as his next film. The film is based on the book "Thirteen Hours: A Firsthand Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi" by Mitchell Zuckoff which Paramount Pictures bought the rights for. The website is stating it as fact that Michael Bay said he was done with Transformers but the closest he has gotten to confirming that was in August when he said "There's kind of a new chapter, a new direction in movies I want to make. I have a lot of stories to tell. And it's about flexing new muscles." In a bunch of different ways all he has said is he is seriously considering leaving the franchise but Bay, Paramount nor Hasbro has officially confirmed that he has moved on. Thinking and doing are two different things (even though people often confuse them as one and the same like say Variety's reporters).

So what does this mean for Transformers 5? It depends. If Bay privately has told Paramount and Hasbro he is done, then its safe to assume the producers are moving ahead with pre-production and actively looking for a replacement director with Bay likely getting an executive producer credit. End result is the Summer 2016 date remains feasible (but that window is rapidly closing). However, it could almost mean that Paramount is eying a repeat of Transformers 4 and Pain & Gain Bayhem combo where they agree to pay for a Michael Bay passion product in return to directing Transformers 5.

IDW January 2015 Transformers Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for January 2015. Six floppies and two trades are coming out that month. IDW continues to support Hasbro's Combiner Wars line of Generations toys coming in 2015 as their line of comics continue to hint and occasional fill in gaps here and there on the history of TF combiners considering Devastator remains the only known stable combiner as the next arms race will be combiner technology. For the full details of IDW's other books including GI Joe, Star Trek, and more click here.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Concept Art

The official Facebook page for Transformers has posted concept art from Age of Extinction that looks like it was the near final version that was approved for the movie. The nine image gallery is here.

Big Robots, Big Sounds in Transformers: Age of Extinction

Variety has posted a video that discusses the sound effects used in Transformers: Age of Extinction with mixers Greg P. Russell and Scott Millan. Like most making-of movie featurettes it is kind of sales-pitchy but still might find it interesting. I don't think this is part of the Blu-ray release of the movie.

Everything Wrong with Transformers: Age of Extinction in Two Parts

After the Honest Trailer we know have Cinema Sins take in their Everything Wrong series. Their Everything Wrong with Transformers: Age of Extinction had so many sins that they had to split it into two parts. As usual for the series, most of the sins are spot on. And love those bonus rounds.

Hilarious Honest Trailer for Transformers: Age of Extinction

Below is the latest entry in the Honest Trailer series with Transformers: Age of Extinction. Very little I disagree with it, almost like they read my review for some of it. So basically if you hated the reviews of the film, probably not going to like the video below.

Transformers Returning to the Cartoon Network

As predicted, after Hasbro gave up on The Hub boosting toy sales, Transformers: Robots in Disguise was shopped around for a new home. That home has now officially been announced as the Cartoon Network and that the series "will debut in the first quarter of 2015" (so before March 31st). No other details besides that. Below is the officially summary of the show from the press release.

The mission begins as Bumblebee must step up to be leader in the years after we left the Autobots in Transformers Prime. Summoned by Optimus Prime to save Earth from a new faction of Decepticons, Bumblebee puts his light-hearted mettle to the test after assembling a rouge team of young Autobots action heroes. Bumblebee must balance his job fighting off evil with being equal parts squad leader and coach to a rascally band that needs constant coaxing to learn how to work together. The results are comical when the cool rebel, elite guard cadet, bombastic dinobot and exciteable mini-con must balance team-building with chasing and capturing their new enemies in every episode packed full of action, fun and adventure.

Really the only thing that has changed is the show's channel which should do a lot to assist with its visibility to Hasbro's target demographic. The bad news is it also adds a layer of complexity on its chances of renewal, especially since the kids channel have been a bit skitzo lately on their demo goals. The main takeaway is that Hasbro is going to return to its old pre-Hub business models of making cartoons to sell toys to air on whatever channel will take them. At most they will use their time block on Discovery Family as dumping grounds for unsold shows and repeats.

Kre-O Summarizes the Transformers Trilogy

In a cute video from Hasbro, Kreon Optimus Prime and bunch of other Kreons provide a summary of the Transformers trilogy while bleeping any spoilers for the 4th film.

Peter Cullen Honored at Mann's Chinese Theatre Handprint Ceremony

Peter Cullen was honored today at the TCL Chinese Theatre, a famous LA landmark those familiar front has been seen in movies and red carpet ceremonies for decades. The hand print ceremony encases a celebrities hands, signature and sometimes other things in concrete. According to the current owners of the landmark there are really two types of handprint ceremonies - the traditional one for larger block in the building forefront that is decided by committee. Then there is the "mock ceremony" that are paid for by corporate sponsors. In this case by Paramount for the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction on home video. Regardless, Peter Cullen deserves the honor and joins a storied list of Hollywood names. Hopefully for the fifth movie they will do one for legendary voice actor Frank Welker (Megatron, Galvatron, Winnie The Pooh, the list is substantial). Below is a kind of press/fan view of the event and the second video is the "lets sell some Blu-rays" commercial version.