Duhamel, Bay Talk TF5 With USA Today

In video interviews with USA Today Josh Duhamel talks about how he learned part of what is involved in making the Bayhem explosions while Michael Bay and Mark Wahlberg discussed working with Anthony Hopkins. The site does not allow videos to be embedded click the links: Josh Duhamel | Bay/Wahlberg.

Wahlberg, Bay Say Transformers 5 Is Their Last TF Movie

In two unrelated interviews Transformers: The Last Knight director Michael Bay and star Mark Wahlberg both said that this movie would be their last for the franchise.

On BBC's The Graham Norton Show Friday night he said:

"It's the last one so I get my life back!"

Wahlberg also told Graham Norton in his interview on Friday that he spent "five months" getting in prime physical condition for The Last Knight, only to be saddled with a haircut that he absolutely hated.

"The long hair is the worst thing ever," he joked. "I look like my mum in the '70s – it's just really bad!"

In an interview with Fandango Michael Bay said:

"I've done it enough, and I've had a great time doing it. I'm going out with a bang on this one, and I feel like you gotta go out while you're ahead, you know. I think I've had a good run, and I've got a lot of other movies I want to do."

"I just read a very bloody hit man movie that was a page turner. That seems like a fun one to do," he said. "I love doing 13 Hours, I love doing Pain & Gain -- I think it'll be something more serious and more adult, I guess."

Of course Bay has said this twice before but its pretty clear he isn't doing Transformers 6 so maybe he means it this time. As for Wahlberg, he has never really displayed much enthusiasm for the franchise, apparently doing more for the money and working with Michael Bay so this is probably his last hurrah. That is unless Paramount makes an offer that would be foolish to ignore which could happen if the TF5 passes the $1 billion thresheld yet again for the franchise.

Transformers: The Last Knight - IMAX Behind the Frame

MichaelBay.com has posted a new video that looks at filming Transformers: The Last Knight in real IMAX (aka using specially built camera) vs the usual computer processed version. If sounds familiar, he did the same thing with Age of Extinction. It does include some new behind the scenes stuff have not seen before.

Roll Call TV Spot, Movie Stills and World Premiere Images

A new TV spot does a roll call of the main Transformers in the Transformers: The Last Knight that includes some new scene snippets for each. As for the movie, we now have an official length thanks to British Board of Film Classifications (via TFW2005) 148m 53s (2h, 28m, 53s) which previous reports pretty much nailed. However China is going to get 2 extra minutes with a running time of 150 minutes (2h, 30m). Its unclear if that means additional scenes or just long credits.

If you like movie still images, MichaelBay.com has posted several which are also mirrored on his Flickr account. You can also find his gallery from the World Premiere screening held in Guangzhou, China on June 13. Between investors and box office, China plays a huge part in Paramount's plan to score another $1 billion box office on the Transformers franchise.

A final note, the folks at i09 tried to make sense of Transformers history on Earth based on the four films and released hints for The Last Knight. The result is accurate to my knowledge but does highlight that they definitely did not have a continuity in mind.

Empire Article on Cogman's Voice, Merlin, and the Writers' Room.

In the latest issue of Empire magazine, they interview Transformers: The Last Knight director Michael Bay who discussed the writer's room and also got a little information on the future of the franchise. Most of it we already knew (more or less) but they did confirm two tidbits including the voice of Cogman. You can read scans of the entire article here.

- Part of reason for Transformers writers' room was Bay didn't want to "grind on another script and do another one-off" while producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said "We were feeling the need for more robust storytelling and weren't feeling we were getting it from the one-off process."

- Writers room was "A candy shot for a Transformers junkie" with TVs playing the movies and cartoons, movie props, and 10,000 pieces of TF art that included two days of "Transformers school" to go over the franchise history both actual and fictional.

- During room meets Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) latched onto idea set in 5th century and King Arthur while Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Iron Man) liked idea of Transformers and WWI. The final story is three of the treatments merged together.

- Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), at the recommendation of Holloway, is voicing the "psychotic robot butler" that Spielberg considers "the greatest four-and-a half-foot character since Yoda."

- Santiago Cabrera is also playing Merlin. Film opens with a drunk Merlin during a massive 5th century battle that involves Transformers.

- The Bumblebee movie is based on a treatment by Christina Hodson and directed by Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) set in the 1980s and will be tonally for younger crown.

- The animated origin myth of the Transformers is still planned as written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari (Ant-Man).

- Another treatment under consideration is one set in Ancient Rome (so that means 6/12 treatments potentially leading directly to movies so far).

Bay: Transformers Is His Super Hero Film

In the below interview with Comicbook.com while at CinemaCon Michael Bay commented on filming in real IMAX 3D, the writers room where TF5 is two stories that Bay and Spielberg liked put together, hiring Isabela Moner, naming his dog after a Transformer, and getting Anthony Hopkins. I like his last line where he says "This is my super hero film. ...You can only do so much with capes and suits. You can only do so much. With Transformers you can do a lot." Thanks to Feris O. for the link.

Transformers: The Last Knight 3D Featurette

In a new video, Michael Bay tries to make the argument on why you should consider seeing the film in IMAX 3D if the option is available to you. This includes showing some behind the scenes footage and what I think are a few seconds of movie scenes we have not yet seen before. Thanks to Feris O. for the link.

Bay, Wahlberg Comment on Transformers at CinemaCon

This week CinemaCon is being held in Las Vegas as the studios sale pitch theater execs on their summer slate of movies. As part of that the actors are on hand for meet and greets with the execs and talk about the movies to the press. In the video below Michael Bay and Mark Wahlberg briefly talk about Bay's Transformer baby. Thanks to Feris O. for the link.

Michael Bay Message on Day of Potential New Teaser

On his official website, Transformers director Michael Bay has posted a message (below) about filming the movies for the last 10th anniversary of the movie franchise while hinting that Transformers: The Last Knight might actually be his last one (but then he has said that multiple times before). The timing of the message is interesting as TF5 is starting its marketing for the movie via a Super Bowl TV spot while the movie's Facebook page has finally provided an official synopsis for the movie while asking "Are you ready for tomorrow?" Paramount already released its other Super Bowl movie ad with Ghost in the Shell so its not a leap to assume that Friday will bring us the new teaser for Transformers 5.

Synopsis

Transformers: The Last Knight Set Visits Reveal Movie Info

A press day event was held on August 5 while Transformers: The Last Knight was filming at Raleigh Michigan Studios in Pontiac, Michigan. As is the tendency for such invite only events where the cost of going is picked up by the studio, the press enter a kind of gentleman's agreement to not post about the visit until a certain point in time as decided by the studio to help with their promotional push. In this case, that means the embargo wasn't lifted until until the first teaser trailer was released. From what I can tell it looks like the interviews and set visits were conducted as one large group as most of them shared the same experiences and quotes. Below are the main highlights from Collider and i09.

Highlights:
- TF5 is set several years after Transformers: Age of Extinction

- A scene involves a crash landing on an alien surface via a V-22 Osprey loaded with the core human cast of the film.

Bay: Tuturro, Goodman, Trailer This Year, UK Filming Completed

In a new Facebook video, Transformers: The Last Knight director Michael Bay revealed the most news at once about the movie. It isn't really much but compared to the impressive cone of silence he has kept on the production up to this point, its practically a feast.

- John Turturro and John Goodman are confirmed to return for the movie when Bay rattled off a list of names. John Turturro played Agent Simmons in the first three films of the franchise while John Goodman will voice Hound once again.

- Thursday was the last day of filming in the UK with production moving to Namibia, Africa for a few days to complete principle photography on the movie.

- A teaser trailer is planned for release either in November or December. I assume they are going to try to attach it to Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them as that is expected to be the big movie of the holiday season.

In the video (below) Bay mentioned the above news, showed off a little bit of a UK set in what I guess was filming set during King Arthur's time.

The Bayhem Camera Records Some Transformers 5 Bayhem

On his Instagram account, Michael Bay has posted some Transformers: The Last Knight behind the scenes footage of an action sequence while it was being record on his new RED camera that was named Bayhem in honor of the director. Apparently it is now the "lightest, most advanced hand held motion picture camera in the world." All for tech but the idea of anything that encourages even more shaky cam in movies does not exactly bring me good cheer.

RED Camera named it "BAYHEM" They created the lightest, most advanced hand held motion picture camera in the world. I put it through the paces on Transformers in UK.#Tranformers #redcamera

A video posted by Michael Bay (@michaelbay) on Sep 1, 2016 at 7:04am PDT

Transformers 5 Heads to Scotland

Sadly this go round Michael Bay has done a very effective job of keeping his sets locked down so have been unable to provide any real news about the movie beyond whatever pictures the production is releasing through their social media sites. This is no different as an Instagram note from the director reveals that Transformers: The Last Knight has left Detroit. Apparently he gets to have fun with some Victoria's Secret models in Paris before "Back tomorrow to Transformers in Scotland." I assume after that they will head to London for filming.

Michael Bay Introduces Squeeks (Updated)

Using their various social media accounts, Michael Bay teased the arrival of a new Transformers character. It first started on Michael Bay's twitter account when he asked "Is Squeaks camera-ready?" to which the Transformers twitter account replied with "just a few more touch-ups" along with a video of them spraying oil on a hint of blue. This led up to the full reveal via Bay's Instagram in a picture with him, Isabela Moner. It looks like the alt mode will be a rusted Vespa scooter. There are two spellings of the name but clearly the Instagram picture is designed to be spread via the various news sites so the official spelling is probably "Squeeks". If the name rings a bell it is probably because of the rumor last week about some of the characters and story for the movie. Update: Added another pic of Squeeks from MB.com.

Update: Thanks to Jeffrey Marshall of Pixel Rally for the new website banner that incorporates Transformers: The Last Knight look that replaces the one he created for TF4. Be sure to check out his site.

Anthony Hopkins Joins Transformers 5

The official Transformers twitter account has revealed that Sir Anthony Hopkins has joined the cast of Transformers: The Last Knight. Along with this picture (note the TF5 logo) they wrote "The man, the myth, the legend – help us welcome Sir Anthony Hopkins to the #transformers universe." No other details about the role was revealed.

In a somewhat related note, another British national is joining the film. "Britain's loneliest dog" Freya has been tapped by Michael Bay to appear in the film after appearing in the mirror for being rejected more than 18,000 times due to having epilepsy.

New Face for Megatron

In a new Instagram post, Michael Bay introduced the new face of Megatron saying "It's starting. This week production. Megatron is back. #transformers #decepticons#". I guess this is the thing that was "coming" from the image posted last week.

It's starting. This week production. Megatron is back. #transformers #decepticons#

A video posted by Michael Bay (@michaelbay) on May 31, 2016 at 9:59am PDT

Bay Posts New Transformers 5 Image from Cuba

Michael Bay has posted a new very short video to his Instagram account with the caption "Cuba! There's a Robot in there." I assume he means in the old style motorcycle and not the building.

Cuba! There's a Robot in there.

A video posted by Michael Bay (@michaelbay) on May 29, 2016 at 9:01pm PDT

Bay Posts First TF5 Pic From Cuba

From Michael Bay's Instagram account here is set pic from Transformers: The Last Knight as Bay wrote "CUBA! Second American Movie shot in Cuba. Transformers. Amazing place!#transformers". The first move was Fast and Furious 8 movie and I think the first TV series was The Blacklist. The car an Autobot or just a vehicle that Bay happened to like? Guess we will find out next year. Filming is going to shift to Detroit around June 6.

Transformers 5 Scouting Begins at Stonehenge

In a new post on his Instragram account, Michael Bay writes "Scouting, it begins" with an image of him in front of Stonehenge. Production will be filming in London, England so few scenes in front of the famous historical artifact wouldn't be much a stretch. Or it could just be Bay taking a tourist moment. As always time will tell. (via TFW2005)

Michael Bay Comments on Transformers Writers Room

In an interview with Collider for 13 Hours, Michael Bay briefly commented on the Transformers Writers Room. As far as giving any info on Transformers 5 he said "I can't tease shit. I am going to be like J.J. Abrams". Important part below, TF stuff starts at the 7:27 point in the video below.

Collider: They are aiming to do a lot more. They had these story groups. Where people came in. What can you tease people about where you want to take your last installment of the franchise and maybe anything you can reveal from those story meetings that really resonated with you.
Bay: They did a really good job of going back in time and connecting things in history and how it relates. Different spin-offs. They are a very talented group of writers. They came up with a lot of clever ideas. Steven [Spielberg] and I are going to break out some smaller ones to do. I guess this will be my last one.

Collider: You have said that before.
Bay: Yeah, I know. That is all they want to do is this franchise. That is all they want to do. I had to beg to get to get to make [13 Hours].

All he really did was confirm what we already knew - that the Writers Room generated multiple story ideas that Hasbro, Paramount, etc are considering. Michael Bay, regardless if Transformers 5 is the last TF film he directs, is likely contractually locked in for Executive Producer credit for all future Transformers films which means he has input on at least some of the decisions for the franchise's future.