Writers, Director Hired for New Transformers Animated Movie

Hey, no time no read. But then been long time since actual movies news for Transformers. That has finally changed as Deadline reports that Hasbro's studio eOne along with Paramount are working on an animated movie. The movie will be based on a script from Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari (Ant-Man and the Wasp) with Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4) as director. No details on plot except "resolves around the relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron." The film will not be part of any of the current live-action movies continuity, be it the Bay-verse or maybe/maybe part of Bay-verse Bumblebee movie. It does seem that maybe, just maybe, another one of those writer room concepts from years ago might be used.

It seems the sudden renewed interest in an animated movie is due to any live action film being years away and possibly more until Hollywood sorts out they will restart production considering most films involve hundreds of people working together and often without being able to follow social distance rules. An animated movie, for all its complexity, is sit down at a desk type work that can follow social distance rules or at least be outsourced overseas where how the rules are handled will not be considered a Hasbro/Paramount issue.

I wonder how much the IDW comics will come into play in developing the story. Wish I could remember the exact story arcs (I want to say the Autocracy Trilogy but not sure) got into the origin of then Orion Pax and Megatron's relationship. In the comics it started as friendship built on political agreement over the current government heavy handed leadership failing the people. Orion believed in using the system to fix things from within while Megatron was becoming increasingly more aggressive in believing how change need to be forced. The resulting fall out of Megatron's tactics severed the relationship and directly led to the "Great War" that eventually destroyed Cybertron and the Transformers landing on Earth. Another version of the story is being told in the IDW relaunch currently being published but exactly where its going is muddy on a good day so that seems less likely to be a source of inspiration for any movie. Whether they use IDW as inspiration or not, can't beat the potential drama of friends becoming bitter enemies on each side of a civil war that decimates a planet. Which isn't exactly kid friendly (and never forget the movies are about selling toys) so... yeah not holding my breath on that version being told but fingers crossed.

New Bumblebee Movie Teasers Show G1 Soundwave and Optimus Prime

The Paramount Picture Taiwan branch is teasing the release of a new Bumblebee trailer at some point today. To back that up they have released two very short teasers. Below is a video that combines those two teasers, adds the recent BB trailer and a featurette to help you get caught up on what little footage we have from the movie. The most interesting bit is you get a brief look at Optimus Prime, Soundwave, and Ravage all of whose designs seem to be a mix of Generation 1 and the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game. Thanks to Feris O. for the link. So what do you think of their new looks?

World's First Fan-Built Optimus Prime

Below is a look at the "World's First Fan-Built Optimus Prime" that is based on the Transformers: Age of Extinction's Western Star truck alt mode. The replica was built with Hasbro's permission. Thanks to Feris O. for the link. Video description:

A DEDICATED father with no mechanical training has manufactured the world’s first fan-built Optimus Prime truck. Back in the summer of 2016, 36-year-old Joe Fiduccia worked day and night recreating the giant full-size replica that weighs around 21,000lbs. Optimus Prime is one of the most renowned characters to hit our screens from the hugely successful Transformers franchise that has taken more than 4 billion dollars at the box office worldwide. And being the determined father that he is, Joe from Monroe County, Pennsylvania, managed to produce this impeccable replica in order to inspire his 10-year-old son that anything is possible.

Prime Defeats Chair While Hound Practices His Lines

For your amusement here are two quick videos featuring "behind the scenes" with Optimus Prime and Hound. Thanks to Feris O. for the link.

Transformers: The Last Knight SDCC 2017 Exclusive Revealed

San Diego Comic-Con 2017 is coming in a little over a month and for collector's that means exclusives. Hasbro has revealed their voyager class Transformers: The Last Knight Optimus Prime SDCC 2017 exclusive that will go on sale at booth #3329. The figure will come in exclusive packaging with a piece of tire from the Western Star truck used in the film and certificate of authenticity. In the past Hasbro has put any left over SDCC exclusives on sale on Hasbro Toy Shop around a few weeks later for those unable to attend the convention.

Optimus Prime's Dialogue Coach Video

Below is a short and cute video that has Optimus Prime practicing his lines outside the studio with a dialogue coach. I assume this clip may air with the MTV Movie Awards tonight along with a new TV spot or clip from the movie. Thanks to Feris O. for the heads-up.

First Look at The Last Knight Art

Thanks to Arun09345 on Instagram, we now have the first look at some of the Transformers: The Last Knight art that will likely be used for the toy line and other tie-in products over the next year. Prime and Megatron definitely have that knight armor look to their design while Bumblebee remains more or less the same. Below are pics of the three but reast of the TF related images can be found on Instagram or mirroed at TFormers.

Movie Optimus Prime and Bumblebee Up for Auction

If you have way to much money burning a hole in your pocket then you might be interested in the Barrett-Jackson auction of an Optimus Prime and Bumblebee vehicles. The Optimus Prime vehicle is the 1992 Peterbilt stunt truck that was used in the first three films while Bumblebee is the 1967 Chevy Camaro from Age of Extinction. No estimated of what prices the two vehicles are expected to get but you can read the full details here. Info on the Prime auction is here and Bumblebee here.

Linkfest - Dinobots and Combiners Oh My

It has been a months since did my last linkfest and its shows with an epic ton of video reviews for upcoming figures from Hasbro's Combiner Wars line and all the third party figures. Below are a bunch of reviews for the first wave for the Combiner Wars with an occasional look at an incomplete combiner as Hasbro chose to swap a Stunticon with an Arialbot for each wave to emphasize their ability to swap to create "new" combined robots. Also a look at the first wave of Robots in Disguise toys along with Masterpiece Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee.

For third party reviews the theme is the Dinobots with four lines coming this year. Two of them are Masterpiece scaled figures from Fanstoys while Planet X's are based on War for Cyberton, and one is regular scaled release (from Fansproject) while last is a combiner (from Toyworld). Hopefully the reviews below will help in deciding which of the four to commit to. The 3rd party pattern remains combiners. Other than the Dinobots there are currently takes on the Terrorcons, Combaticons, Technobots and Protectobots. Before the reviews here are links to some upcoming releases, two 80s Transformers videos, and an update on Transformers: Robots in Disguise cartoon series.

Update: Added this reveal of Combiner Wars Devastator. No real deal details except that he may follow the G1 version with six characters merging and come complete as a collection rather than sold individually. Hopefully more will be revealed at the New York Toy Fair that starts Feb 2.

Linkfest - Combiner Wars

The news on the Transformers 5 front remains dead and probably will for a while but that doesn't mean the toys stop coming. In a few cons Hasbro and 3rd party vendors teased about the next six months or so of releases. For Hasbro that means Angry Birds, Combiner Wars and Robots in Disguise toys.

For third party companies, the theme remains combiners with upcoming releases of combiners but it seems the theme for 2015 is Dinbots with at least three separate sets coming one of which will be an actual combiner. Other galleries include a look at Optimus Prime turning into a Playstation 1 console, a look at Ultimetel Prime, and more. On the video review front we have looks at the next wave of Generations Deluxe and Voyager toys, look at two versions of Swoop, reviews of the not Technobots, more Masterpiece figures including Wheeljack, and bunch more.

Goalie Optimus Prime

Below is a cute commercial from ESPN as part of their FIFA World Cup 2014 coverage as Optimus Prime acts as goalie.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Character Blueprints

From the recent issue of the UK's Empire Magazine are blueprint images of Optimus Prime, Galvatron, Bumblebee, and Lockdown. While they are in blue, it does give you a chance to look at some of the CGI details of each character.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Life-Size Optimus Prime, Bumblebee Statues

For the literal price of a small car, you can own a life size statue of Transformers: Age of Extinction version of Optimus Prime or Bumblebee. Or for a regular car just get both. Kids Logic has revealed their officially licensed statues that will sell for $13,000.00 each. Below are the specs, more images of the statues are here.

USA Today Brings New Promotional Images and Info

I am thinking that a new trailer is coming in the next week or so. On Friday was a bit of a mini info dump related to Transformers: Age of Extinction and now had another today that includes an new article from USA Today that has three fantastic promotional images (I don't think they are movie stills) and an interview with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura as he promotes the film. All we need now is an Entertainment Tonight tease of an on set visit or the like to seal the trailer deal. Highlights and other two images below.

They "are bigger and badder-ass than they have ever been," says Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who has produced all four films, with Steven Spielberg and Bay as executive producers.

Budget, New Still, and Wahlberg, Cullen Talk Transformers: Age of Extinction

In two brief interviews, Transformers: Age of Extinction stars talk a little bit about the film. Very little, but still get a great Optimus Prime still out of it. In the interview with Hero Complex just comments on returning for picks-up while the article reveals the budget of the film in the $165 million range (1st time seen report on the budget). USA Today has an article on top 10 iconic movie characters that posted this new still (left) along with a comment from Peter Cullen (voice of Optimus Prime).

Mark Wahlberg
“Some people think of this as a sequel,” he said. “We thought of it more as a stand-alone thing. I’ve never done a sequel.”

Linkfest - not Everything

Just realized allowed the toy side of news to stack up. Guess was distracted by the Age of Extinction reviews. Still while AoE has been a bit underwhelming, that doesn't mean upcoming 3rd Party plans have slacked in their awesomeness with versions of not Metroplex, not Cy-Kill (yep the GoBot) and not Ultra Magnus. This isn't to say that Takara and Hasbro are not up to some none Extinction plans. Takara has revealed their 30th Anniversary plans that includes a new truck alt mode for Optimus, a look at Masterpiece Wheeljack, and agreements for a slew of products including statues, play sets and ties. In the not quite toy news department we have a look at G1 cartoon concept art and news that the entire "Unicron trilogy" is getting a DVD release. Of course no link fest is complete without a ton of reviews. The highlights include the wave 1 Generation deluxes, Masterpiece Ratbat, not Sharkticons, not Ultra Magnus, not Masterpiece Slag, first figure of a not Bruticus combiner, not Blaster and more. Basically a series of budget busting awesome. As always hit the links for more details and pictures.

Grimlock, More Details from Entertainment Weekly Article

Entertainment Weekly has posted an alternate version of their Transformers: Age of Extinction article that is in their latest newsstand issue along with a much better image of Grimlock. The new details include Michael Bay pointing out that Lockdown's ship is important to the trilogy and how elements that are part of the movie that can be explored in later in the trilogy. Below are the key new bits of information compared with the published version.

Bay isn’t revealing his own origin story for Grimlock just yet. “I like to keep things very much in the dark. But yes, you’ll understand why they’re there when you see the movie. If you think I’m supposed to give away a lot of story points? No way! Keep it secret.

Transformers 4 Evasion Mode Optimus Prime Toy Review

Another review for a Transformers: Age of Extinction toy that will be released around mid-May. This one is for voyager class Evasion Mode Optimus Prime. The robot mode is the old dirty truck mode seen in the trailer for Prime only with his Generation One color scheme. The robot mode sorta matches his movie look but of course without the extensive detailing that CGI brings to the table. While not sure if like the robot look, it seems like it demonstrates the difficult dance between satisfying transformation sequence that isn't too easy but not too complex either.

Transformers 4 Concept Art and Products, Transformers 5 for 2017 and More

A Hasbro presentation found on Transformers licensee Vilsco Textiles site has revealed a bunch of concept products and art for Transformers: Age of Extinction. The art (below) includes early designs for Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Hound, Drift, Lockdown and Grimlock that sometimes was spotted on set clapperboards. Of note is some of the art is dated for 2012 indicating that pre-production on Transformers 4 began shortly after post-production on three ended.

The 2014 roadmap indicates the home release of Transformers 4 set for Q4 (probably late October, early November just like the previous movies) along with something referred to as "Animated Stunt" with a new beast like faction symbol. The same symbol comes up for a Q1 2015 animated cartoon while another new faction symbol is used for either a second series or second season of the series for Q1 2016 that will be followed by Transformers 5 in Summer 2017. Below is a look at the new faction symbols and concept art, for the rest of the gallery of concept products head over to TFW2005.

Optimus Prime Standee Arriving in Theaters

Thanks to Wynton R., here is a look at a new standee that might be arriving soon at a theater near you to promote Transformers: Age of Extinction. If the image seems familiar, its the Optimus Prime poster that was released last month.