Leonard Nimoy is the Voice of Sentinel Prime

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Leonard Nimoy is joining the voice cast of Transformers: Dark of the Moon as the voice of Sentinel Prime.

Mr. Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, has joined the film as the voice of Sentinel Prime, the predecessor of Optimus Prime whose wrecked body is seen in the teaser trailer, found crash-landed on the moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969. Later, after being brought to earth, he takes the disguise form of a fire engine in the movie’s massive, climactic battle through Chicago.

Nimoy is most famous for the role of Spock in Star Trek and might be familiar recently as William Bell in Fringe. This isn't his first foray into the world of Transformers as he voiced Galvatron in Transformers: The Movie.

The idea of Leonard Nimoy returning to the TF universe has been around for a few years now as many fans advocated him voicing a character in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Back in April 2009 Michael Bay was asked about this possibility and he responded, "[Nimoy] is married to Susan Bay, who’s a cousin to me,” Michael explained, saying that he’s afraid of insulting his relative with the mere pittance allotted to pay his voice actors. “I just feel kind of bad about asking him. Like ‘I can’t pay you that much? But would you do this voice?’" This was followed up a week later with Leonard Nimoy himself who simply said that Bay had to just ask.

Apparently has asked and Nimoy has accepted. Even better it seems the character of Sentinel Prime is a rather important one in DOTM so it might just be a few lines like it might have been if Bay had tried to get him for Revenge. EW tends to be right on the mark with their reports but since no one official with the movie is quoted, I have very slight reservations. I hope Bay comments on his forum confirming this news soon. Thanks to GundamFan89, Chris, Sean and Ryan for the heads-up.

Three Images from Dark of the Moon

It’s been a while but finally have something that isn't toy related for Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Below are three still from the actual movie with the expected assortment of Bayhem. From what I can tell the NEST scene is from Chicago, Shia running probably has something to do with the tilting office set and of course the last is from the Chicago parking deck where the bus gets it. The leaking of images is a good sign towards a trailer coming mid-April as the typical pattern is the "leaking" of images, followed a week or so later by articles around the movie with cast and director quotes and then the trailer with longer feature articles after. (via Collider)

Update: As pointed out in the comments, the images are not new as they are from the Empire Magazine article a few weeks ago but to my knowledge this is the first time the images were released as something other then pictures taken of the physical magazine.

DOTM: Rising Storm #2 Preview

Wednesday is here and with it comes two new Transformers comic books - Transformers: Heart of Darkness #1 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Rising Storm #2. Darkness is part of the non-movie IDW TF universe while Rising Storm is a prequel to the movie but I am not clear if it before or after whatever events are part of the video games. The covers and first five pages of Rising Storm #2 can be found here.

Transformers: Rising Storm #2 (of 4)
John Barber (w) Carlos Magno (a) Brian Rood (c)
MEGATRON's deadliest plan yet kicks into high gear-it's all-out war! Plus-BUMBLEBEE squares off against BARRICADE for what may prove to be the final time, while OPTIMUS PRIME calls in every AUTOBOT on Earth to put an end to STARSCREAM! The stakes rise in this intense prequel to Transformers 3!
FC 32 pages $3.99

DOTM Getting Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Cars 2, and Kung Fu Panda 2 will be using Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound. Previous 7.1 releases include Tron 2 and Toy Story 3. If you are a true audiophile that just so happens to live close to a brand new theatre or one that recently upgraded their sound system, then this is good news. Considering only 1,300 or so theatres have the necessary equipment installed, most of us are just out of luck. If curious, more information can be found here and here. Below is THR's summary of the tech. Thanks to Sahara for the heads-up. (via Seibertron)

The format is aimed at improving the spatial dimension of soundtracks and enhancing audio definition.

Enabling content creators to mix in a discrete 7.1 format, Dolby Surround 7.1 provides four surround zones to better orchestrate audio channels in a movie theater environment. The four surround zones incorporate the traditional left surround and right surround with new back surround left and back surround right zones.

In total, the Dolby Surround 7.1 format comprises eight channels of audio with a channel layout of left, center, right, low-frequency effects, left surround, right surround, back surround left and back surround right.

More DOTM Toys and Repaints

Yet more Transformers: Dark of the Moon toys are revealed with some probably new additions to the line, some repaints and possibly a few fakes thrown in for some confusion.

DOTM Legion 3 Pack (1x)
A Yahoo Auction shows of a legion class 3 pack that includes the first use of the name "Rodimus" (aka Hot Rod) in relation to the movie toys. The robot mode suggests a color scheme is designed to invoke his G1 as based on the Universe legends class toy. As a result trying to take a leap that this is confirmation of the red Ferrari's name would be premature. The pack includes Bumblebee and Soundwave with his satellite alt mode. (via TFW2005)

DOTM Silver Bumblebee (2x)
We already knew that deluxe Starscream as a repaint in the works and now it appears that Bumblebee does to. I guess it could be a custom figure but its size does match the smaller deluxe class being used for the DOTM line and the mold cracks don't seem to match the two deluxe class 'Bees that have already been revealed. (via Seibertron)

Michael Bay Comments on 3D in Movies

A USA Today article asks the question "Can 3-D technology save the moviemaking business?" and one of the people they reached for comment was Transformers: Dark of the Moon director Michael Bay. Bay has been a vocal opponent to using 3D until he decided to try it out himself and use the latest gen digital cameras to film TF3 in 3D. Having said that it doesn't mean he is completely sold on the tech or at least how the studios are trying to take advantage of it. The full article is here, the Bay related snippets are below.

"The short answer is we did too much with technology that wasn't ready for prime time," says director Michael Bay, whose Transformers: Dark of the Moon was shot digitally, in 3-D and on traditional 35mm film.

"Studios are turning everything they can into 3-D without considering whether it should be done at all," he says. "We're already wearing the experience out. Look, there are simply some movies that shouldn't be shot in 3-D," he says. "It doesn't add anything."

DOTM The Game Nintendo "Stealth Force Edition"

Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Game is being released on June 14th for all the systems but one of the unanswered questions was how would the Nintendo versions be different considering the differences made with previous movie edition due mostly to lack of graphical power of Nintendo's systems. Amazon has updated their listings for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii versions, now calling them the "Stealth Force Edition." They are now available for pre-order. The description and features from Amazon below complete with a bizarre volume of typos:

Stealth Force Edition: Exclusively on the Wii and 3DS, the war between the autobots and decepticons continues in stealth force mode. Control heavily weaponized vehicles as you engage in epic vehicular combat to save earth from total destrucition.

* Split Screen Multiplayer (Wii Only) Wage war with a friend in spliet screen multiplayer
* Play the entire game in stealth force and wield the power of high intensity weapons in vehicluar combat
* 18 stealth force missions, wage war between the autobots and decepticons in urband, desert and frozen locations from Siberia to South American Deserts

(via Seibertron)

CGI Shockwave Images & Product Line Galleries

Another link fest to a bunch of Transformers: Dark of the Moon toys, accessories and books. The main highlight is a look at Shockwave in his ILM created CGI glory. I think this is the first time his look has been revealed as will appear in the movie. Previous looks were via the toy and the video game. Other items include leader Ironhide, plush toys, and more Sentinel Prime voice clips.

DOTM Junior Novelizations (4x)
Much like was done with Revenge of the Fallen; a wave of 4 children's books is being prepped around Dark of the Moon. Of note is the covers provide the first real look of Shockwave in his CGI glory. The books revealed on Amazon Japan are "Colour and Create", an Activity Book, junior novel based on the movie, and The Ultimate Guide which is info on all three movies. The planned release date is 6/9/11. Thanks to Sahara for the link.


Kre-O Figures
ACToys has revealed a little bit more details about the Kre-O Transformers line that was revealed a few months ago at the New York Toy Fair. The line is another attempt by Hasbro to enter the building blocks business that is ruled by Lego. The Lego like mini-figs alone just might make this line worthwhile. Hasbro might want to take a page from Lego and offer the mini-figs separately. (via AllSpark)

Ken Jeong's DOTM Role

At about this time last year, we learned that Ken Jeong was going to be in Transformers: Dark of the Moon but we never learned the details on the part. CraveOnline was able to corner the comedian and find out absolutely ...nothing except that it is a small role. I suspect his role is something simliar to Rainn Wilson's in the second movie, a kind of brief comic relief for Shia to bounce off of. The TF3 portion of the interview is below, the rest can be found here as he discusses Community and Hangover 2.

CraveOnline: Do you get a cool role in Transformers 3?
Ken Jeong: Yeah, it’s a small role in Transformers but yeah. I had an out of body experience working on that one because I just couldn’t believe I was [there]. Still, that was not a thing where oh, I’m going to be a part of a blockbuster franchise like Transformers 3 or even now Hangover 2 for that matter. So I can’t believe I’m a part of these franchises in any way. It was amazing. Michael Bay is brilliant and it’ll blow your mind.

CraveOnline: I’ve been on Michael Bay sets including Transformers 1. He keeps things so riled up, I see how it can be misconstrued, but it’s high energy.
Ken Jeong: He doesn’t like things to wait and neither do I. You want to keep moving, you want to keep the pace, you want to keep the energy. That I respond to because Todd’s like that too. Because you want that comedic energy to stay fresh. Especially on movies when there’s huge budgets and huge effects, you worry about spontaneity being lost. Yeah, Michael Bay just kept everything going.

Transformers: Exiles Book Announced

Author Alex Irvine, who wrote Transformers: Exodus, recently tweeted the release date and title for the sequel, “Hey #Transformers fans: the new book will be called EXILES, and it's due out on September 27." Exodus was a Hasbro sanctioned book that is considered part of their new canon for Transformers history so likely this one will be too. An Amazon listing is now up with a paperback price of $7.99. Below is their description of the novel.

New Transformers Series Announced

Thursday, Hasbro and Discovery's The Hub network held its upfront presentation which lays out the network plans for the 2011-2012 television season. The network introduced nine new series including "Rescue Bots" which like their toy counterparts is for very young children. Other new shows that will take advantage of Hasbro's properties include Clue, The Game of Life, Scrabble Showdown and more. They also officially announced their renewal of Transformers: Prime but that has been confirmed for months now. Not indicated is the future of G.I. Joe Renegades. Concept art for the toys and some of the toys themselves can be found at TFW2005.

“Rescue Bots” (Hub Original Series, working title)

Inspired by the iconic “Transformers” brand, a group of Autobots, too young to protect humanity alongside Optimus Prime and his team, are partnered with a close-knit human family of first responders. Together, they learn teamwork and heroism alongside their new human friends in this animated series produced by Hasbro Studios.

DOTM Trailer Coming "mid/late April"

Nelson has posted that the first theatrical trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon "...will come around mid/late April." Various unconfirmed rumors has placed the release with Sucker Punch this Friday but the lack of online stories and Entertainment Tonight not advertising one of their sneak peeks pretty much killed that idea. About the only films coming in April that would be a good fit for the trailer is Scream 4 (4/15) and Fast Five (4/29). It seems the best move would be to release with Scream 4 and push theaters to also attach it to Fast Five and Thor (5/6) to maximize audience awareness.

DOTM Trailer Rated PG

There still has been no official confirmation that the next theatrical trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon is coming this Friday but the British Board of Film Classification has provided at least a little more evidence of the possibility. The Board has posted on their website that the trailer has been rated PG with a running time of 2:18. The weird part is the site has mixed information about DOTM with No Strings Attached so not really sure what to make of the reliability of the information. Sadly the site does not indicate a release date. (via TFW2005)

DOTM Bumblebee Review and More Toy Galleries

Still no new news on the movie front nor definitive confirmation of a new trailer with Sucker Punch. In the meantime, here is a bunch of new Transformers: Dark of the Moon toy galleries and a new Peaugh review with deluxe Bumblebee. Below are links to a look at Takara's voyager Prime, a Starscream exclusive, info on trading cards, and more images of Top Spin, Roadmaster, and Laserbeak.

Takara Voyager Optimus Prime (5x)
While the States and elsewhere are going to get the regular voyager Optimus Prime, it seems Japan will enjoy a modified version that will come with a trailer and a different MechTech weapon that can turn to a battle blade. I suspect this figure will get a release later as an exclusive for one of the major retail chains.

Target Exclusive Voyager Starscream
The toys are not even out and already Starscream has repaints for two of his classes. This time his voyager version is getting a modified paint job for Target that seems to include a darker gray paint job, gold highlights for the Cybertronian tattoos, black head and other touches.

BotCon 2011 Registration Now Open

The registration for Botcon 2011 in Pasadena, California is now open. I believe it is the only Hasbro sanctioned Transformers convention in the US. It will run from June 2nd to June 5th, close to Transformers: Dark of the Moon release in hopes they might be able to enjoy Paramount and Hasbro's efforts to market the movie and toy line. Exactly what that means for attendees remains unknown but I would be really surprised if Paramount didn't plan something for Transfans. One year I need to go but money remains an obstacle (you will see what I mean when check out the registration forms).

Transformers Linkfest

ROTF Accurate Custom Jolt
Hit the link for a gallery of images of a custom job that create a more movie accurate version of Jolt from Revenge of the Fallen complete with battle damage and arm tips that were used to provide Optimus with the "jolt" he need to merge if Jetfire's parts. Thanks to Bryan for the link.

NASA Announces Winner of Transformers Video Contest
A month or so ago, NASA held a contest for elementary school students to create videos about "their favorite technology." The contest was collaboration between Hasbro, Paramount and NASA "to help students understand how NASA technology 'transforms' into things used daily." The winners receive the NASA Optimus Prime trophy during the awards ceremony on April 12th with Peter Cullen (voice of Prime) at the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Congrats to the winners. (via Seibertron)

Early DOTM Theatrical Trailer Description? (Updated)

If the report below is true (hope it is) then it does seem that the first theatrical trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon will be attached to Sucker Punch. "Ambi889" over at the TFW2005 forums found a description of the trailer that someone on IMDB saw a sneak preview of Sucker Punch. It lacks details probably because the trailer sounds a whole lot like the Super Bowl TV spot where just a lot is shown in very quick segments. The information that comes out of IMDB before a movie has been released can be highly suspect so consider this a rumor. Thanks to Chad for the link.

Update: It has been a while but Michael Bay finally did another MB.com forum drive by and shot down the trailer description saying, "Guy is lying through his ass." Still no confirmation that Sucker Punch brings us a new trailer.

"Ok ok so I just got to see an advance screening of sucker punch at the theater that my uncle's manager of and every year I get to see advance screenings so today I saw sucker punch (and it's actually pretty good. I mean, the visuals are amazing but the story is good also) AND THEY SHOWED A NEW TRAILER FOR TRANSFORMERS 3!!!

I really wish I could watch it again because it all went by so quickly but basically it opens up with Sam looking for a job and Carly's like "oh I can help you with that something something" and then she see's Bumblebee and is like "is that your car?" and he's like "yeah" then I can't remember exactly what happens after that but it shows Simmons and he's talking about the moon trip and how there was top secret stuff about the ship that was there then Optimus is like "i believe I know what that is" then it shows the guys on the moon looking around SENTINEL PRIME wakes up and crashes out of where he was staying and the astonauts look at him then I can't remember exactly what but Prime says something about the decepticons looking for a new leader and then we see this giant ship in space where SHOCKWAVE is! Then Sam says something to Carly real quick; then is shows the autobots (bumblebee, red car, Ironhide, ratchet, optimus with trailer and I think even the twins were there!) then Lennox says something to Eps about how they have to keep their mission together or something like that AND THEN....it shows Sentinel prime (i guess with his firetruck mode since he was red) walk and hold his sword, the SUVs chasing I think the army guys, the WRECKERS drive and transform in front of SENTINEL then I think it shows Megatron (with a hood-thing on) point his gun at something, LAZERBEAK grabbing sam and taking off with him, some explosions, Bumblebee I thing protecting sam and carly from a giant explosion, then it shows Shockwave turn around and say SOMETHING damn I can't remember what though, then Optimus and Sentinel are back to back fighting random decepticons and then it shows the title! HOLY SH!T it was so awesome I wish I could see it again if I had known it was showing I would've recorded it for sure! but oh well and also this is 100% REAL I am not lying! honest!"

DOTM Voyager Ironhide Video Review

Kapow Toys brings us a new Transformers: Dark of the Moon toy review for Voyager Ironhide. Like all of the DOTM toys, it is a new mold that is a touch smaller then the voyager toys from the past. Like Ratchet, he doesn't really do much for me as a toy but sure Ironhide fans will find him a fine addition to their collection.

New DOTM Toy Galleries

Things remain quiet on the Transformers: Dark of the Moon news front. The rumor of a trailer coming this Friday (3/25) remains unconfirmed but if true a sign will either come from ET advertising a sneak peek along with an uptick in behind the scene articles or interviews with cast. If neither occurs by Wednesday night then likely no new trailer. In the meantime hit the links below for more galleries of the toy line.

Official Takara DOTM Toy Images (x5)
Takara Tomy has updated their site to show off some of the upcoming Dark of the Moon toys. Most of it is nothing new but there is one of Prime with trailer that isn't the ultimate version that I don't recall seeing before. (via Seibertron)

DOTM Deluxe Thundercracker (x5)
Hit the think for gallery that compares Transformers: Dark of the Moon deluxe Starscream with his repainted counter-part Thundercracker. Identical except for weapon, it’s the same ugly robot with a prettier color scheme. No idea on release date but guessing the second or third wave in late summer.

Amazon Japan DOTM Listings with Images (x20)
Allspark has compiled a list of the various DOTM toys that are currently up on Amazon Japan. The release date there is May 14th, 2011. The images don't really show anything different that we haven't already seen.

Voyager Skyhammer (x18)
A nice look at voyager Skyhammer that shows the full potential of the toy. Peaugh already reviewed him but the images really do help you get an idea of what a solid addition he is to the DOTM line. (via Seibertron)

Nitro Bumblebee (x3)
Another deluxe Bumblebee. Hard to tell if this is a new mold with different transformation sequence as the main deluxe 'Bee figure or if they just changed to a different TechMech weapon with slight tweaks to the mold details.

Laserbeak (x4)
Four more images of Laserbeak, still no idea what the "transformer" aspect is of the toy.

IDW June Transformers Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for June that is one of their biggests month yet due to Tranformers: Dark of the Moon being released at the end of the month. The month will have eight Transformers books (4 of em the movie adaptation), one trade and the first TF comic hardcover in ages. If you are interested in the books, just let your local comic book store know. For the full details of IDW's other books including GI Joe, Star Trek, Angel and more click here.

Transformers # 20
Mike Costa (w) • Guido Guidi (a) • Marcelo Matere, Guido Guidi (c)
Through a series of misunderstandings, Rodimus and his two strange new partners arrive on a planet we haven't visited in a long time, and meet a few other 'bots everyone thought were lost forever. Those are a lot of vague words, because this issue has a TON of surprises. Check them out in SPACE OPERA Part 2.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • 2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio.