Profile on Isabel Lucas

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen co-star Isabel Lucas is the focus of a NY Daily Post article about the actress as her career seems to taking off. After Transformers 2, she will begin shooting the HBO miniseries, The Pacific from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks (From the Earth to the Moon, Band of Brothers) that will focus on the Pacific theatre during World War II. Much of the article focuses on relationship between her and Shia (friends) and Megan Fox (sisterly). The full article is here.

Isabel Lucas ROVE Interview

Isabel Lucas was on Australian show ROVE last week to promote Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. She answers the usual questions about getting the job (help from Spielberg), working with Bay (challenges his actors) and how to run in heels. In addition, click here for a short, humor segment she participated in. Found by Deefuzz.

Lucas Talks Transformers

Isabel Lucas recently came out of hiding to appear at the world premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in Tokyo and spoke with Sky News from Australia about the experience of working on the film. Thanks to Scorpio for the link.

It is Lucas' first [press conference] and admits it's overwhelming. 'It's been a whirlwind,' she says. 'I've worked on five productions since Home and Away and this is the first one to be released, so I haven't ever experienced doing a press junket or a premiere, so this is like really being thrown right into the midst of it, into the deep end.'

Spielberg, who is an executive producer on the new Transformers movie, suggested her to director Michael Bay for the role of Alice after working with her on the HBO mini-series The Pacific, which he also produced. One successful audition later and Lucas had landed the biggest movie role of her career.

'I was really intrigued by the character because there is more than meets the eye - literally,' she says. 'She's a layered character, and that's interesting for any actor to play really something different from yourself and to understand and relate to her even though she might have darker intentions. She's fun to play.'

She describes one particular scene with LaBeouf which required an attention to detail that she'd never experienced before. The shot was so specific for a certain CGI effect that they were trying to achieve and the camera was about 30cm away and he (Bay) was like yelling at me so specifically to tilt my head down! Tilt it to the right! Tilt it down again! Now lift it slightly! But he really is an amazing visual genius, and the finished product you understand why he was being so specific with details.'

'They know that this genre of film is not really what I'm drawn to, I'm drawn to scripts that are unique and have meaning. But that's what is so wonderful about being an actor, is the diversity of the kind of films you can be a part of. I'm just honoured for the opportunity, and if it opens other doors career-wise I'll be very fortunate.'

Extended Cut of Tokyo World Premiere

A new extended cut of the Tokyo World Premiere video for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is now up that includes an additional two minutes of footage that shows the stage being built and the press conference with Bay and the cast. Of note is a nervous Isabel Lucas who is still getting her sea legs for this level of attention, something the rest of the cast are now well versed in thanks to the first movie's press tour.

TRANSFORMERS 2 Tokyo World Premiere (Extended) from PPC Interactive on Vimeo.

New RoTF Movie Images (Updated)

Cinematical has posted the below five new images from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen that include shots of the cast and TF vehicles. The picture of the lovely Isabel Lucas is a single image from MichaelBay.com. Thanks to Katie for the info.

Update: Katie found additional new photos on Yahoo Movies.

UK Toy Fair Revenge of the Fallen News

The UK Toy Fair 2009 started today and TFW2005 was provided some of the information that was revealed to some of the attendees there. Thanks to Gregory for the link.

- Devastator will be around about 2 feet tall and built like a gorilla.
- The Human Alliance Bumblebee that we have been seeing recently will be the first release in his range.
- No toys of the Fallen at present.
- There will be new Robot Replicas of Ironhide, Ratchet and Starscream.
- More information on the RPM - Robot Powered Machines - line. The cars are "Hot Wheels style" and are mainly Autobots, with their robot modes embossed on the bottom. The racetrack has tracks all over the place, and instead of the central "mountain" you sometimes see on these tracks, you've got Devastator!
- There will be a radio controlled Optimus Prime truck with Peter Cullen soundclips.
- The tank mode Megatron toy (which version is not specified) was on display, although nobody was available to comment on whether or not he is in the film.

Some footage, featuring animatics, was also shown. If you do not want to be spoiled, look away now!

- Devastator is... devastating! The mixing drum in his chest becomes a massive turbine grinder. It creates a turbine effect, sucking everything in Devastator's path up, and spitting it out of his back. (similar to previous rumor)
- Wheelie is effectively confirmed as a remote controlled car, in line with other rumors we have heard recently. (ditto)
- Legions of Decepticon drones, resembling Frenzy, will cause carnage in the Witwicky household.
- Sam fights for his life on top of a car against Pretender Alice.
- Captain Lennox also gets to see some serious action against the Decepticons, with full helicopter backup.

Run Shia Run

PhillyFilmGirl has posted a new video that is from the Princeton Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen shoot back in June 2008 that is a new angle on the Alice video from June. The video shows Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and Ramon Rodriguez running (in multiple takes). Towards the end, Isabel Lucas does her calm walk despite the surrounding chaos, a large reason behind the theory that she is "Pretender Shell" for Ravage.

Isabel Talks Stunts

Isabel Lucas spoke briefly with The Dish Rag about her work on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The article itself, which doesn't even get the title right, focuses mostly on her past relationships but in the video Lucas briefly mentions some wirework stunt she participated in. She describes the character of Alice as a student at Princeton but that just could be because the scenes were shot there and not the "official" name of the college the characters go to in the movie. Sadly it’s not much in the info department but right now it seems we are in a TF2 info drought.

Alice Is a Pretender?

TFW TF2 source strikes again, this time saying that Isabel Lucas' Alice is a Pretender.

The TFW TF2 Insider has confirmed that the character of Alice, as played by Isabel Lucas, in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is a Pretender. For those not familiar with Transformers sub-lines from the 1980s, Pretenders are Transformers that are hidden inside a shell that acts as their disguise. In the case of Alice, the shell will be an attractive human woman while the inner robot is best described as a hybrid of the Frenzy robot design from the first movie. The Pretender Transformer will have an arm that transforms into an energy weapon, a long tongue, and a scanning tentacle.

So what is a "Pretender"? It is a subsection of the Transformers line that was first introduced back in 1988 where a Transformer has a "synthetic organic outer shell" that hid the robot. Back then the shells where just a plastic shell that split in half revealing the TF inside which usually had a pretty crappy alt mode. Click here for the Wikipedia entry.

As for the character of Alice, currently the only confirmed information is she befriends the freshman Sam in college. I want to discount the rumor but really there am a whole lot of story left that we know nothing about so any theory on what part the character plays in the movie and for how long remain valid. The actress has not been spotted on any other sets except those shot in Princeton but that doesn't mean she did not show up for scenes filmed at the various air force bases around the country or overseas.

There is also a video of a scene shot in Princeton that supports this theory as it shows Lucas calmly walking away while extras are panicking around her suggesting something sinister is going on with the character. Could she be the form that "Ravage" hides in before chasing Shia, Megan and Leo on the streets of Princeton?

It is an interesting idea to say the least. While Pretenders were poorly executed back in the '80s it doesn't mean it couldn't work in a movie if handled well and judiciously. Really the only problem I have with the idea is it a little too Terminator like. If there wasn't a Terminator movie in production and a TV show, having a Pretender Transformer preying on our human heroes could almost be a movie unto itself. As it is, I am very skeptical.

More Castle Shoot Galleries

TFW2005.com and Josh Landow at Powet.tv have posted more pictures from Friday's shoot at the Castle Fraternity.

Josh Landow provides a report (with brief video below) of what he saw being shot during the 3 hour plus shoot he witnessed. The scenes involved guys admiring Bumblebee (easy to do) and later others hassling Sam for where he parked the car. His gallery shows Bumblebee getting packed up into his trailer and the specially designed cover he gets covered in. The below video was shot as Bumblebee was driving away for another scene.


Over at TFW2005, they took additional pictures (like one to the left) of the daytime shoot at the Castle (as seen here), this time including pictures of Isabel Lucas on the set that match with the shots taken of her later that night. Who knows how many times she has been spotted and no one realized who she was within relation to the filming (her being a newbie to American audiences).

Isabel Lucas Filming Street Scene

Yesterday, J Fuller reported (with video) of filming outside the Drexel main building with Shia and a girl in green. The girl turns out to be Isabel Lucas, playing Alice. Movie Chronicles has provided additional pictures (from zacklur) of Isabel. The scene involves Bumblebee doing a 180 degree turn (video below from Jszack) as I suspect Shia tries to pick her up. The two briefly speech and she stomps away with some greenish goo on her right shoulder. Perhaps Bumblebee is not taking a liking to someone invading Mikaela's turf?

Isabel Lucas Confirmed for Transformers 2

Michael Bay has confirmed, via his forums, that the rumored casting of Isabel Lucas is true.

Hey, I went to work today thinking I was four weeks away from shooting and by 11:30 I found out I'm just three weeks away. SHIT! How time fly's.
Isabel - no Steven did not pick her - it just makes a good sound bite for press. Yes, I did give her the part. - True story.
Michael

Straight from Bay, so the first official new edition to the cast has been confirmed. I guess the lovely blonde Australian is the heir apparent to Rachael Taylor is will not be in the movie. Her role, Alice, remains undefined. (source)

Isabel Lucas in Transformers 2?

According to Isabel Lucas' talent agency, she has been cast in Transformers 2 as "Alice". This role is not part of the possible character breakdown released a few weeks ago. The lovely blond 23 year old has worked for the last few years in Australia but will make her US debut in the movie "Daybreakers" later this year.

The Meissner Management site simply states:

ISABEL LUCAS
NEW
Feature Film “TRANSFORMERS 2” DreamWorks US Production.
Role of ALICE.

According to her IMDB profile she is from Melbourne, Australia. Interesting considering that Rachael Taylor and the rumored casting of Teresa Palmer are also from there. Maybe Bay just likes the accent. Any case it remains a rumor and besides just because the character has a name doesn't mean it’s a major character in the movie.