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 Teases Transformers 5 Trailer Release in New BTS Video

In a video and tweet, Michael Bay teases the release of the Transformers: The Last Knight teaser trailer on Monday. No time was provided. The video (below) provides a brief look at some of the filming and action sequences for the film. The production recently completed re-shoots on the USS Carl Vinson which is why the references to a wrap seems to be coming about two months later then expected. Thanks to Feris O. for the heads-up.

Transformers 5 Cast Thanks the UK

Not entirely clear if Transformers: The Last Knight has completed principle photography but it did complete its United Kingdom filming. Below is a thank you message from the core cast of the film to the UK. Michael Bay posted a note on his Instagram page saying "Goodbye London!!! Great shoot out here! Great place to make Transformers!!"

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.

Walhberg: Cool New Mini-Dinobots

In a live Facebook post early this morning, Mark Wahlberg spoke about his movie Deepwater Horizon that was released today. From that he received fan questions. One of the questions let to the below response:

I will be in Transformers 5. We are shooting in London. I am actually in New York City. I am doing some press for Deep Water Horizon. Then I am flying back to London to finish up the last couple weeks on Transformers 5. Its a cool new story. Its kind of like a man on the run. Sir Anthony Hopkins is also in the film. Got a cool new cast. And cool new robots. Cool new villains. And some cool new Dinobots. You guys are really gonna go crazy for the mini-Dinobots.

So there you go - mini-dinobots. From a budget perspective that should save a lot of money since giant rampaging Dinobots was probably very expensive to film in Age of Extinction. Have to see how they are executed on film before can decide if embrace the idea or not.

Transformers 5 Scenes Set During World War II

It seems we finally learned a new nugget of information regarding Transformers: The Last Knight. A few scenes will be set in World War II, specifically at the "headquarters of Adolf Hitler". Which will be filmed at Winston Churchill's home of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Knowing that Churchill's home will be dressed with "enormous swastika flags, a variety of German military equipment and SS stormtroopers filling the forecourt" is something that some UK residents are not happy with. “I know it’s a film,” Col Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the Sun. “But it’s symbolically disrespectful to Churchill. He will be turning in his grave.” The home is owned by a distant relative of Winston Churchill so his approval is all TF5 production needs.

Michael Bay defended the filming decision saying "People have not been fortunate enough to read the script and they don't know that Churchill in this movie is a big hero. Churchill would be smiling. When you see the movie you'll understand."

This is the same location that Anthony Hopkins and Freya the dog were shown filming at. It seems to me that a portion of the film is about Wahlberg's character looking for an Arthurian artifact (Excalibur?) and he goes to Anthony Hopkins character for information to find it. With a few lines he then sets up a flashback sequence that will probably explain more about the McGuffin. Or Hopkins doesn't actually share a scene with Walhberg but just the location.

Is Hopkins playing Winston Churchill? Churchill was often referenced as a bulldog but actually owned a poodle, but I could see Bay purposely mixing his metaphors by using Freya. While Hopkins has been seen at least twice on TF5 locations set in "modern" times, the locations could easily be adjusted to be set in the 1940s. Has he actually shared scenes with actors (Walhberg, Tucci, etc.) set in present time or is he on set doing scenes in the past while the rest of the cast use the same location to "follow" in his footsteps?

Transformers: The Last Knight Cheat Sheet

Here is the cheat sheet for Transformers 5 that attempts to summarize details about the movie. Consider this a SPOILER WARNING as will post info as it comes up. Verified means the information either came from someone associated with the film (an actor, director, producer, etc.) or through mainstream press (CNN, THR, etc.) so unlikely to be false (but no guarantees). Feel free to comment on any inaccuracies or new info that isn't reflected in the sheet. The below is ultimately speculation and rumor until officially confirmed through those with the production of the film.

Official Title: Transformers: The Last Knight (verified)
Principle Photography: May 25 - October 15, 2016 (verified)
Budget: unknown
Shoot Days: unknown
Release Date: June 23, 2017
Trailers: Teaser | TV Spot #1 | TV Spot #2 | TV Spot #3 | Super Bowl TV Spot | Extended Super Bowl TV Spot | KTA TV Spot | Izzy Trailer | Trailer #1 | International Trailer

A Knight Filming for Transformers 5 in Scotland

It looks like Transformers: The Last Knight will have a literal knight in shining armor in it, based on pics from the Staffin distrtict at the Isle of Skye, Scotland Facebook page. The left image represents the set of images which is said to be from Transformers: The Last Knight filming at the location. The other images show the knight (who reminds me of one of the Hobbits from the trilogy) and the helicopter used to film a scene. My guess is, much like the previous movies, there will be a flashback to the past for some Transformers related artifact or event that will tie into the movie's present day plot (why break the franchise's script formula if it keeps working.).

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.

Purpose of Transformers 5 Filming in Cuba Revealed

Spoiler warning as an article from Radio Rebelde reveals why Transformers: The Last Knight is in Cuba this week filming. The scenes apparently do not involve the actors and is essentially part of 2nd unit work.

From the article:

Optimus Prime Trailer Spotted in Detroit

Thanks to J1000 we have this image of the Optimus Prime Dark of the Moon trailer on the Michigan Motion Picture Studio lot on Tuesday. It is currently missing its Autobot logo in the front but that could change. Based on yesterday's picture of Prime (and that he is flew off to space) some visual changes have been made to the character so the trailer may not necessarily be used in the film (for instance it could be used for promotional or merchandise images) but its the first solid sign that Transformers 5 production has arrived in Detroit for its mid-June start date.

Potential Transformers 5 Filming Locations in Detroit

According to On Location Vacations, below are some of the potential locations that Transformers 5 will be filming at once principle photography begins around June 15 in Detroit, Michigan. This falls into the rumor category and in most cases they are private property so production will likely have those locations locked down and trespassers prosecuted so warning for the curious.

Michigan Motion Picture Studios (old Raleigh Studios)
1999 Centerpoint Parkway
Pontiac, Michigan

Packard Plant (Transformers 3 shot here, too)
1600 East Grand Blvd.
Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Central Train Station
2405 West Vernor Hwy.
Detroit, Michigan

Cafe D’Mongo’s Speakeasy
1439 Griswold Street
Detroit, Michigan

MGM Grand Casino (rumor has Michale Bay will also be staying here)
1777 3rd Avenue
Detroit, Michigan

Transformers 5 Production Starts In Mid-June

In a post on Acting Auditions, it has been revealed that Transformers 5 principle photography will begin on June 15, 2016 in Detroit Michigan and continue to October 15th, 2016. Additional filming will also occur in London, England during that time period but no specifics on when. Nor were locations in Detroit revealed. So far the only casting that has been confirmed is Mark Wahlberg returning as Cade Yeager and Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime. Michael Bay has said this will be his last Transformers film. With TF5 set for release on June 23, 2017 and TF6 penciled in for a June 8, 2018 release, it doesn't seem possible he could direct the 6th film even if he wanted to.