Voices- Concerns and Suggestions...

[ZeroCorpse]

OK... IMDB is discussing this, so why not here, too?

Who should do the voices of the Transformers?

Let us assume, for the sake of this thread, that NONE of the original voice actors are available (not even Frank Welker).

And let us also assume that the idiot Hollywood producers INSIST on having celebrities and non-voice actors do the voices, like in all other animated features these days... Who should it be?

My picks:

Ironhide: Stone Cold Steve Austin

Starscream: Mark Hamill

Devastator: Clancy Brown

Megatron: Leonard Nimoy

Jazz: Chris Rock

Soundwave: Doesn't matter. Vocoder will cover their voice.

Optimus Prime: Lance Hendrikson

Bumblebee: Scott Bakula

Of course, some of these characters aren't in it, but I'm just throwing names out there. What do YOU think they should do about voice talent?

Remember: We're assuming the originals are out for a variety of reasons.

[Oerwinde]

Optimus Prime: Peter Cullen
Ironhide: Peter Cullen
Bumblebee: Dan Gilvezan
Jazz: Phil LaMarr
Megatron: Frank Welker
Soundwave: Frank Welker
Starscream: Michael Dobson

And since they're making up new decepticons for the movie, I'd like Keifer Sutherland to play one of them. Maybe the cop car.

EDIT: Oh, didnt' see the part about original VOs not available.

Optimus Prime: Neil Kaplan
Ironhide: Mickey Rourke
Bumblebee: Michael J Fox
Jazz: Phil LaMarr
Megatron: Leonard Nemoy
Soundwave: With the right effects I guess anyone could do him.
Starscream: Michael Dobson

[ZeroCorpse]

I like the idea of Keifer Sutherland playing that cop car...

[da creole kid]

Megtron: Rutger Hauer
Optimus Prime: Michael Clarke Duncan
Jazz: Bernie Mac
Bumblebee: Kevin Connelly
Shockwave: Phil Lamar
Thundercracker: Johnny Knoxville
Starscream: Steve Coogan
Beachcomber and/or Swindel: Kiefer Sutherland

[Octoberist]

Frank Welker did the voice Megatron right? He also did the voice of Soundwave too. So it would be stupid NOT to have Soundwave in the movie. Screw Vortex or Soundbyte or whatever. Do what you can do in the time you have these guys.

[terry78]

I still stand by my choice of Andy Serkis for Starscream from about two years ago.

[zer00]

After hearing Henriksen's voice work for Brainiac...eh no

[Crimson Dynamo]

"Optimus Prime: Lance Hendrikson"

Good choice.

[Arcturus]

"Optimus Prime: Lance Hendrikson"

Good choice.

Couldn't agree more.

:up:

[WalkingDead]

Based on the Confirmations and Rumors...here are my choices for certain characters that may or may not make it in. I've included the original VA's.


Optimus Prime: Peter Cullen or Keith David or Gary Chalk
Megatron: Frank Welker or Tim Curry or Powers Boothe or Clancy Brown

Bumblebee: Billy West or Michael Rosenbaum
Starscream: Andy Serkis or Michael Dobson
Ironhide: Peter Cullen or Sam Elliot or Ron Perlman or W. Earl Brown
Jazz: Orlando Jones or Phil LaMarr
Ratchet: John Di Maggio or Brad Dourif



If these TF's make it into the movie:
Soundwave: Frank Welker
Shockwave: Kevin Spacey
Prowl: James Marsden
Brawn: Ron Perlman

[Denny67]

Based on the Confirmations and Rumors...here are my choices for certain characters that may or may not make it in. I've included the original VA's.


Optimus Prime: Peter Cullen or Keith David or Gary Chalk
Megatron: Frank Welker or Tim Curry or Powers Boothe or Clancy Brown

Bumblebee: Billy West or Michael Rosenbaum <---- :up:
Starscream: Andy Serkis or Michael Dobson
Ironhide: Peter Cullen or Sam Elliot or Ron Perlman <---- :up: or W. Earl Brown
Jazz: Orlando Jones <---- :up: or Phil LaMarr
Ratchet: John Di Maggio or Brad Dourif



If these TF's make it into the movie:
Soundwave: Frank Welker
Shockwave: Kevin Spacey
Prowl: James Marsden
Brawn: Ron Perlman

I love a lot of these! I would add a couple to the possibilities:

Optimus Prime: Kevin Conroy or Craig T. Nelson <--- EDIT
Starscream: Mark Hamill
Bumblebee: Elijah Wood or Tobey Maguire
Jazz: Dave Chappelle

Not sure who he may play but Mike Myers is always good.

[Denny67]

"Optimus Prime: Lance Hendrikson"

Good choice.

I actually like him for Megatron.

[WalkingDead]

I love a lot of these! I would add a couple to the possibilities:

Optimus Prime: Kevin Conroy or Bob Parr
Starscream: Mark Hamill
Bumblebee: Elijah Wood or Tobey Maguire
Jazz: Dave Chappelle

Not sure who he may play but Mike Myers is always good.

While I like your suggestions...to a point, here's my arguement:


Kevin Conroy is forever Batman...I don't think I personally could get past that, that's just me.
I will never support Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock or Chris Tucker being Jazz. Their voices just will never be able to fully represent who Jazz is, in my opinion. Particularly with Chris Rock. Jazz is about being smooth, fun-loving, and having style, while still being able to be commanding when it comes to it.
I wouldn't mind seeing what Mark Hamill could do with Starscream's voice. Eijah Wood or Toby Macguire would be interesting to at least see what they'd do, but I still don't see either of them as Bumblebee.

[CFlash]

While I like your suggestions...to a point, here's my arguement:


Kevin Conroy is forever Batman...I don't think I personally could get past that, that's just me.
I will never support Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock or Chris Tucker being Jazz. Their voices just will never be able to fully represent who Jazz is, in my opinion. Particularly with Chris Rock. Jazz is about being smooth, fun-loving, and having style, while still being able to be commanding when it comes to it.I wouldn't mind seeing what Mark Hamill could do with Starscream's voice. Eijah Wood or Toby Macguire would be interesting to at least see what they'd do, but I still don't see either of them as Bumblebee.

I totally see Tobey Macguire being Bumblebee. It's poetic. (I hope I don't need to explain why).
But, now that he's a Camaro... I think Andrew Dice Clay would be a better fit.

And I agree with you about Jazz (smooth, having style, fun-loving- etc) which is why I think Steve Harvey is PERFECT.

[deathshead2]

Clancy Brown as Megs is a great idea. He has a very stong confadent voice yet threating at the same time. Perfect.

[WalkingDead]

Frank Welker did the voice Megatron right? He also did the voice of Soundwave too. So it would be stupid NOT to have Soundwave in the movie. Screw Vortex or Soundbyte or whatever. Do what you can do in the time you have these guys.

Frank Welker voiced:
Megatron
Soundwave
Rumble/Frenzy
Laserbeak/Buzzsaw
Ravage
Ratbat
Skywarp
Sludge
Mirage
Blades
Groove
Mixmaster
Wheelie
Steeljaw
Chromedome
Spoilsport

...and I believe he also did the first voice of Superion. He might have also done a few others...those are just the ones I can recall off-hand.

[Denny67]

I will never support Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock or Chris Tucker being Jazz. Their voices just will never be able to fully represent who Jazz is, in my opinion. Particularly with Chris Rock. Jazz is about being smooth, fun-loving, and having style, while still being able to be commanding when it comes to it.

Maybe Samuel L. Jackson ;)

[CFlash]

Maybe Samuel L. Jackson ;)

Nah man. Steve Harvey is this gen's Scatman Crothers. He's got the street cred, the voice, and the style. He's popular (his show ran for 6 years), but he's not uber-known the way Sam Jackson. In fact, if Jazz was a human being, he'd BE Steve Harvey IMO. Just my 2c.

[Mother_Askani]

Peter Cullen - Prime
Frank Welker - Megatron

'nuff said

[deathshead2]

Maybe Samuel L. Jackson ;)I would love that I would see the movie twice if he was Jazz it would be better than Steve Harvey. How can one man be so unfunny. Does he try to be on purpose.

[ffejeromdiks]

Peter Cullen - Prime
Frank Welker - Megatron

'nuff said
Wow how generic!

As great as the original VA were, I think the movie needs some new Voice actors.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I actually like him for Megatron.


That would work too!

[Denny67]

Another good one for Megatron coule be Leonard Nimoy. He did Galvatron pretty well.

If Ironhide is in the Movie I can see Billy Bob Thornton doing his voice (and he has worked with Bay).

[deathshead2]

Another good one for Megatron coule be Leonard Nimoy. He did Galvatron pretty well.

If Ironhide is in the Movie I can see Billy Bob Thornton doing his voice (and he has worked with Bay).I suggested Nimoy a long time ago in another thread oh man people hated that idea. I think he would be great.

[CFlash]

I would love that I would see the movie twice if he was Jazz it would be better than Steve Harvey. How can one man be so unfunny. Does he try to be on purpose.

I know lots of people that would disagree with you on that one.
And, who said Jazz had to be "funny" anyway.

[CFlash]

I suggested Nimoy a long time ago in another thread oh man people hated that idea. I think he would be great.

I do agree Nimoy would be an inspired choice for Megatron.

[edit] If you've heard his voice lately you'd know it has changed (since the TREK days)... it's very raspy and very deep and sort of wise but menacing. The more I think about it the more I can SEE Megatron.

[CFlash]

Dennis Haysbert (President Palmer) for Optimus? Anyone agree?

[ragdus]

Dennis Haysbert (President Palmer) for Optimus? Anyone agree?

I think that'd work pretty well

[ZeroCorpse]

Jazz: Orlando Jones or Phil LaMarr

Why is it that anytime there's a black character in something, people want Orlando Jones or Phil LaMarr? There are LOTS of black people in the world, and frankly, I'm sick to death of Phil LaMarr doing voices. He does too many.


And people--- Please read the original post. We're assuming that the original voice actors- or ANY voice actors (like Billy West, for example) aren't going to be acceptable. This is a big budget Hollywood Michael Bay movie. The producers are going to crap on the idea of voice actors, and INSIST on having "celebrities" do the voices.

That means, for the purpose of this thread:

NO Frank Welker
NO Peter Cullen
NO Billy West
NO Phil LaMarr
NO Michael Dobson
NO Kevin Conroy

Mark Hamill is still available. Basically the rule is that Joe Average moviegoer has to be able to recognize their name. Most people have no idea who Frank Welker or Peter Cullen are, so think about that, and try to think like an out-of-touch Hollywood producer.

Think big names actors, basically. That's what they do to these things.

[Iceburgeruk]

Why is it that anytime there's a black character in something, people want Orlando Jones or Phil LaMarr? There are LOTS of black people in the world, and frankly, I'm sick to death of Phil LaMarr doing voices. He does too many.


And people--- Please read the original post. We're assuming that the original voice actors- or ANY voice actors (like Billy West, for example) aren't going to be acceptable. This is a big budget Hollywood Michael Bay movie. The producers are going to crap on the idea of voice actors, and INSIST on having "celebrities" do the voices.

That means, for the purpose of this thread:

NO Frank Welker
NO Peter Cullen
NO Billy West
NO Phil LaMarr
NO Michael Dobson
NO Kevin Conroy

Mark Hamill is still available. Basically the rule is that Joe Average moviegoer has to be able to recognize their name. Most people have no idea who Frank Welker or Peter Cullen are, so think about that, and try to think like an out-of-touch Hollywood producer.

Think big names actors, basically. That's what they do to these things.

The producers...like spielburg you mean. So spielburg crams dozen of hollywood big names into the films he is attached to does he? E.T The Extra Terrestrial. Jaws. War of the Worlds.

This thread seems rather defunct as Spielburg is one of the primary producers involved. And as action movie directors go Bay doesn`t usually have that many stars in each individual film. Bad Boys films are just basically Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Pearl Harbour was just Harnett and Afleck. The Rock was Cage and Connery. Armageddeon was just Willis and Affleck. Bay as you can see uses only at most two main hollyqwood names per film.

Personally i doubt they will use the original voice actors due to the changes which age adds to the voices but i doubt we will see a dozen a-list stars doing the voices. Most likely we will get whoever seems best for the role whether they are a star or complete unknown.

[CFlash]

I have no problem with them using famous actors for the voices. Often they lend a "believability" to a movie role that more seasoned "voice"/cartoon actors do not. Toy Story is a great example of this. As is Incredibles. I think the uproar over the Clooney as Optimus rumor was a disservice... it was a shame... I think he would have made a fine Optimus (though I prefer Lance Henrickson from Aliens and Millenium fame).

And, though I'm not a big fan of Bay, I would say he makes really good casting choices and is pretty good at working with and directing actors (unlike, say, George Lucas).

[warcam]

If we're talking about actors who've worked with Bay, then why not Will Smith as Jazz? Smooth yet commanding.

I still vote Cullen and Welker as my 1st choices for Prime and Megatron ONLY if their voices are still up to par. Save the big name stars for the other characters.