Transformers Michael Bay puts name-rumors to rest

[DrSpengler]

http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7505

It is a bit tiresome to watch all the supposed script leaks on Don Murphy's site. There has been a lot of chatter about character names and what 'things' may be called in the script. I'm going to let everyone in on a little secret. Something that the writer's don't know, nor my crew, or Steven Speilberg, or the president's of Paramount or Dreamworks. Not even Don Murphy who is not involved on the day to day with this movie. Many of the names in the script are aliases. The only people that know the real names of many of these characters are the COO of Hasbro, their corporate lawyer and myself. I think this is two less people that knew the secret recipe for coca-cola. On my directing contract I had to sign all these non disclosure agreements just on this character name point. These names will not be revealed until the toy boxes are printed. The writer's had to construct the script where no actor needed to verbally refer to a character by name other then the main few. So rest assured AKA Devastator, is really not Devastator.

Michael

So everyone whose been moaning and b*tching about "ZOMG Devastator as a tank rapes my childhood!!11!1!1!" can be quiet.

We're probably not going to know the real names until a few months before release.

 

[skorponok]

"ZOMG Devastator as a tank rapes my childhood!!11!1!1!" can be quiet.

BUAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

[Casius--J]

LOL ok then glad he cleared this up.

 

[zer00]

Glad that's put to rest for now.

 

[skorponok]

What would "ZOMG" mean anywaY??

 

[neemer5]

Michael Bay attached to this film really worries me, to be honest. I think he and Oliver Stone are the two most overrated directors alive today.

 

[DrSpengler]

What would "ZOMG" mean anywaY??

It's a humorous mispelling of "OMG" at the expense of over-reacting ninnernet fanboys.

 

[skorponok]

It's a humorous mispelling of "OMG" at the expense of over-reacting ninnernet fanboys.

I've NEVER seen that version until this thread, but I do not doubt it's existance!!

 

[Darthkush]

hmmm...this is great news then.

 

[CFlash]

Michael Bay attached to this film really worries me, to be honest. I think he and Oliver Stone are the two most overrated directors alive today.

Oliver Stone might be a bit overrated. But Bay is almost universally panned. He's like the Kevin Costner of Directors, where people are like "How does he keep getting work?"

But, people like his movies. They've made big bucks. He's the goto guy to pull off mindless fun.

Unfortunately, TF should be "good sci-fi" and not just "mindless fun."
But, we'll see.

 

[gkokujin]

Lmao...

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Well they have to use Optimus Prime and Megantron. My concern is who they will get to voice them should they talk at all. I think only two voices are suitible for Prime. The original 80's cartoon voice for prime or Keith David.

 

[CFlash]

Well they have to use Optimus Prime and Megantron. My concern is who they will get to voice them should they talk at all. I think only two voices are suitible for Prime. The original 80's cartoon voice for prime or Keith David.

I think Lance Henrickson would make a great Prime. But honestly, I don't really see what the big deal is with the voices. I'd rather they not rape the original concepts and characters (which they already seem to be doing... and in a big way).

 

[Arcturus]

Why is everyone so worried about the voices? It's not like they're getting carrot top to voice Optimus Prime or something. And i'm not to concerned about the names, as long as Optimus Prime is Optimus Prime, and Megatron is Megatron.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Why is everyone so worried about the voices? It's not like they're getting carrot top to voice Optimus Prime or something. And i'm not to concerned about the names, as long as Optimus Prime is Optimus Prime, and Megatron is Megatron.

I agree

 

[ShadowBoxing]

So far as I know those aliases only apply to the Decepticons aside from Megatron, Starscream and Scorponok.

 

[gkokujin]

Why is everyone so worried about the voices? It's not like they're getting carrot top to voice Optimus Prime or something.

i laughed.




LOUDLY

 

[Darth_Shaggy22]

most people are worried about the voices due to the fact if you grew watching the transformers on tv as i did, you have the voice burned into your head.

i mean the transformers burned into my head are Grimlock, starscream, soundwave, and prime. i will never ever forget what they sound like. as im sure many G1 fans out there.

so if you get some big name actor like tom cruise or tom hanks ( im using them for they have the top two movies out right now) that might ruin it for most of us G1 fans. lately tho im kinda stuck on the idea of Ian McKellen doing a voice of one of them. hmmmm pounder on that i will.

i say try to get the G1 cast back, those who are still alive. and for those who have passed on sadly i say get some one as close as u can.

 

[CFlash]

Ian McKellen as SHOCKWAVE. That'd be cool. He did have a british accent didn't he?

 

[DrSpengler]

Since we're on a voice-tangent, I might as well chime in too...


It would be nice to see some of the voice actors return, but this isn't G1, this isn't 1984 and there is a LOT of great voice talent out there.

When they made the 2002 He-Man cartoon they got the Ocean Group to do sound-alikes for most of the character, and in my honest opinion, they out-did the originals. Cam Clarke's He-Man was fantastic, as was Dobson's Skeletor (which did sound a LOT like the original) and every character Scott McNeil played.

Likewise, the 2003 TMNT cartoon went in the same direction, casting voice actors who had a likeness to the cast from the old cartoon and the movies. The voice director for the 2003 TMNT is Susan Blu, who also happened to be the voice-director for the ORIGINAL TMNT cartoon from back inthe day. And I think she did a marvelous job getting new talent that paid homage to the original voices...without being the original voices.

There are LOTS of good voice actors out there, not just people from the 80's.

I DO think Cullen could still play a convincing Optimus Prime. Just listen to his voice in the Toonami commercials; he's still got it. But I still think he should audition like everybody else.

Welker...well...

Remember, this isn't a cartoon. This is a blockbuster motion picture rated PG-13 aimmed at a wide audience. Welker's Megatron was VERY "Saturday Morning Cartoonish" and that just won't fly with some people.

Also, take into account the kind of exposure Welker's voices have had for the past 30 years.

Remember in the Spawn movie when he voiced Malebolgia. He sounded Exactly. Like. Dr. Freakin. CLAW.

And I know that killed the "menacing" nature of the Lord of Hell for a lot of movie goers who recognized Welker's voice.


What I'm saying is that there's boatloads of top-notch voice talent out there, many of which suited to play Optimus and Megatron (David Kaye's Beast Wars Megatron is superb), and I don't think the roles should just be handed over to Cullen and Welker without question because "they were the voices 20 years ago!"

And in regards to celebrities, well, I'd personally prefer they get proper voice actors to do the characters as, 1) they're trained for this sort of thing and can deliver better performances than flavor of the month celebrities, and 2) a recognizable celebrity voice can detract from the character.

Example, if Christopher Walken was to voice Ratchet (I'm being 100% hypothetical here) you wouldn't look at the character as Ratchet, you'd look at the character as Christopher Walken-playing-Ratchet.


That's my two cents. I want GOOD voices. They don't have to be the originals, and if Murphy and Bay don't cast them, then I fully understand.