Transformers The Official Voice Casting Thread

[DrSpengler]

Ok...sorry...
I got confused with anotehr really good cartoon voice actor...

Well, if it makes you feel any better, Dobson is the voice of Starscream in Armada, Energon and Cybertron.

Between Dobson and Parker, I prefer Parker as he actually tries to emulate Latta's style. Parker says he learned how to do his impression by actually studying Latta during their time together on GI Joe (Parker was the voice director during the DiC series). So he's got some pretty good experience; he learned from the best. His Cobra Commander impression is also really impressive.

 

[metalhead3676]

ok i have to go with cabel on a few of what he wants to see such as Ron Perlman John DiMaggo and my fave actor of all time bruce campbell but i do think he forgot one that would have worked well in that whole list it would have to be billy west billy west is a great vo actor and i think he would do good in a tf movie and i do like the idea of mark hamil i mean he did the joker on batman in the 90s and he did a great job i think he would do good but if they dont get a few of thosse guys i think they should come out with unknows i think it would be good for the movie if its just random guys that are loyal to the tf franchise and love what it was and is now i think they would be the most effective vo actors then again i say that for like every superhero and movies like this

 

[Psionic Force]

I would think that people would be more apt to see the movie with the original voices. Also, they may lose viewers, especially hardcore fans, if they were to go with someone like George Clooney. His voice is not strong enough for Optimus.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Clooney would have made a good Prowl though.

Here's my 2 cents:
Tom Hanks for Bumblebee
Hank Azaria for Starscream
Jamie Foxx for Jazz

 

[dutchmarvel]

Are there people here who knowing a voice for: Timothy Dalton and Sean Connery.

 

[BT18]

check out this thread for a good idea of who might have a better shot

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189264

 

[Pink Ranger]

Are there people here who knowing a voice for: Timothy Dalton and Sean Connery.

If we're going by who sounds like the G1 cartoon character, then Dalton could play Hook. Connery sounds like Connery, so you'd have to take liberties with a character to make it fit.

 

[Dope Nose]

If we're going by who sounds like the G1 cartoon character, then Dalton could play Hook. Connery sounds like Connery, so you'd have to take liberties with a character to make it fit.

Connery could play Kup.

 

[Prometheous Pt2]

I loved Lenard Nimoy(SPOCK) as the voice of Galvatron. They should just use that voice for Megatron. It sounded so much better. Leonard not to busy right now anyway. Galvatron: Coranation Starscream...this is all bad comedy! Starsceam: Megatron is that you!!!! Galvatron: HERES A HINT......BOOOOMMM!!!!!! I just loved that part. I rather see him transform into a cannon over a tank anyday.

 

[WalkingDead]

Well here is some VO news from Lorenzo di Bonaventura at Dreamworks on the TF Movie from an IESB interview...



"IESB: Is the Transformers movie going stay true to the comics and the very well known Gen 1 cartoons and storyline?

di Bonaventura: We are going to stay true to the Transformers.

IESB: How much did the John Rogers script change or was it a complete rewrite?

di Bonaventura: It will be a completely different movie and it is a completely different script.

IESB: Don Murphy has been very vocal of his desire of using some of the original voice over actors such as Frank Welker and Peter Cullen in the film, do you, Spielberg and Bay feel the same?

di Bonaventura: No, I don't believe that is going to happen, I don't know why you would want the original voice over actors. Here you go, this is going to be the process, we are going to meet a lot of people for the voice over's and those guy's might end up being it but making the assumption going in [that the original actors will be used] is I think kind of silly actually. I think people want the best actors to do it. The best Optimus Prime and the best you know, all these characters, you know you want , hmm, I understand I grew up with them too, so you want to be true to characters. I think what's important is being true to them. I don't think being true to them means in literally using the same voice over actors. Some of those guys are TV cartoon guy's. I want get better characters if we can. Some of them might be able to do that and some may not, I am sure that they will get the opportunity.

IESB: Michael Bay has said that the Transformers will be shot 100% in the gold ole U.S.A., is that still the plan?

di Bonaventura: Yes, I think that will be the case."

 

[WalkingDead]

So it is pretty clear that they aren't really gonna even attempt to get the original guys for anything...heh...*sigh*

 

[1987olds442]

I'm still waiting on Don Murphy to comment on this news...

But sounds like this guy is talking out his ass on this...

 

[Son Of Logan]

Bobcat Goldthwait as Grimlock.

 

[skruloos]

Well if they're going for completely Hollywood-type names:

Optimus: Clooney's voice has that deep quality to it that might work. Another interesting choice might be Clive Owen, if he could do a good American accent.
Jazz: Bill Cobbs would be great, IMHO. If they had to go younger, then Jamie Foxx might work.
Bumblebee: Tom Hanks would be fine, Steve Buscemi might be funny

Megatron: Leonard Nimoy or Michael Ironside
Starscream: even though I hate his work, John Legiuzamo has a similar raspy and nasally voice
Soundwave: Michael Ironside or James Earl Jones
Shockwave: Jonathan Pryce

 

[The Question]

James Earl Jones for Soundwave? It's just that soundwave was always kind of emotionless and not that epic as much as creepy. I thought Cory Burton would be good. He does a great emotionless machine voice for Braniac on S:TAS and JLU.

 

[skruloos]

James Earl Jones for Soundwave? It's just that soundwave was always kind of emotionless and not that epic as much as creepy. I thought Cory Burton would be good. He does a great emotionless machine voice for Braniac on S:TAS and JLU.

I was looking for a big name rather than a Voice Actor. And I think James Earl Jones passed through some synth equipment could be perfect, as long as he kept himself retrained. If you listen to his turn in The Lion King, he does a fairly nice and restrained vocal performance.

 

[The Question]

I still think Cory Burton would kick ass as Soundwave.

 

[Dope Nose]

Starscream: even though I hate his work, John Legiuzamo has a similar raspy and nasally voice

how about John Leguizamo for Rumble?

 

[The Question]

In fact, all of the JLU voice actors would be good. Clancy Brown would make a godd Megatron. Mark Hamill would kick ass as Starscream. Micheal Rossembaum would make a good Bumblebee.

 

[skruloos]

how about John Leguizamo for Rumble?

That would be good as well. What about Will Smith as Blaster is they ever had him? I think that'd be a fun choice.

 

[terry78]

There really is no reason for them to hire A listers for the voices at all. You only do that if the originals are dead and gone, or too old to do so. I hate to use Rocky and Bullwinkle as an example, but they didn't hesitate to get June Foray back for Rocky.

 

[skruloos]

There really is no reason for them to hire A listers for the voices at all. You only do that if the originals are dead and gone, or too old to do so. I hate to use Rocky and Bullwinkle as an example, but they didn't hesitate to get June Foray back for Rocky.

Yes, you think so and I think so, but we are not the ones financing this movie. If the people actually backing this with money are going to want A-listers instead of the original voice over actors, than that's what's going to happen. If it helps the movie get off the ground and actually makes it appealing to a wider audience, then I'm all for it as well.

 

[Jochimus]

I would think that people would be more apt to see the movie with the original voices. Also, they may lose viewers, especially hardcore fans, if they were to go with someone like George Clooney. His voice is not strong enough for Optimus.

No, FANS would be more apt to see the movie with the original voices. PEOPLE wouldn't give a sh** who was doing the voices, except maybe noticing that the big red truck sounds like Eeyore and the police car sounds like Angelica Pickles' dad.

Besides, given di Boneheadaceventura's cheerfully insightful comments there, the chances of actually casting people who might actually know what the hell they're doing (GASP! ) aren't real impressive. I agree that Cullen and Welker should be in it, but at the rate things are progressing (or not), I'd be happy even if they did only one role each.

B'sides...Hasbro treats Gary Chalk and David Kaye as if they are the only voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron that have ever existed, at least for the time being, and I think they're O.K., but not quite as special as Cullen and Welker were.

Beyond all that, I say NO A-LISTERS OR BIG NAMES IN THE VOICE CAST. Cast celebs as the humans if you want (Primus knows they will whether it's a good idea or not), but keep them out of the recording booth. With that, my ideal voice cast would be something like this:

Optimus Prime - Gary Chalk
Ironhide - Peter Cullen (the older veteran figure, of course )
Jazz - Phil Lamarr (has the range to sound like Scatman without overdoing it)
Bumblebee - Billy West (probably his normal voice)
Wheeljack - Hank Azaria (ditto)
Arcee - Melissa Gilbert (first - and best - B:TAS Batgirl)
Megatron - David Kaye
Soundwave - Frank Welker (with the mechanized monotone)
Starscream - Mark Hamill (with a bit more gravel in his voice)
Shockwave - Clancy Brown (Mr. All-Purpose Creepy Cartoon Villain Voice)
Astrotrain - George Carlin (Mr. Conductor After Hours )

Wish I could think of others to fill out the other TF roles.

 

[SuGarRush]

ok guys, when you think of transfromers during the day, and I know you do, Optimus Prime is not voiced by George Clooney. No one says," oh yeah I want Danny Ocean to play one of the most iconic robots in animated history. "
or
"Hey, that guy sucked in Batman, we should get him to ruin our Transformers movie as well"

and for that Chalk fellow, well I think most REAL transformers fans would agree that all those Pokemon like "transformers" shows are best forgotten.

when you hear Optimus Prime you think of his voice, which is Peter Cullen. People, the moron up there di venastupido or whatever said that they would be casting the best Optimus Prime for the job. Well how can they cast someone better for the role than the guy who IS optimus Prime?
They would have to be complete and utter morons to hire anyone else besides Cullen

 

[nosebleed.]

I can't imagine somebody besides Cullen saying, "One shall stand...and one shall fall".