Transformers 4 Hound

The military vehicle seen on the Transformers 4 set has been confirmed to be the Autobot Hound. Hound is the third confirmed name for a Transformer next to Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. The Bugatti and Corvette have yet to be named.

"The always rugged and reliable Hound, one of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles from Oshkosh Defense."

Stay tuned for more Transformers 4 news and comment below with your thoughts on the vehicle.

Life Sized Optimus Statue at TF The Ride Orlando

News keeps rolling in quickly today. A life sized, 28 foot tall Optimus Prime statue has been placed above the entrance of Transformers The Ride at Universal Studios Orlando. It is extremely detailed and is the exact design from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Transformers The Ride opens June 20th to the general public.

Transformers at Marlins Park

This is some pretty awesome news since I'm a Marlins fan. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee traveled to Marlins Park to catch a ballgame. They accompanied Timothy Stahlsmith on the field as he threw the first pitch before the game between the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. This of course is to promote the grand opening of Transformers The Ride in Orlando, Florida on June 20th. To the left is a photo of Optimus, Timothy and Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez via the Marlins Instagram. Click here to see a video.

New TF4 Photos Show New Autobots

Daily Mail has posted some new on-set photos of some of the Transformers 4 vehicles. The first is a photo of six vehicles which are all probably Autobots. Two of the six are vehicles we haven't seen before. One is some type of military truck and the other seems to be a white Chevy ambulance. This could possibly be a new alt mode for Ratchet. The last photo is a close-up of the military vehicle thanks to Sam of the S4TE boards.

 

 

TF4 Bumblebee Revealed

The speculation of the car seen on set was correct. Bumblebee is indeed the black and yellow 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS. It'll be interesting to see why Bumblebee decides to revert back to a vintage Camaro and if he will eventually scan a 2014 Camaro during the middle of the movie. Stay tuned for more reveals and on-set photos!

Michael Bay Dot Com: "Bumblebee as a highly modified, vintage 1967 Camaro SS."

More Set Photos and Possible TF4 Bumblebee

Thanks to Instagram, we have some more on set photos of the Transformers 4 production. The photos reveal a possible new Transformer whose alt mode is a beat up truck that looks almost exactly like G1 Optimus Prime. The photos also reveal a classic black and yellow Camaro, which might be Bumblebee. The fact that the car is mostly black with one yellow stripe along with non-tinted windows makes you wonder if it's Bumblebee or not, plus the car seems to have no visible Autobot logos (or Decepticon for that matter). The car could also be used for racing if Jack Reynor is a small town driver rather that a big star.

 

TF4 Farm Set Images

Photos from a Transformers 4 set being built in Austin, Texas have been posted on Instagram by blackdaggerbrotherhood. When asked about his involvement in the film, he replied that he was part of the crew that created the roads around the barn, house and pond for a chase scene. He will also be assisting the stunt crew with ramps and other things. The actors are expected to arrive in Texas next week after their quick stay in Utah and Arizona.

Possible Names for New TF4 Autobots

Joblo has another bit of insider news for us regarding the new Transformers 4 Autobots. The Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse is rumored to be Drift and the C7 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is rumored to be Slingshot. The admin of Michael Bay's website responded to the rumors with this:

“This is the 4th movie, you would think these guys would've learned by now that production names DO NOT EQUAL final name.”

This does prove that the news is legit, but as for now, Drift and Slingshot are only production names and are not the official names for the new Autobots.

TF4 Filming Has Begun in Monument Valley

Michael Bay Dot Com has announced that principle photography has begun in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park near the border of Arizona and Utah. This news of course comes after the showcasing of three Autobot vehicles in that area last night and early this morning.

"Principal photography on Transformers 4 has begun.  As guests of the Navajo Nation, we took a convoy of brand new, re-envisioned and remodeled Autobots out for a spin down Highway 163 in Monument Valley near the border of Arizona and Utah. Stay tuned…more to come!"

TF4 Optimus Prime Design

Big news! Michael Bay Dot Com has revealed the new truck design for Transformers 4's Optimus Prime. The truck is a completely custom built model from Western Star which still features the flames from the first three movies. That is one awesome looking truck!

T.J. Miller Joins TF4 Cast

Stand-up comedian T.J. Miller has joined the Transformers 4 cast. He will be playing a mechanic and Mark Wahlberg's character's best friend. The news also reveals that Wahlberg's character will also be a mechanic. Miller joins Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Stanley Tucci, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing and Kelsey Grammer as the confirmed cast members.

TF4 Autobot Cars Revealed

Two Autobot vehicles have been revealed on the set of Transformers 4. One is an awesome looking, blue and black 2013 Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse. The Vitesse is worth about $2.4 billion by the way. The other car is a green, race inspired 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray, which is based off of Chevrolet's 2014 production car. The photos were taken in Monument Valley near the valley of Arizona and Utah. Any ideas on who they will be? Comment below with your thoughts!

TF4 Michigan Extras Casting

In preparation for filming in the Michigan area, a casting call has been released looking for business people, military and FBI agents as well as Asian families. Filming in Michigan is expected to take place from late June through August after filming in Texas is completed.

"Casting directors for the movie will be looking to hire actors as paid extras from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at the Somerset Inn in Troy. The part requires actors to be available for filming from June through August. Directors will be looking for males and females at least 18-year-old who can play the part of a clean-cut business person, military or FBI agent. They’ll also be casting Asian families of all ages."

For more information on how to become an extra, click here.

TF4 Filming Begins June 3; Casting Call Info

Thanks to a recent casting call, we finally have a confirmation on filming dates for Transformers 4. It says that extras will be needed from June 3-20 in Austin, Texas. Seeing as though extras are only needed for certain scenes, filming could have already started for the main actors, but this does give a confirmation that by June 3rd, filming will for a fact be happening. In the casting call are some very specific requirements if you'd like to become an extra. It even asks to send in casual photos of yourself rather than professional headshots.

"Ranchers, oil men and women, realtor types that sell Dallas mansions, small town salt of the earth types, and strong southern-looking men & women- with faces that have a real local Texas flavor to their look and uniqueness!"

"Seeking submissions from FEMALE CAUCASIAN EXTRAS between the ages of 16-23 fit, tan, attractive with an "all-american" Texas type look to work as a featured Extra on the Transformers sequel directed by Michael Bay shooting in the Austin, TX area between June 3-20, 2013."

Morshower Won't Return For TF4

After saying that he would return for Transformers 4 and 5 late last year, Glenn Morshower announced that he will not be reprising his role as General Morshower due to scheduling conflicts. Morshower had been the only confirmed returning cast member other that Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime. Josh Duhamel has been offered a chance to return but there has been no official announcement regarding his decision. Tyrese Gibson hopes to return as well.

Possible TF4 Autobots and Decepticons Revealed

Joblo has just gotten a huge news tip from a reliable unnamed source. The source apparently got this information from a recent marketing event for a few upcoming film projects. There are some slight potential plot spoilers below, so read at your own risk. In my opinion, it'll be nothing that ruins your viewing experience though.

Autobots include Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Swoop and Hound. Decepticons include Galvatron and Lockdown. There will also be a former "samurai" Decepticon who wants to redeem himself by becoming an Autobot. His name will be Drift.

For a couple of plot details, click "read more."

Official: Li Bingbing in TF4

It was unofficially announced a while back that Chinese actress Li Bingbing landed a role in Transformers 4, but now the announcement has been made official thanks to a press release.

HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 20, 2013) - Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures jointly
announced today that Chinese actress Li Bingbing ("RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION") has been cast in the eagerly awaited "TRANSFORMERS 4." The actress joins Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz and Sophia Myles in the fourth installment in the hit series of movies based on the best-selling Hasbro toyline. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 27th, 2014.

"I am excited to have Li Bingbing join our cast and to be shooting portions of the movie in her native China. I have always aspired to work with the best actors and this cast is especially exciting now with the addition of Li," said Michael Bay.

TF4 Filming Begins in Austin

According to Examiner, Transformers 4 filming is set to begin in Austin, Texas while casting for extras is also underway in Austin and Los Angeles. The article also reveals that Mark Wahlberg's character will be named Flynn Vincent, which has been rumored to be his name for quite a while, but this is the first confirmation.

"Di Bonaventura Pictures and DreamWorks SKG in association with Hasbro are set to begin production on the Paramount Pictures science fiction action film "Transformers 4". Casting directors are auditioning actors in Los Angeles, as well as Austin, TX where filming will take place beginning late May, 2013. The extras will be cast throughout filming. Additional shooting will take place in various locations including China. This project is currently being referred to as "Untitled Transformers Sequel," and will the first feature film to be shot using smaller digital IMAX 3D cameras.

Starring in "Transformers 4" is Jack Reynor in the starring role of a race car driver. The talented and beautiful Nicola Peltz has been cast in the female lead role of Reynor's girlfriend. Mark Wahlberg has signed on to play Nicola's father Flynn Vincent. Sophia Myles will play a major role as a scientist. Peter Cullen returns as the voice of Optimus Prime, and Glenn Morshower reprises his role as General Morshower. Kelsey Grammer was recently cast as the lead villain named "Harold Attinger". Directors Guild of America DGA Award winner Michael Bay will return to direct his fourth installment of the film series from a screenplay written by Ehren Kruger."

My Transformers Ride Store Experience

A week ago today, I was at Universal Studios Orlando for their annual Grad Bash, so I was able to get some things at the Transformers The Ride store and see the outside of the building that the ride is in. Check out my experience below. At the end, I go over some of the purchases I made at the store. Transformers The Ride opens on June 20th.

Fall of Cybertron 2014 Calendar

Coming on August 1, 2013, a Transformers Fall of Cybertron wall calendar will be released. The calendar, of course, will be for the year 2014. Check out some preview images below!

Sophia Myles Cast in TF4

According to The Wrap, actress Sophia Myles will have a major supporting role in Transformers 4 and her character will be a scientist. Myles' movies include Underworld and Thunderbirds. Her character could end up being an evil assistant to Kelsey Grammer's character or even a love interest of Mark Wahlberg.

Tyrese Gibson Might Return for TF4

In an interview with Moviehole, Tyrese Gibson revealed that he will most likely return for Transformers 4. It now seems like Josh Duhamel and Gibson will both at least have cameos in the movie.

"It’s looking like an appearance might happen. I haven’t got that phone call yet, officially. We’ll see what happens."

2 Chinese Stars Join TF4 Cast

According to Yahoo! News, Chinese stars Li Bingbing and Wu Xiubo have been cast in Transformers 4 and will be two of the six total Chinese actors to have parts in the movie. The other four will be winners from the reality show. Li Bingbing has starred in many Chinese productions, but did recently appear in Resident Evil: Retribution last year, which was her first American movie. She has won multiple "Best Actress" awards in China. Wu Xiubo has yet to star in an American film, but has won multiple "Best Actor" awards in China.

TF4 Chinese Reality Show Casting Begins

The Chinese reality show that will allow four actors to appear in Transformers 4 has started its casting process. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 50,000 to 80,000 Chinese citizens are expected to enter the competition. There will be six judges on the show, which is being compared to an acting version of American Idol, and Michael Bay will have some input on the winners. After online applications are sent, those who qualify will be given their own website with a photo, bio and an audition. All participants must speak at least some English. Voting and auditions will wind down the contestants down to 400 and then another unspecified number. The finals will be aired on Chinese television as five, one hour long shows on Sunday nights. If you can read Chinese or just want to check it out anyway, the show's official website can be seen by clicking here.

Transformers The Ride to Open June 20 in Orlando

Transformers The Ride will open at Universal Studios Orlando on June 20th, according to multiple sources, including Universal's Facebook page. The decal of Megatron on the building in downtown Orlando also now has "Prepare For Battle June 20" above it. I'd expect some soft openings to happen sometime this month or early June. Click here to join the "resistance", create your own NEST ID and more.

TF The Ride Orlando Opening Date to be Revealed Tomorrow

According to the Universal Studios Facebook page, the grand opening date for Transformers The Ride will be revealed tomorrow on Facebook and their website. The expected range for when the big day is to occur is around May-July with June being my guess. With this pre-announcement, Universal also released a promo image which the can see to the left. Also happening tomorrow are instructions for the Prepare for Battle promotion, which should be very similar to what happened with the Hollywood ride. Expect a contest to be announced as well as the periodic release of promo videos and images. You will also be able to customize your own NEST ID. On Friday, I will be heading to Universal Studios Orlando for their annual Grad Bash, so I'm going to be making a video of the outside of the ride as well as inside the store, which has already opened.

Kelsey Grammer Joins TF4

Kelsey Grammer, widely known as Dr. Frasier Crane in his two decade long run on the television shows Frasier and Cheers, has landed a role in Transformers 4. According to Spoiler TV, Grammer will play a key human villain in the movie and the character's name will be Harold Attinger. Grammer has won a total of five Emmy Awards and should be a great addition to the Transformers 4 cast.

Transformers The Ride Orlando Promo

The opening of Transformers The Ride at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida is drawing closer and a promo video has just been released in a cell phone-like footage kind of way. Check it out below!