AOE Featurettes and BTS

Shanghai and Beijing Premiere Photos

Michael Bay's official Flickr account has uploaded photos from both the Shanghai and Beijing Transformers: Age of Extinction premieres. You can check out the rest of them by clicking here. Expect photos from the past night's US premiere soon.

Han Geng on TF4 Soundtrack

Han Geng, the Chinese pop star that will be appearing in a small role in Transformers 4, has a new song that will be appearing on the Transformers 4 soundtrack as well as in the movie itself according to Chinese Media.

TF4 World Premiere Videos

New Clip, Featurette, B-Roll and TV Spot

AOE World Premiere

Today (early this morning in US time) the world premiere of Transformers: Age of Extinction was held in Hong Kong which featured Optimus Prime on the red carpet, some rain, blistering heat and a performance by Imagine Dragons, who performed some of their latest hits including Demons, Radioactive and Battle Cry. Below you will find photos from the event thanks to Michael Bay's Flickr (will be adding more as they come in) and reviews of the film should hit the web sometime today or tomorrow.

New TF4 Photos

Wahlberg and Peltz Interviews

Goodman, Watanabe Join TF4 Voice Cast

Actors John Goodman (Roseanne, Flintstones, Monsters Inc.) and Ken Watanabe (Godzilla, Inception) have joined the cast of Transformers 4 as voice actors. They will play Hound and Drift respectively.

Also we have some returning voice actors which include Mark Ryan (Lockdown), Frank Welker (Galvatron), John DiMaggio (Crosshairs), Robert Foxworth (Ratchet) and Reno Wilson (Brains). This announcement also confirms that Brains will indeed be returning. But what about Wheelie?

TF4 News Catch-Up

First off in this major news post is a new TV spot that was aired during the MTV Movie Awards. There is some improved CGI, one extra shot and a slight extension of the scene where Optimus gets shot by Lockdown.

Titus Welliver Talks TF4

Minor Spoilers:
Randy Jennings of The Arnold Fans was able to get an exclusive interview with Transformers 4 star Titus Welliver. Welliver gave a bit more detail on Savoy, the villainous character he portrays, and even talked about his children's extensive knowledge of Transformers. To see the full interview, click the above link.

TheArnoldFans: What can you tell me about your role in the upcoming Transformers?

Welliver: I basically play the shark, like the shark of JAWS. I play this (Navy) Seal who has been tasked with eradicating the world of Transformers. Since the battle in Chicago in the previous film, they've now become outlawed so I'm in charge of a group of guys who are doing that.

Jack Reynor: The Biggest Day of His Career

Simon Delaney, an Irish actor and director, spoke to the Herald about Jack Reynor landing his leading role in Transformers 4. The article also confirms that Reynor signed a three picture deal.

"We all knew when we were shooting Delivery Man that he [Jack] had done a couple of screen tests and auditions for Transformers, every day we would say: 'Any news?' Jack was actually on set one night, Michael Bay [the director of Transformers] called and he stepped off set to take the call," Simon revealed.

"Everyone was looking through a window, like eager fathers awaiting the birth of their new son, and he came back in and said, 'I got it'. There was a little bit of a party that night."

Mark Wahlberg Talks TF4

Mark Wahlberg had a little chat with Just Jared about Transformers 4 and the human element. See what he had to say below:

"With Transformers: Age of Extinction, did you agree to do that one for your kids?

Well, it was exciting because it was the first time my kids were really interested in a movie I was doing. Any time they see me with a gun, like Contraband or Pain & Gain, they want to see that, too, but they can’t because of the language and all that stuff. But I loved working with Michael Bay, and I thought he had a really interesting way to make it new, different, and fresh. Plus, being in movies that have the potential to be hugely successful allows me to make smaller movies that I’m really passionate about.

What’s going to make this Transformers different? The first one was OK, but then the sequels were a total mess.

It was a tighter script, and its own stand-alone thing. I think the emotional core of it, the human element, is going to be extremely powerful. It’s an ordinary man trying to do extraordinary things to save his daughter and keep her alive—and this boyfriend he didn’t know anything about. He’d had a child when he was in high school and his wife passed away, and the promise he’d made to her was that she wouldn’t date any boys until she graduated and that she’d be at the graduation—because we weren’t due to the pregnancy. So there’s an anchor to it and a realness to it that I like a lot.

[Then, an assistant comes in and places a brace around Wahlberg’s neck.]

I hurt my neck in Hong Kong, and it hasn’t gotten better yet. I just woke up in the morning and couldn’t move, but still had to shoot 10 days of crazy action."

TF4 Interviews

First off is an interview with Transformers score composer Steve Jablonsky:

"I mean if you’re on an airplane and you’re listening to something with headphones, sure it’s not going to sound as big or important as if you were in my studio. He has so many things on his plate he might only have a minute to listen to a piece and I’ve actually been asked that by his people. They’ll say “the only chance that Michael has to listen to the cue is on his airplane” because he’s on his way to China or something. And I know now to say “absolutely not, I’m not handing this over so he can listen to it on his iPod. It’s just not going to happen, it’s not fair to him, it’s not fair to me and it needs to be presented properly”.

I think with each Transformers film he’s [Michael Bay] wanted something different and he’s always had this kind of specific theme where he’ll really want something special so he gives me these goals to reach, “this needs to be really emotional”, “this needs to be really kick ass”, and he always gives me new challenges. With Transformers 4 I haven’t had that many conversations with him, but I get the feeling that he wants something wildly different. Having said that we might use some of the old themes, though I’m not sure because it’s Mark Wahlberg now and a whole different cast, so we might just do something very different. The bottom line is Michael is paying me to make his films better. Whatever ideas he’s got, I’m going to listen to them, and fortunately he’s got these great ideas.

I fully expect on Transformers 4 whatever we do he’s going to want something wild and to go down some road where we use some crazy instruments or something. I don’t know yet, we’ll see what happens but he’s very adventurous in his creative process so I’ve learned that from him I think. He loves electronic stuff mixed in and that’s really where I got a lot of experience and now it’s part of my sound, I guess, because I get asked to do it a lot. I record a lot of things and then manipulate them in my computer and I really enjoy doing that that – combining it with the orchestra to make something new – and he loves that sort of thing, hearing sounds he’s never heard before."

Next is a second Age of Extinction interview. This one with Mark Wahlberg is much shorter:

“It's a completely different stand-alone movie" Mark told Access Hollywood of fourth Transformers film. "It takes place after the third one, after the battle of Chicago. It's definitely its own story."

"I think it's very different and fresh and people are going to really enjoy it. I had a blast making it," he said. "And you're going to see things in this particular movie that you haven't seen in the other movies."

The last interview is with Rob Moore, a top Paramount Pictures executive. He discussed the Asian influence in Transformers 4, as well as Chinese product placement.

"Having those products certainly reinforces the fact that this is Chinese culture and that there is a lot of story-telling happening there” Mr. Moore said. “Working with our Chinese partners really helps us to ensure we are giving an accurate picture of China. The Chinese locations, actors and environment all look very natural and consistent with Chinese culture. As people start to learn more about China, and now that there is a lot more sharing of information, we will do much better."
Michael Bay said the Hong Kong scenes will comprise one-third of the film’s length, while those in Wulong will last for two-and-a-half minutes. The shooting in China was completed Monday. Another location outside the United States was used for the movie, but Moore is giving nothing away, saying only that it is a “very cold place.” The film also features a host of Chinese actors, with Bay saying that actress Li Bingbing, who starred in “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” will appear in the movie for 30 minutes. Some of the Chinese actors in the new “Transformers” film appear in supporting roles, including actor Han Geng and four newcomers to the industry selected from a reality TV show organized by the Movie Channel. Three female farmers played impromptu roles in the scenes shot in Wulong.

Photos from Hong Kong

Tons of photos have been flooding out of Hong Kong. Notables include Stanley Tucci and Li Bingbing on an imaginary motorcycle and new cars that include a white Lamborghini, black Ferrari, orange and black van and 3 Chevy Trax's leading the Freightliner into battle.
Photos from many numerous sources. If you would like recognition, please let me know and I'd be happy to include your name.

TF4: Official Photo of Wahlberg, Peltz, Reynor

Michael Bay Dot Com has posted a photo of Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor in front of an old abandoned gas station in what is most likely Texas. For full resolution, click here.

Kelsey Grammer Interview

Kelsey Grammer had his first interview regarding Transformers 4 and gave a little hint about the character he will be playing in Age of Extinction. I'd also like to say thanks to TunaKaan for the awesome site banner.

 

"Malevolent" is the word Grammer uses to describe his big bad, Harold Attinger.

"He’s a no-nonsense guy. He’s lived his life in the shadows for 30 years in the service of his country, and he likes to be unremarkable yet very efficient."

What of his first collaboration with the ringmaster?

"I don’t know if Michael has seen Frasier," laughed Grammer. "He’s been very respectful and funny. He’s a terrific guy and quite a filmmaker. He just said to me the other day, 'You’re Kelsey Grammer - you can do whatever you want to do.' So I guess he at least has some acquaintance with my work."

So what would Frasier Crane make of all the Bayhem?

"Well, you know what? I think he might find it offensive in some ways, but there was always a bit of Frasier that wasn’t completely a snob. He always liked blowing up things, too, if he could! When he would discover his inner child, he would revel in it, and I think Transformers is one of those things."

TF4 Dinobot Figures, On-Set Photos and More

First off in this post is some more concrete evidence of the Dinobots appearing in TF4. A planning sheet from Toys 'R Us has been leaked which reads "Transformers 4 - June 2014 Dinobots theme + 2 more movies planned." So yes, we will be getting Dinobot figures. This also shows that it would seem like the Dinobots would have a large role in Transformers 4 and that two more movies are confirmed to come after TF4. To view the sheet, click here.

The next piece of news is the selection of four Chinese actors from the Transformers 4 reality show. The winners are Byron Li, Austin Lin, Candice Zhao and Teresa Daley. The extent of their roles is unknown, but the characters are described as a Kung Fu fighter, a sexy goddess, a computer geek, and a cute Lolita. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said, "I want everybody to have fun. We are always looking for different ways to learn about other cultures. This is a great way to see people's passion and excitement. It allows for everybody to have fun together."

Next on the rumor mill is a future ILM special on the Dinobots. According to an inside source the special would include the creation of the Dinobots from top to bottom, much like what was done for the Driller and Devastator. During the featurette, the crew will be wearing TF4 hats that look like the current logo but with claw marks through the number four. There is no known date for it's release.

Finally, we have some more photos and videos from the Transformers 4 set in Chicago. Notable photos are of the human villain (Harold Attinger) played by Kelsey Grammer as well Stanley Tucci (Joshua) and his assistants played by Victoria Summer, Melanie Specht and Abigail Klein. A notable video is the first one where it seems like Bumblebee is scanning a different alt mode.
Photos by John Leon-Guerrero and the Chicago Tribune.

TF4 Dinobots Confirmed & More

UPDATE: Call sheet removed from this post per the request of Paramount Pictures
UPDATE 2: Bulk of post removed per the request of Paramount Pictures
New cast members:
James Bachman - Gill Wembley
Bachman has appeared in mainly small, relatively not well-known televisions shows and is mostly known for being a comedian.










Melanie Specht - Joshua's Exec. Asst. #1
Melanie's acting career began in 2004 with a small role as an unnamed nurse in The Young and the Restless. She has also had small parts in Entourage and Body of Proof. 










Abigail Klein - Joshua Jr. Asst.
Abigail Klein is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. She began acting in 2009. She has appeared in one episode each of The Young and the Restless, 90210, Disney's Pair of Kings, CSI and Drop Dead Diva. She also played a bridesmaid in That's My Boy. 






Ty Smith - SOG Agent #3
No idea who this guy is.

Ratchet Spotted, Videos and More

In this post I'll be reviewing some of the Transformers 4 related news that has happened in the past week. First off, the DOTM version of Ratchet's vehicle mode has been spotted in Michigan. What's interesting is that it's really dirty, so I doubt it's for any type of car show. Could it be there for Transformers 4 filming? Also below you can see some more videos and photos from filming in Michigan. In one of the videos you will see what looks to be one of the spaceships from DOTM. Also the Cadillac and Buick have been spotted again. No word on if they will be background props or Transformers. Finally, the role of Victoria Summer is being said to be kept under wraps, which leads some to believe her character might be crucial to the plot.
UPDATE: Videos have been removed by the uploader.