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angelophile
As reported by Don Murphy on his website, tomorrow's Variety and Reporter will have the following reports. This follows on from rumors that have been circulating for a week or so now. Don Murphy has confirmed the details, but also added that nothing is actually signed yet, but the hope is as soon as the second draft of the script is complete within the next month, everything will be written finally in stone.
Helmer toys with D'Works' 'Transformers'
Bay boards live-action pic, Spielberg exec-produces
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Michael Bay is looking to direct "The Transformers" for DreamWorks and Paramount. The live-action pic, which Steven Spielberg is exec producing, is skedded for a Thanksgiving 2006 release. Shooting will begin in the fall.
The project had been gestating at the studio until Spielberg came up with a new take, which he imparted to scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. (Pic's original script was by John Rogers.) Kurtzman and Orci built on the idea and pitched it to Bay, whom they worked with on DreamWorks' upcoming summer actioner "The Island," and he sparked to it. DreamWorks production prexy Adam Goodman's relationship with Bay was also instrumental in bringing about the deal.
Kurtzman and Orci are expected to turn in a script within a month, at which point DreamWorks is hoping to lock in Bay.
The Transformers spawned a comicbook series, TV show and animated feature in the 1980s and have a devout following among the retro set. This is Hollywood's first attempt to transform them to the live-action screen.Angry Films' Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto are producing along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Marc Haimes and John Fox are overseeing the pic for DreamWorks.
Through his Platinum Dunes banner, Bay is a producer on MGM's remake of "The Amityville Horror," due out this month.
'Transformers' on Bay's radar
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
By Borys Kit and Liza Foreman
Michael Bay is in talks to direct the DreamWorks/Paramount live-action adaptation of "The Transformers," Hasbro's popular 1980s toy line of giant robots that morph into cars, trucks, planes, ships and other technological creations.
The move would reteam the director with DreamWorks, which is handling domestic distribution on the movie. Bay is helming DreamWorks' upcoming summer release "The Island," a co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures.
Bay also would reteam with writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who -- under their two-year, first-look deal with DreamWorks -- rewrote "Island" and wrote "Transformers."
The Transformers are divided into two groups of robots, one led by Optimus Prime, which believes in tolerance and the sanctity of life, the other by Megatron, which espouses survival of the fittest and the extermination of biological life.
Angry Films topper Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto, who wrote the screen story, are producing the feature along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Steven Spielberg will executive produce.
John Rogers wrote the initial draft.
Marc Haimes and John Fox are overseeing for DreamWorks.
A Nov. 17, 2006, release date has been set.
Bay's credits include the two "Bad Boys" movies, "Pearl Harbor," "Armageddon" and "The Rock." He is repped by WMA.
