Transformers: The Movie 2007 news

[angelophile]

It's been a pretty mad couple of days for news of next year's Michael Bay helmed Transformers movie. First up the writers, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman did a webcast on Yahoo movies, revealing a rundown of the cast in full and answered a few other questions about the characters. (Audio available HERE.

The rundown of the featured characters is:


AUTOBOTS:
Optimus Prime (18 wheeler) - Classic Prime type character. True hero of the Autobots.
Bumblebee (1975/2009 Camaro) - The classic underdog type character and smallest of the Autobots, but functions as a scout in dangerous situations. Has the closest relationship to Spike.
Jazz -(Unknown alt form, "cool sports car") Loyal lieutenant. Believes if you can't do something with style, it's not worth doing at all. Quickest to blend in to new cultures.
Ratchet (Emergency vehicle) - Medical officer/Science officer. Repairs Transformers injured in battle. Smartest Autobot.
Ironhide (GMC Top Kick C4500 Pickup) - Tough, gritty soldier. "Classic cowboy figure." First into battle and Optimus' oldest friend.

DECEPTICONS:
Megatron (Hypersonic Cybertronian fighter) - Believes in survival of fittest. Sees a less idealistic version of humanity. Believes it's his god given right to conquer and rule.
Starscream (F22 Raptor)- 2-faced. Secretly plotting to overthrow Megatron. Doesn't neccassarily want Megatron's responsibilities, but wants the power.
Brawl (Modified M1-A2 Abrahms Tank) - "Extremely pissed off Decepticon." Heavy hitter. Always eager for battle.
Bonecrusher (Buffalo Anti Mine Vehicle)- Hates all other Decepticons except for Megatron. Agressive.
Barricade (Ford Mustang Police Patrol Car) - Hunter and scout. Uses his disguise mode to lure humans into traps. Always attempting to beat the Autobots to their objectives.
Skorponok (Robotic scorpion drone) - "Beast" character, much like the cassette Decepticons in the original. Hunter drone.
Frenzy (Boombox) - Smaller form, stealth spy. Originally in the script as Soundwave but (after huge fan backlash started by yours truly) it was decided to save Soundwave for another movie and accept the fan's suggestion Frenzy personified the small, weaker Decepticon more closely.
Blackout (Sikorsky Sea Dragon heavy lift helicopter) - First tier attacker, neutralises human electronics and weapons with EMP blasts. Acts as transport and one of the biggest Decepticons in the movie.


After the interview, a number of pictures have been popping up across the net (allegedly leaked by Hasbro) or some of the movie characters. Descripted as being unlike anything we'd seen before in the Transformers line, that certainly seems to ring true. Pics appeared of Blackout (movie concept and toy), Bumblebee (life sized model), Optimus Prime (movie concept), Starscream (toy), Megatron (incomplete life sized model) and Scorpobok (toy concept.)





Optimus Prime, still with the godawful flame paintjob (damnit).



Pure evil on a stick, Blackout (whose name was thankfully changed from the lame Incinerator.) Probably the best example of the new designs, where the Decepticons are more alien looking and bristling with weapons, compared to the weaker looking, but more humanoid Autobots.



And the toy version. I'm astunded they managed to create a toy from that design.



Killer Decepticon drone, Scorponok! Doesn't have a humanoid robot form, this is it.



Starscream. A long way from the vain pretty boy of old. Supposedly has hands underneath those guns.



Bumblebee, although it's been stated by someone close to Bay that this model is only about 40% complete (it was used in shots for the actors to react against and will be replaced by a more complete CGI). Still pretty alien looking.



Finally, Megatron. This is an incomplete model showing Megatron encased in ice for early scenes set in the Antarctic. Not really showing much of his revealed form.


So, what does everyone think?

Comments

[entershan.livejournal.com]

Starscream is hideous and completely wrong for the character, I can tolerate the rest, but he needs to be changed.

[shadow-weaver.livejournal.com]

I second that!

Starscream makes me wanna cry

[(Anonymous)]

As does the bug-headed look of Blackout.

I posted this at Don's site but I'll post it here too:

Prime I had already seen. Still not liking the paint job, but the design I can live with.

Love Blackout's design, but hate the bug-like head theme that seems to be turning up in the Decepticon camp. That's very disappointing.

Love the look of Scorponok, but very disappointed that there's no humanoid or other alt mode.

Starscream? A-Z Fugly. Hate the legs, hate the body, hate the head, where the **** are his hands?!?!

BB looks OK.

Megatron: Can't see enough to really determine whether I like him or not.