IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for June 2016. Four floppies and two trades are coming that month. This month IDW starts a third Transformers ongoing called "Till All Are One" that focuses on Starscream's government and the Council of Worlds. This essentially will replace Transformers vs GI Joe which ends its run this month. For the full details of IDW's other books including GI Joe, Star Trek, and more click here. Read More »
While the "main" Emmy Awards nominations are months out for a ceremony that will not occur until after the summer, the daytime ones follow a different schedule. While the show will no longer be televised (due to cost being too high compared to the low ratings it gets), the nominations were announced this week and Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Transformers: Rescue bots each received nominations in three categories total. The winners will be announced on April 29th. For those not aware, the Emmy's are TV's version of the Oscars in the United States so those in the television business do covet the nominations and hoped for wins. The full list of nominations are here.
Update: The winners were announced on May 1st and Transformers: Rescue Bots Feff Bennett won for best performance in an animated program. Complete list of winners here.
Outstanding Special Class Animated Program Miles from Tomorrowland Peter Rabbit Transformers Robots in Disguise
Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program Danny Jacobs (King Julien) All Hail King Julien Carlos Alazraqui (Mr. Crocker) The Fairly OddParents Eric Bauza (Puss in Boots) The Adventures of Puss in Boots Jeff Bennett (Mayor Luskey) Transformers Rescue Bots <- winner Reid Scott (Turbo) Turbo FAST Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program All Hail King Julien - Mitch Watson <- winner Dragon: Race to the Edge - Art Brown, Douglas Sloan Nature Cat - Adam Rudman, David Rudman Transformers: Robots in Disguise - Nicole Dubuc, Brian Hohlfeld, Greg Johnson Wild Kratts - Chriss Kratt, Martin Kratt
It turns out the baker's dozen that was the Transformers Writers Room last year was really just an actual dozen. From The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman while at SXSW 2016: “I have to say, I was only in that room for a day before I found out that I was having my throat surgery that kept me out of Comic Con.”
Not really major news since his Walking Dead, Outcast and likely future TV responsibilities would have prevented him from writing a Transformers script anyway. This just puts a nail in that particular hope. About the only negative as I see it is Kirkman was one of the few writers in the room that could consistently keep a focus on characterization and story while incorporating spectacle. Based on current info the 12 writers whose two week cram session will influence the next dozen or so years of the Transformers Cinematic Universe are Art Marcum & Matt Holloway (Iron Man, Transformers 5), Zak Penn (Pacific Rim 2) and Jeff Pinkner (Lost, Amazing Spider-Man 2), Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down, Transformers 5), Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Steven S. DeKnight (Daredevil, Spartacus), Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari (Ant-Man, next animated Transformers movie), Akiva Goldsman, Christina Hodson (no released movies yet) and Lindsey Beer (no released movies yet).
With the assist of $21 million in tax incentives from Michigan, Paramount has agreed to film "major portions" of Transformers 5 in Detroit. It is estimated $80 million will be used to film the movie (so my rough guesstimate means about 70% or so the movie will be filmed there) that will including hiring around 450 Michigan residents (for essentially part time work) and 700 extras.
“Michigan has been so welcoming of Michael Bay and the ‘Transformers’ movies over the years and we are thrilled to be returning for this next incredible installment,” said Lee Rosenthal, president of physical production at Paramount Pictures.
“Having one of the highest-profile film franchises created in Michigan is a major economic boost and a testament to the talent of the state’s production community,” said Jenell Leonard, commissioner of the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office. “The production and economic investment is now happening sooner rather than later, and obviously, the project is a certainty rather than merely a possibility.”
According to Deadline, Michigan ended the film incentive program in July 2015 but Paramount was already approved for $42 million tax refunds for "Looking for Alaska" and "Beverly Hills Cop IV" which the studio is no longer planning on making. The remaining $21 million goes back to the state. TF5 is slated for release on June 23, 2017 so I suspect Michael Bay will start filming sometime around May.
Transformers 5 is starting to rev up its engines to begin principle photography. With it comes news about possible filming locations and that means calls for extras. CBS Detroit (via TFW2005) is reporting that Transformers 5 (using code E75, where TF4 was E74, TF3 was E73, etc) has started its extra search in Detroit. The plan apparently is to start filming in London, England around June 2016 and also in Detroit.
It seems a bit early to start looking for extras and crew if Detroit is after England so suspect the shooting schedule is still being ironed out. Filming in England doesn't come as much of a surprise as the country offers tax breaks for movies (they almost snagged The Hobbit films with those breaks until New Zealand passed a 11th hour sweetheart deal) and is also a reason the Marvel movies (and Walking Dead) have been filming in south Georgia (which actually is a bit of surprise Paramount isn't pushing to film there for additional tax refunds). Any case if in the Detroit area click here to find out about auditioning for the movie and here if want to try to join the movie crew. There is also a rumor TF5 may film some in Iceland but no confirmation.
Paramount pictures has confirmed that they plan to release a Bumblebee spin-off movie on June 8 2018 and they plan to produce it a cheaper cost than the Transformers films. The need to clarify was due to the initial announcement from Paramount that simply said they were releasing three Transformers films in the next three years. Its unclear if they referred to them as Transformers 5, 6, and 7 or if media outlets just assumed it. About half a hour later during their investor conference call Hasbro re-iterated the news only they were more specific saying it would be Transformers 5, a Bumblebee movie, then Transformers 6. It was interesting to read the news that day as could see which outlets re-wrote what Deadline, THR, etc had (incorrectly) reported versus which outlets verified and correctly combined the news reports. Deadline, etc just went the route of doing a separate news story about the 'Bee movie.
"There are characters in the Transformers universe that can be and should be made into their own movies,” Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey told The Hollywood Reporter. “We will make the first movie with Michael and go right into a Bumblebee movie, which will be at a lower cost.”
Which other characters are up for spin-offs was not mentioned nor what "cheaper" means. The Transformers films have been landing in between $150 to $200 million each so my best guess is they are hoping for $100 million or less cost. CGI is expensive so simply having Bumblebee as the only TF in robot mode in the movie would drop the cost significantly as would keeping him in vehicle mode as much as possible. I suspect a road movie mixed with Furious 7 vibe will be the script's goal. If this formula of key movie > spin-off > key movie sounds familiar, it is the same formula that Star Wars has committed to starting with The Force Awakens. Clearly Paramount is hoping to replicate to same box office success.
Over this weekend the 2016 New York Toy Fair was held to announce a planned slate of toys for at least some of 2016. Hasbro was on hand to reveal their planned first wave releases of Transformers: Titan Wars and Robots in Disguise season 2 figures. For Titans War, the main gimmick was Titan Masters which is the catch all name for G1s Head Masters, Target Masters, and Power Masters. The signature figure was Fortress Maximus whose retains the G1 gimmick of his head transforming into Deluxe scaled Cerebros and his head in also a Titan Master called Emissary. Below is a link to the official pictures (really computer renders) and show room galleries for these upcoming Transformers. No release dates but presentation suggested Fall 2016 for Titan Wars (which makes me wonder what the next 8 or so months of TF toys will be).
Hasbro Presentation - Most of presentation was to reveal the toys below but here are a few additional nuggets - IDW Robots in Disguise comics (the cartoon) will return in the Fall. - Fan choice Trypticon still in the design phase but little shorter then Metroplex due to hunch - Transformers: Robots in Disguise season two begins February 20th, season two trailer here.
Titan Wars Fortress Maximus - Two feet tall with light and sound effects, comes with Cerebros and Emissary. Platinum Edition - Sweeps Three pack with Cyclonus, Scourge, and Sweep (modified repaints of previous Generation releases) Deluxe - Blurr (w/ Hyperfire), Scourge (w/ Fracas), Mindwipe (w/ Vorath), and Chromedome (w/ Stylor) Legends - Laserbeak, Rumble, and Wheelie. Alt modes no longer a cassette but something new but similar. Leader - Soundwave (w/ Soundblaster) Showroom Galleries: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six Video - A look at the showroom floor via Seibertron.com.
Robots In Disguise Platinum Edition Two Pack - Contains Warrior class Bumblebee with Vouager class Grimlock where Grimlock is modified from a Japanese mold for Fall of Cybertron Grimlock. Power Surge Optimus Prime - A pretty slick take on RID Prime with lights and sounds. Comes with mini-con Aerobolt. Warrior - Look at really deluxe scale of Windblade, Scorponok and smaller version of Power Surge Prime. Showroom Galleries: One | Two | Videos - Two videos from the showroom floor RID toys via Seibertron.com
Misc Kids Logic Devastator - These are mini-figures with gigantic heads. I don't believe these transform or combine but are really 7 extra figures, six for the Combaticons and 1 bigger one for Devastator. Additional Galleries: One | Two Comicave - A look at 1/22 scale Age of Extinction Prime and Bumblebee poseable, not transformable action figures (think Hot Toys). Additional gallery.
