We previously learned that none of the original cast of the Transformers series will return for Transformers 4, and the sequel will feature “some redesign of the robots.” However, Michael Bay and Co. may be taking those ideas further than you thought. Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner talked a bit about Transformers 4 at the UBS Best Of Americas 2012 Conference* and unveiled the placeholder logo seen above. According to TFW2005 [via Bleeding Cool], Goldner lamented the stagnant toy sales around the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, presumably because audiences had already spent two whole movies with these played-out giant robot characters. Hence, Transformers 4 will reportedly tell a new story about a new group of robots so Hasbro can reinvent the brand with a new (and thus much hipper) toy line. There are good narrative reasons to change up the roster, but it’s hard to stay positive when the primary source of the movie’s news is a toy company CEO.
Hit the jump for Bay’s pitch for Transformers 4.
Bay wants to avoid the dreaded R-word:
“It’s not a reboot, that’s maybe the wrong word. I don’t want to say reboot because then people will think we’re doing a Spider-Man and starting from the beginning. We’re not. We’re taking the story that you’ve seen—the story we’ve told in three movies already—and we’re taking it in a new direction. But we’re leaving those three as the history. It all still counts. I met with the writer before I went off to do Pain and Gain and we talked about a bunch of ideas. We let that simmer for a bit. He’s been thinking about stuff and now we’re getting back together next week to see what we’ve got and to see if it gels.”
Bay also said the studio wants to cut $30 million from your typical Transformers budget (Dark of the Moon cost about $200 million), and hinted that the new movie may spend more time in space.
Transformers 4 is scheduled for release on June 27, 2014 with a 40% chance of being an unintelligible mess, but an 80% chance of better toy sales.
*Best read in your Borat impression.
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Wow! Who gives a shit?! Anyone give a flying fuck about Transformers? Maybe a War for Cybertron type movie with unknown Autobots but other than that…blah.
i will beat the fuck out of u pussy come at me
I can’t wait for Bays excellent storytelling to explain what happened to the original Transformers. It’s not like they developed the autobots and decepticons anyway so I guess they shouldn’t miss a beat. On to Rodimus and Galvatron. I can’t see them attacking the Unicron lore with a lesser budget, seems like it would be just as expensive if not more so. Say what you want though, it’s going to be interesting watching Bay try to pull this off.
I just hope he brings back Peter Cullen as Optimus. Without Prime, there’s really no point in doing a Transformers story. Kill him off, like the animated movie did, by all means, but at least have a handover of some sort!
To be honest, fans would _lap_ up a live-action remake of the original animated movie. It would make billions.
I would love to see a redesign using the original Generation 1 designs – get it back to it’s roots rather than make the robots look all the same.
Well, Hasbro chinese slave workers will be happy now. More money for the shareholders…
Give the franchise to Lars von trier. We will have a Cybertronic orgy.
Can someone just tell him to STOP ALREADY
No Optimus, not interested!
That statement right there is the reason why so many movies today truly suck.
Why is it distressing that the Hasbro exec is offering news? It’s his company’s property, and they’re involved in the production of the film. I’m not sure why this is distressing. Also, it should be no shock that toys are part of the creative process, as the property is based on a toyline. How dare they think about toy sales when they’re producing a movie based on a toyline! The horror!
That said, I won’t see a Transformers movie while Michael Bay is involved. I couldn’t even make it through the first film and avoided its sequels.
“Toys are part of the creative process”?? Come on. Even in this case with transformers, they are simply the starting line-up for the films. Once they establish that the film has to involve the toy line,.. the creative process begins.
And you’re not sure why it’s distressing? The entire point and purpose of the movie franchise is about selling toys,.. period. It isn’t a “part”, a “thought” or even a factor. It is the be-all and end-all. Just the same as it is becoming more and more prevalent that movies are being made for the sole purpose of making more money than the last movie at the box-office. Not for story,.. not for “creativity”,.. not for bringing about thought or inspiration,.. not even for entertainment. MORE Money, ..and MORE toys.
Thankfully I am in total agreement on Micheal Bay. I won’t see another Transformer movie either. Pure vomit.
Make a War for Cybertron movie shown briefly in the beginning of the Dark of the Moon.
They should call it transfourmers!
i have a feeling this might be the greatest film ever made starring TEH ROCK
They need to change the Director Not the Robots
i agree with you … but who would be good enough to bring greatness??
http://naaluuempire.tumblr.com/
Anybody. Except:
- Michael Bay
-Night Shyalamanalamanannan
-Zack Znyder
Christopher Nolan
An all Dinobots movie could be cool…
You know, why can’t the writer just hide his utter disdain for Michael Bay, because it’s showing big time. I’m fine with this going into a different direction, it’s needed after these last three movies.
The real problem was the lack of commitment to the Original (o.g.)…Soundwave is Megatron’s right-hand bot, not some satellite-come-lately with a dull, inarticulate demeanor. The o.g. cartoon fell off by killing off first line characters. They brought Prime back after the animated movie, proving such. The matrix was a power source entrusted to Prime, not a mysterious cube. It was high-tech fantasy, lost in Michael Bay’s pseudo-realistic, over-the-top, convoluted storytelling. Armageddon is one of my fave movies, so 3 strikes here is surprising. I didn’t hate them totally, yet I know, it’s best to get it right, rather than launch in this new direction of disaster. Let the previous three movies count, but uncloak Cybertron, put RC in pink sportscar kick-butt savvy, bring on triple-changer Omega Supreme, & let Starscream unsuccessfully challenge Megatron, while knowing removing Prime could prove to be your undoing, Mr. Bay – don’t dismiss the ticket-buyers!
i think i like optimus prime
You can’t have transformers without Grimlock and the Dinobots, Omega Supreme should be in the movie as well but the only thing with Omega Supreme is I can only see him as a big ass train transforming into one big kick ass robot. They should put Rodimus and Ultra Magnus in the movie too and what about the Arielbots (Superion) they should put them in the movie too to give the Autobots air support.
How about these decepticons? Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Trypticon,Stunticons or Combaticons?
Autobots? Omega Supreme, Dinobots, Ultra Magnus, Hotrod/Rodimus Prime, Kup
And Transformers 4 needs to get rid of 90% of human storyline & concentrate more on the robot side of story. Seemed pointless calling the 1st 3 films “Transformers” when we practically had that terrible actor (Shia LaBeouf) in every scene!!
Only Optimus, Nothingelse…
the new transformers will suck badly without Optimus prime.They should also put the dinobots in as well.
how can u leave optimus out it wouldnt be worth watching if it didnt hav optimus no one will watch it and who gives a sh1t about toys . no optimus no chance!!
:I /(
they should also focus on cybertron cause it is awsome