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‘Transformers 4′ Will Be Bay’s Last; New Robot Designs & Cast in the Works

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It’s been quiet on the Transformers 4 front ever since it was confirmed that Michael Bay is returning to direct the film. We know that TF4 will be bringing back fan-favorite robots but also introducing new characters (human and mechanical); it will be released in 2014; and the story will be a ‘more serious sequel’ that will set up a new story arc.

While doing an interview with Hero Complex about the new Transformers theme-park ride at Universal Studios, Bay also dropped a few updates about how Transformers 4 is taking shape.

Bay stated in the interview that Transformers 4 will be his last film in the franchise, and that he will leave things properly arranged for “the next guy” to take the reins. In addition to the declaration that part four is his last (a statement he also made about the previous film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon), Bay also claims that the robot characters will be getting some “redesign,” while a new human cast will be brought onboard, as previously speculated. (Thought likely not Jason Statham, as was also speculated.)

Taking all this into account, Transformers 4 is shaping up to be an odd bird: On the one hand, it will mark an ending for the director who has steered the franchise to box office riches (and well away from critical acclaim); on the other hand, that ending will also serve as the beginning of a new trilogy - one which will have to be brought to completion by a new architect. Let me just go ahead right now and recommend Battleship director Peter Berg for that job.

‘Transformers 4′ to Film in China; Michael Bay ‘Honored’ by Chinese Fan Support

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Billed as an almost completely new approach to a beloved franchise, Transformers 4 has had one of the more interesting pre-productions in recent history. Bold claims, half-truths, and baseless rumors have swarmed about the project from the day that it was first announced.

Yet, the truths (Mark Wahlberg) behind all that gossip-mongering have nearly been as compelling as the fantasies. The latest news from the production reveals that Transformers 4 may see some very interesting new locations and additions to the cast.

A press release from Paramount has revealed that the company has agreed to partner with the government-backed China Movie Channel and streaming service Jiaflix to produce Transformers 4. Though the partnership is not an official co-production, China Movie Channel (under the supervision of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television) will provide, “… broad-based support of the production of the film in China.” This will include helping to select sites for filming in China and the casting of local actors for the production.

The partnership apparently marks the first time China Movie Channel has actively backed a U.S. film production. It is part of a larger campaign by Paramount to expand into the Chinese film market, which is increasingly becoming one of the largest and most lucrative in the world. As part of the deal, Paramount will soon be providing the rights to several-hundred of its films to Jiaflix for streaming in China.

This quasi-government backing of Transformers 4 springs largely from the previous three films’ immense popularity in China. Transformers: Dark of the Moon made $165 million of its billion-dollar worldwide gross from Chinese moviegoers. A guaranteed blockbuster like Transformers 4 is just about the perfect point for China Movie Channel to get in on the global moviemaking market.

Transformers 4 is only the latest in a string of high-profile films that have received financial and/or logistical support from Chinese sources. A different version of Iron Man 3 will be shown in Chinese theaters to emphasize the country’s influence on its production. Similarly, Looper expanded scenes in a prosperous future Shanghai as a result of Chinese investment.

Given the increased focus on Chinese box offices, it’s likely that these kinds of partnerships will only increase in the future. Whether this will be a benefit to international filmmaking is up in the air. It will certainly help to strengthen ties between the Chinese and American film industries, and hopefully lead to more overt creative partnerships down the road. However, the quality and tenor of productions like Transformers 4 will be the real indicators of whether these partnerships are a good and sustainable idea.

Of course, what the partnership means for the actual movie plot isn’t entirely clear at this point. Fans might remember that this isn’t even the first time that Transformers have visited China – since the opening set piece of Revenge of the Fallen saw Shanghai torn to shreds in an Autobot and Decepticon brawl. Could the surviving Decepticons be using China as a staging ground for their next attempt at world domination?

Surely Paramount’s choice to film in China has more to do with appealing to Chinese moviegoers than it does tying together threads in the series’ storyline but it’ll still be interesting to see how the country is implemented in the film.

On the set of Transformers 4 near Adrian, Michigan: Part 1

Paramount Reveals ‘Transformers: Age Of Extinction’ Title

www.deadline.com/2013/09/transformers-4-...tion-title-revealed/




Paramount unveiled the official title of its fourth Transformers pic along with a new teaser poster today. Transformers: Age Of Extinction is due in theaters June 27, 2014. The Michael Bay pic stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Sophia Myles, TJ Miller, Titus Welliver, Han Geng and Li Bingbing and is currently in production.

MORE IMAGES FROM THE DETROIT SETS

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Looks like Paramount is making Quakes with their boots instead of being scared of the RT live action movie...