Ohayocon attendee Chris Adkins has been in touch to inform us that the studio discussions and fight for final rights of the Evangelion adaptation properties are in the midst of taking place, with everything still going ahead given the success of that other big robot movie, Transformers. Joseph Cho is in charge of the the Gainax/Studio relations and Matt Greenfield is hoping for some official announcements sometime in the next 9 months.
It certainly is good to see some news, but we really want that announcement ASAP, we’re all still waiting with bated breath.
The News: In an Evangelion panel at the Ohayocon animé convention in Columbus Ohio on January 30th, ADV director Matt Greenfield announced that several U.S. studios are competing for final rights to the project, meaning that actual production should begin soon. The delay on the project is due largely to the Transformers movie: The studios wanted to make sure that a “giant robot” movie would appeal to an American audience. The negotiations between the U.S. studios and Gainax are being handled by Joseph Cho, who assisted in the production of “Appleseed: Ex Machina”, an animated film based on the Appleseed series, so Mr. Cho has previous experience in dealing with studio types.
Matt Greenfield estimates that an official announcement, including naming the studio, the director, and perhaps casting information, would be made within the next 9 months.
Martin Campbell, director of Casino Royale, GoldenEye and Vertical Limit is in talks to direct the Green Lantern movie adaptation, report Variety. With WB’s big Superman and Justice League movie plans falling through it looks like Green Lantern is moving to the top of the hit list; bringing with it Martin Campbell’s talent and experience and a renewed desire to make this much more than another superhero franchise, especially given the recent and phenomenal success of that dark and emotional Batman movie.
Greg Berlanti was originally inline to direct, he has since been attached to the movie, “This is where I leave you”, yet remains a strong influence as one of the three writers that penned the screenplay (the others being Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green).
Activision have today officially released the first teaser trailer for the new Revenge of the Fallen video game, the specific one shown in the video is for PS3. Note how the Decepticon logo transforms into the Revenge of the Fallen poster at the end, it’s pretty cheesy, but confirming the links between the poster and the Decepticon icon that were highlighted when the image was first released. There is no focus on any recognizable new characters in the trailer, however we do see a speeding Audi R8 jump and transform from the rear into a shape that matches the toy, and we very briefly see Starscream shoot towards a skinny blue character (possibly Arcee?) as the Autobot logo obscures the view. There is also a lovely Optimus Prime/Peter Cullen voice over.
TLAMB also point out that the stray Decepticon that Bumblebee is fighting with appears to be an anti aircraft launch rocket system — very similar to one seen on set at White Sands, New Mexico (images since removed).
Transformers Game Website
After a brief hiatus the Transformers Game website is back up with a new design:
MTV sat down with Robert Downey Jr. on the set of his new movie Sherlock Holmes and quizzed him about the Iron Man sequel.
When it came to Mickey Rourke and his suggested role as Crimson Dynamo Downey Jr. said “that’s actually incorrect”, giving the impression that said casting announcement was premature. An alternative character that Rourke could be playing is Whiplash. To which Downey cryptically responded he could neither confirm or deny those rumors, “the nerd stuff is top drawer security”.
The Transformers community have taken to calling this Constructicon, a single part of Devastator, as ‘Scavenger’, the reasoning is outlined in the video below:
52toys (via his post at TFW2005) have posted new images of the blue motorbike toy — presumed to be Arcee, showing how it transforms step by step, with some images designed to match the silhouette seen in the trailer (behind the Audi). He also comments that the toy, once transformed, cannot easily stand upright by itself.
Meanwhile TFW2005 forum member GenZhao has done a similar thing with the Constructicon, creating poses that match those seen in the trailer. He is selling this toy on ebay.
EDIT: Images removed at the request of Paramount Pictures
In a post to the LS2 forums, member -=boM=- spoke about his experiences as an extra at White Sands, New Mexico in Transformers 2. To prove he was there he has also provided a large collection of set images that show Sideswipe, Skids, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Optimus, Jolt, Ratchet, Shia and Megan Fox on set, tanks, soldiers, building ruins, a camel, anti aircraft missile vehicles, etc. — I have included these after the break and they come via TFormers, the report comes via TLAMB.
The following report contains spoilers, be warned:
“Can’t wait…i’m in it as an extra. I am a Navy Seal doing a battle scene against the Decepticons. I filmed out at White Sands and on Hollomans flight line. Filmed for 4 days and had a blast. Tons of pics on my Facebook.”
[…]
I had to chase a bunch of villagers out of the area because the Decepticons were attacking, then had to protect Optimus Prime’s body. There were a shitload of us out there.
The food and catering was awesome. A lot of downtime. Just like a deployment.
I did an interview for the DVD. We will see if that is on it too. The asked me a bunch of questions about the military. The autobots are behind me on top of a sand dune. I did a GM plug. They liked that.
Micheal Bay loves the military. I got to speak with him very briefly. He gets so angry on set at the actors but doesn’t dare yell or demean the military. It was a trip. He said something to me like do you want a job as a DA (Directors Assistant), I said hell yeah. He was getting pissed at his DA. His DA was like trust me you dont want this job.
I have two closeup shots if they do decide to put them in the movie. One was walking with the camera on the tracks going along with me but at a slower pace. The camera was right on the side of my face following me but at a slower rate. There were two others behind me. The other close up was while I was defending from a corner of a building on one knee. The boom camera went from the ground to over head of us all. I was up front in the scene. The camera came up to my face then began to ascend over the area. It was pretty cool.
Another scene was Optimus getting dropped off by a chinook. I had to run up to the area then stop as Optimus was getting dropped.
Another was with Josh and Tyrese when they argue with The President on the flightline. I am in the background.
As much time as I spent filming (9–10 hours a day for 4 days) I hope I am seen at least once. Hell I’ll be happy to be on teh DVD.
One of the images also reveals Megan Fox and possibly Josh Duhamel sitting next to a fallen man in a pool of blood, he’s not in military dress and in other images looks like Shia. TLAMB entertain the idea that Revenge of ‘The Fallen’ may pertain to the fallen Optimus Prime, Re: ‘protect Optimus Prime’s body’, although they conclude that this is unlikely, ‘Revenge’ is not very Optimus like.
Update 3:Final Transformers 2 Trailer released in HD (30th April 2009)
See also our in depth analysis of the trailer with high quality screenshots of all the key scenes, robots and Megan Fox.
Update: A lot of people are reaching this page looking for the high definition version of the Transformers 2 trailer, thus I present to you two handy links:
- Ravage is the beast like creature, matching leaked concept designs
–A very large transformer emerging through a bridge as Optimus Prime jumps on his head, matching the leaked Terex RH400 toy’s head and arms, rolling along on one giant wheel (EDIT: Two wheels, thanks Jeffrey). Looks like ONE of the constructicons that makes up the even bigger Devastator. He is also the character destroying the helicopters at Bethlehem Steel works.
- Optimus Prime gets smacked in the face by an unknown entity
- The Audi R8 robot comes crashing through a window before turning into its vehicle alt mode and driving away
- As the Audi R8 drives away you can see more Transformers coming into the screen in the top right, there is a hint of pink on the first one and it seems to be almost skating, I am guessing this is Arcee, a third character is also seen briefly behind her. Screenshots further down. The R8 has previously been seen with Arcee following in the Walmart footage, this is probably an extension of that scene.
- Shia gets confronted by what appears to be Starscream and then is held down by a large claw — the trailer implies this is also Starscream but the claw is very similar to the one on the redesigned Megatron (Seen here). The claw also bears some strange markings, similar to those on the Voyager class toy packages.
