Edmunds Ducati Article Confirms Arcee Combiner?

Edmunds has a brief article that discusses the use of Ducati motorcycles in Terminator Salvation and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Specifically, they are a new source, outside of the novelizations, to confirm that the Arcee bikes do have a combiner mode.

The Hypermotard ("super biker") will fight for good in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen when that film opens on June 24. The Ducati will join with two other motorcycles to create Arcee, a female Autobot to stop the Decepticons as they return to Earth.

RetroSBK actually created the three Arcee bikes (well probably more since have stunt, hero, and backup bikes for each character) but looking at their website Ducati motorcycles seemed to be used as their base for their customizations. Thanks to Jon for the link.

Comic Movie Adapation Preview

IDW has posted five pages from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation #1 issue that will be out in comic stores starting May 20th. Unlike the novels, the comic adaptation doesn't need the same lead time so it is probably based on a more current version of the film script but not necessarily the final cut of the film. In a way the various adaptations provide an interesting look at how a film script evolves over time.

The pages can be found here and they do provide a few spoilers. It provides additional confirmation of the Ice Cream Truck being the Twins, suggests that Arcee is all three bikes that share a single mind, and that Stratosphere (who in the movie is probably just a plane, not a TF) has a role in the sense that he provides the air transportation to drop Optimus in position to take on Demolisher. Thanks to ghola-tleilaxu, Phil, and Gregory for the link.

First Look at Ice Cream Truck Twins, Deluxe Jolt, Arcee and Others (Updated)

Nearly a year ago was the first sighting of a pink and white ice cream truck on the Bethlehem, PA shoot for Transformers 2. The day after I published the call sheets that included the description "Ice Cream truck chases R8 thru alleys. Crashes. Splits in two. Twins fight." the speculation began. Since then repeated sightings (video) at Bethlehem and California (here, here, and here) has only fueled it. Thanks to the find from TFW2005's "Heat Guy" on Wal-Mart's website, we now know that the ice cream truck is an early form of the Twins. The toy will be a deluxe class toy, I think both in one package.

In addition, Wal-Mart's site includes the first images Deluxe Blaze Master (alt mode Channel 7 copter), Deluxe Jolt (Chevy Volt), Deluxe Arcee (with side car that becomes blaster), Deluxe Swerve (repaint of Sideswipe), and Deluxe Dead End (repaint of Sideways). It is unknown if Blaze Master is a movie character. Jolt and Arcee are confirmed in the movie and of course the repaints are not. Thanks to "217" for the link.



Update: The TFW2005 thread has added additional pics that show off the alt mode for the figures, that I added above. Also included the Jetfire pictures (I think Leader class but not sure) since first good look at his modes. Thanks to 217 for the heads-up.

Bay: "I Kill Her Later"

When Michael Bay is in a good mood, because of his ShoWest Vanguard Award, bluntness and information seems to flow a little more freely as indicated by recent interviews with MTV and Collider (both with video).

First from MTV where he reveals the death of Arcee:

You know what? I didn't like Arcee," the filmmaker revealed exclusively to us Thursday night, "so I kill her later, all right?"

"You know what? It's like actors," he explained, comparing his Transformers to flesh-and-blood stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. "There are certain actors that blossom on screen, and there are certain others where you're like, 'Yuck, I'm cutting them out of the movie.'"

"This isn't sad," he grinned, discussing Arcee's sudden death. "This is just 'get it out and get it over with.' "

Bay also shot down the long-simmering rumor that Fox will be seen riding Arcee and doing some female bonding with the character. "No," he insisted. "She has nothing to do with Megan."

I don't know if this is serious or not. He is grinning the whole time and seems to be enjoying himself. I almost think he is dropping a fake bomb just to see the online reaction. Maybe this is an example of his misinformation campaign. Not saying it can't be true, just that something seems off. As usual, June 24th will be the day of truth.


On the highlights and video from Collider.com from pre-show press conference:

- Transformers 3 is "the way I shoot is too aggressive for 3D cameras" due to the precision they required. Besides he considers 3-D to be a "gimmick...I am old school."
- In regards to Paramount's 2011 vs. Bay's 2012 date, things have been worked out so I guess that means the plan is a July 1st, 2012 release date for Transformers 3, "Lot of pestering from the studio" to reserve the date.
- When asked if he will direct Transformers 3, "I don't know, let's see how two does."
- The scale of the second movie is larger, goes around the world, the CGI technology is much improved providing better acting from the Transformers.
- The budget of Transformers 2 was $200 million and came in about $4 million under budget.
- Regarding the IMAX scenes, "Pretty awesome. It was much easier to shoot then stereoscopic. It's a bitch to perfect in terms of the digital work because of the amount of rendering you have to do and the detail."
- In regards to CGI work, "It is all challenging. In terms of the digital model that Lucas Films made ...it is the most complicated by 10 ...of the [of the robot] model they ever made."

Eight Constructicons In Transformers 2?

Two new articles on USA Today and Yahoo! Movies suggest that Transformers 2 will feature a total of eight Constructicons, seven of which will form Devastator. The articles are part of a first look at some of the Transformers 2 robotic cast. This would be the first official word on many of the characters that we figured out over time between set and toy pictures but news to the general public. One change is Wheelie is being officially cast as a Decepticon and the addition of "The Doctor" also called Scalpel according to the Hasbro toy packaging and has the alt mode of a microscope. Below are excerpts.

Ravage and Soundwave
"In the spirit of 'more than meets the eye,' Ravage isn't just lethal because of his sharp teeth," says screenwriter Alex Kurtzman. "There's actually another skill set Ravage has that didn't exist before, so there's going to be a surprise for fans." ...his role will be similar to the 1980s cartoon and Hasbro toy — the ultimate spy.

Ravage doesn't turn into anything. But Soundwave will appear, again serving as an evil communications expert but this time in the form of an orbiting space satellite.

And Ravage, as before, won't speak like the other Transformers. "We wanted to stay true to the idea that Decepticons who take visual clues from beasts maintain that," says Orci. "It would be strange to have a talking jaguar, or a scorpion with an English accent."

Insecticons
"We have big guys, some little guys. We have a lot of littler ones, too. Little weirder ones," Bay says. Like the Insecticons, which were giant bugs in the original series and Hasbro toy line, but are now tiny creepy-crawly infiltrators.

Jetfire
As in the original, this fighter plane crash-landed on Earth a long time ago, and he will become a reformed Decepticon now fighting for the humans. His alternate form is the SR-71 Blackbird, the outdated but still-sleek Cold War spy plane.

"He's old, craggy, forgetful ... doesn't work very well. Can't transform very well, because he's very geriatric. They get stuck with him a lot," Bay says. "He knows the plan of the bad guys, but he forgets all the good parts of the plan."

The Twins
"Some of the junior Transformers are just dumb," Bay says with a laugh. "But it's great for kids because they're like the Little Engine That Could. They're (screw)-ups, but they get really heroic at the end."

Arcee
Arcee is the only female and turns up as Megan Fox's hot-pink motorcycle. Co-screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci say she was in an early draft of the first movie. "But we felt we needed to win the audience over before asking for that suspension of disbelief: a feminine alien robot," Kurtzman says.

The Fallen
The Fallen is an ancient robot, sort of the Transformers' version of Lucifer. He's one of the original robot aliens, and his defiance and arrogance led to his banishment into another dimension. The screenwriters say that The Fallen holds the key to life on both Earth and Cybertron, the Transformers' home planet.

The Doctor
A smaller, but no less malevolent Decepticon is known as The Doctor — a spider-like droid that transforms into various implements of torture and has a not-so-nice encounter with star Shia LaBeouf.

Devastator
These seven robots — Scavenger, Scrapper, Hightower, Longhaul, Rampage, Overload and Mixmaster — transform into construction machinery, but also link up with one another to form one gigantic robot stomper named Devastator.

"He's made of vehicles designed to build, and he turns into is someone who loves to destroy," Orci says. "He is an agent of absolute chaos."

"Spielberg saw it and said, 'This is (expletive) awesome!' " Bay says, and adds: "It's always nice when you can make him swear."

Missing from the list is Megatron, who Bay has already verified is returning. Of interest is the bit about Devastator merging with seven Constructicons, one of which is not Demolisher (the one wheeled guy in the trailer busting through a bridge).

The 2009 Toy Fair pictures and display along with the preview on The Today Show suggested that the toy was a combination of six constructions:
     Demolishor - red O&K/Terex RH400 Hydrolic Mining Excavator (torso)
     Scrapper - yellow Caterpillar 992G Front Loader (right arm)
     Long Haul - green Caterpillar 773B Dump Truck (right leg)
     Mix Master - silver Mack Cement Mixer (head)
     High Tower - yellow Kobelco CK2500 Truss Crane (left arm)
     Rampage - yellow Caterpillar D9L Bulldozer (left leg)

Apparently this is wrong. Instead of Demolisher we have the addition of Scavenger and Overload whose alt modes remain unknown. Suffice it to say I am a bit confused. Either the Toy Fair displays were missing two Constructicons (why do that when the Fairs purpose is to sell a line to vendors?) or USA Today and co have some of their information confused ("The Doctor" vs Scalpel). I guess things will get cleared up a bit more once the toys get released.

Thanks to all the site readers for sending in the links.

Update:As pointed out in the comments, the Toy Fair pictures did show one of the toys with the word "SCVNGR" which even then was identified as Scavenger but dismissed as an error or early production model. Clearly, instead there are two variations of the Hydraulic Mining Excavator as part of the Constructions. One is Demolisher seen early in the film (and now I assume meets a bad end) and the other is Scavenger which helps form the torso of Devastator.

Best guess for Overload is the Komatsu HD465-7 Articulated Dump Truck TFW2005's source provided way back in October. The other six were right so small leap to assume the last is correct too. My best guess in this scenario is Overload is the lower torso that the legs connect to and Scavenger is the upper that the arms and Mixmaster attach to.

Update 2: Oops got my construction vehicles confused. Probably going to do that a few times with the Constructicons.

Alliance #4 Has Movie Spoilers?

The last issue of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Prequel Alliance mini-series came out yesterday and it provides a few possible spoilers for the movie. As TFW2005.com summarizes, here is information that ties directly into the movie:

- McClaren Robotics is a front to provide clean-up for the Transformers existence. If that name sounds familiar, way back in July, it was noted that Steve Tom was cast as the CEO of the company.
- The comic recreates a containment unit for the AllSpark that looks very similar to the promo pic that USA Today published (pic 6) late last year.
- Five new Transformers (panels below) are revealed: Corvette Centennial (Sideswipe), three motorcycles (Arcee, Chromia, ?), and if look carefully can see that mysterious Ice Cream Truck (The Twins first alt mode before becoming Chevy Beat and Trax?).

The last image above is just to show that the comic ends right before the movie begins - with the NEST on the hunt for Demolisher in Shanghai, China. The ice cream truck has caused all kinds of debate but I am still leaning towards it being Skids and Mudflap in disguise as they attempt to hunt Decepticons. I know many think the writers of the comic series are not working off the movie script but I think they are, the only real question is are they working off the shooting draft or an earlier version. Take it how you wish but for me, I am following my simple rule that all Hasbro sanctioned tie-ins are canon until they movie contradicts them. Thanks to an anonymous source for the panel pictures from Alliance #4.

More Chromia and Other Toy Pictures

The mystery of Arcee continues. We still don't know if the exact nature of the character (one of the bikes, merge of the bikes, all three of bikes, etc) but in the meantime here are more pictures "Chromia" from TF08.net via TFormers. The name is not official (based on a leaked toy list) that Transfans have assigned to the blue motorcycle bike until official information comes out to confirms things one way or the other.

In addition to the below Chromia pictures, click here for pre-order images from Hobbylink Japan of various Transformer 2 toys include Legends Springer, Starscream, Ratchet and Jetfire.

More Arcee Toy Pictures

From 52Toys.com via TFW2005 are more images of blue Arcee toy from Transformers 2 toy line. This time the robot transformation has been modified to more match the images from the Transformers 2 commercial from the Superbowl (when Arcee was chasing the Audi). Below are a few images but the full gallery can be found here.

Now I know that Arcee is one or all three of the robots seen during the commercial. Her character, for the movie, remains mostly undefined. All we know is she is in the movie, she has a robot form and that form may or may not be three components. As Master Fwiffo points out, Arcee could be one of three robots, could be the combined name of the three robots (like Devastator is the name of the combined Constructicons), or she is a consciousness spread over three bodies. I am partial to a combo of the last two, which is Arcee is a combiner with a consciousness copied across three separate forms. Thanks to Lady Owl for the link.

Official Superbowl Commercial for Transformers 2 (Update)

Here you go, the teaser trailer / commercial for Transformers Revenge of the Fallen that will premiere during the Superbowl. For those wanting to keep score, the commercial finally aired at 8:57pm EST when there was 2:11 left in the 3rd quarter with Pittsburgh owning Arizona 20-7. I guess appropriate since Transformers 2 filmed in Philadelphia, PA. The trailer is now up on Transformers official website...or just use the various methods below.

Download HD File: Superbowl Commercial | mirror 1 | mirror 2
View in HD: IO9.com | Vimeo
Screencap Galleries: DWTeam.org | Movie Chronicles | TFormers | Seibertron
Trailer breakdowns: Eoin on TFW2005

So what do I see (and probably missing much):
- Fireballs hitting a battle fleet (possible incoming Decepticon protoforms?)
- Shia and co looking very "oh s$@#!" at things
- A very big Transformer that looks exactly like the leaked Terex RH400 toy including the head, attacking the army.(Explains some of what was shot at Bethlehem, PA)
- Ravage, which matches the leaked design, looking creepy and dangerous.
- Decepticon Audi R9 (possibly Barricade) jumping out a building and then tumbling into vehicle mode.
- Behind the Audi, just for a brief second, can see three Transformers jumping down (picture below), Arcee perhaps?
- Starscream possibly getting revenge on Sam or one part is Starscream and the next is the claw of Megatron.
- Optimus Prime getting hit hard by somebody.
- The Terex RH400 trashing a bridge as Optimus jumps on him. (Explains the Queensway Bridge filming and explosions.)

Overall, as teasers go, very bad ass. Can't wait for the full length trailer coming on 2/13. Despite the RH400 TF in the trailer, I still think my source was right and he is the only Constructicon in the movie and not a component of Devastator.

From Anonymous, here are some screenshots from the commercial.

Here is a shot from Gregory that shows three bots chasing the Audi which seems like a scene related to the Wal-Mart footage from last year. For now the three robots are collectivily called Arcee but even with the toy leak, her exact nature remains unknown.

From low Hertz, below are more screenshots. The first two are good freezes that the Constructicon at the beginning and the end are the same. Third one is a good look at the Audi logo so verify that is the R8 being chased. The next is possible proof that it is Megatron holding Sam down and last is a Optimus Prime reeling from a blow to the head.

Here are more screenshots from Elis that help show off the Constructicon including that his wheel is what takes out the bridge and and transformation with a wheel behind him. In addition Ravage has a cannon in his mouth, a look at the Audi robot mode, Optimus reeling (cause cool if tragic to see), and what might be Megatron's lower left leg and right knee near Sam.

Thanks to all the site readers for links and info.

Updates: Be sure to re-check the above as have added screenshots, adjusted text, added links to HD downloads and screenshot galleries found on the web.

Possible Arcee Toy Bike?

TF08.net's mod yizhi521 has posted pictures of a blue Autobot bike that could be the robot form or a component of that form for the Arcee for Transformers 2. The current rumor is that Arcee is the merge of three different bikes colored blue, pink and purple that was custom made by RetroSBK. This idea has not been verified but is supported by the three identical dressed biker women seen on the Bethlehem set and also footage posted by Wal-Mart of the ladies on their respective bikes.

None of this is proof that the bike is Arcee. It could just be another miscellaneous character tossed in to the Transformers 2 toy line much like Depthcharge and Ransack probably are. It is interesting that I don't see any obvious hands and arms for the character however the there isn't a real transformation in the pictures. If the bike is one of three, that head sure is small. As usual, it's going to come down to more toy leaks, hopefully one in its proper packaging.