TF2 Laserbeak Toy?

TFW2005 has posted a gallery (pics below) of what the site theorizes could be the toy design for Laserbeak in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. A secondary theory is it’s the RC toy/TF that the call sheets mentioned. One last theory is the toy is Dead End, who in the original G1 series was a Decepticon Stunticon who formed the gestalt Menasor.

The line-up of Decepticons for the movie remains largely unknown and the Laserbeak theory seems based on the idea that where there is Soundwave, his minion must follow. Now how it was reached that this picture is Laserbeak I don't know. I guess because of the avian look to the head. The RC theory is probably based on the unfamiliar car mode not based on any known GM vehicle. Dead End theory seems just as possible but if looks is the only clue, the G1 toy was based on a Porche 928 which looks nothing like the alt mode of the toy. The closest G1 Transformer that I can think of that matches the toy is Lightspeed (pic), a member of the Autobot Technobots who formed the gestalt Computron.

Ultimately with so little information, what the toy could be is anyone's guess. The head and design makes me think "TF movie" rather then animated toy line. I almost want to call it one of the "decoy" TFs (based on the video games) that Hasbro released but those toys never had a real face while this one does. It could however be an extension of that idea, where the decoys simply have more detail.

Tyrese Shoots Down Rumor

Tyrese Gibson briefly talks Transformers and Fast and Furious 4 with HollywoodScoop.com. Most of the interview is in regards to his casting in the F&F4. Towards the end he comments on a supposed rumor that his character, Sergeant Epps dies (that rumor is news to me), "Killed? No, no impossible. Impossible. I am too sexy to die." So there you go a rumor no one but the interviewer heard about shot down by the man himself. Yep it’s a slow news day.

No Trailer This Year?

In a post on his forums, Don Murphy provided an update on several of his projects and commented on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The part of his posts that contain information is in regards to the marketing for the sequel where he says "we're kind of trying to follow the Pirates of Caribbean model, that is, no publicity for as long as possible, since the sequel will have enormous attention no matter what we do." This seems to indicate that no trailer will come out until some time next year.

Personally I think it’s a mistake. Do fans know about the movie? Sure. Does john q average movie goer? Nope not even close. Even people wearing Transformers shirts that seem semi-Internet savvy are surprised when I tell them the sequel is coming out next year. Internet knowledge does not equal common knowledge. The Pirates model was based on two movies coming out less then six months apart. When the sequel is your advertising for the next movie you don't have to engage in aggressive selling. Transformers came out over a year and half ago. It simply doesn't have the same popularity that Pirates had (like it or not). They are comparing apples to oranges and don't seem to know it.

I thought the marketing for the first movie to have been handled perfectly. Enough information and trailers to keep people interested but no so much that people get sick of hearing about it. Nothing worse then seeing a trailer so often you lose interest in the movie itself. However, its better most people know about your movie then not enough and right now I don't think there is a critical mass that is aware a sequel is coming. The way I see it, if ET or AICN do not suddenly get an "exclusive" by Wednesday, there will be no Transformers 2 trailer until February or March of next year.

First Look at TF2's Ravage and Megatron

"Sylar" has provided the below image that is reported to be the design of beast mode design of Ravage and robot mode of Megatron for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The anonymous source reports that Optimus, Bumblebee, Starscream and Ironhide remain essentially the same.

Ravage's beast mode seems to be a revised draft of the image that was released a little over a month ago that reported that Soundwave's alt mode was a truck (that part denied). As for Megatron, his robot mode does seem to match with the reported tank alt mode.

The image has been photoshopped to increase the size of the original image and remove the background. Pretty bad ass alt mode for Ravage that looks incredibly dangerous. I assume the character would be like Scorpinok. Probably has a robot mode, just doesn’t use it. Megatron looks a lot more compact then his design from the first movie; I wonder where the tank turret went. Click the image for a larger view.


Thanks to "Sylar" for the image.

Something to Fill Trailer Hunger

We all want a trailer, yet so far there is no proven news on the trailer. So how about a fantastic fan made trailer from two years ago reformatted for YouTube's new widescreen look with commentary. Jester and Jolin (TF artwork extraordinaire) created a trailer for the first movie that was a direct nod to the 1984 generation one cartoons. Their work went on to win the "Fanaticon" contest that Yahoo! Movies held which led to a trip to Industrial Light and Magic. To see some cool pictures from ILM that they took click here. Below are the various trailers, videos and what not from Jester and Jolin have put together. Click the title link above the video if want to see it at YouTube's larger default size.

Transformers Teaser Trailer


Transformers Trailer II


Don Murphy Spammies Intro


Transformers Director - Fanaticon Winning Entry


Trailer FX Breakdown


Update: Added a link to pictures from the ILM tour and modified the embed code so the movies above will be in HD from instructions Jester provided.

Goldner CEO of the Year

Congratulations to Brian Goldner. Marketwatch has declared the Hasbro CEO its "CEO of the Year". Sure not big deal to us cause we are not CEOs but I am sure he was popping champagne. So why post about it?



Because "The Transformer" helped negotiate the deal that brought Transformers (and GI Joe) to the big screen and it’s nice to see Transformers grow from about a two foot space on store shelves to somewhere around 4 to 8 feet in most stores. I still remember the G1 days when TF toys nearly took up half an aisle in those pretty boxes (sigh) so its nice to see growth back to its hey day.

Reshoot, Trailer Rumors

Two pieces of unconfirmed news regarding Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. One is a reshoot at Edwards Air Force Base and another involves the trailer.

From "KevKev", who found the article in the November 28th edition of his local newspaper, The Antelope Valley Press, and transcribed it for the website.

Transformers' return to Edwards

The Autobots and the Decepticons rolled out to the Antelope Valley last week, returning to Edwards Air Force Base.

A production crew for the sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" was spotted Nov. 19 at the base, and appeared to be settling in for the remainder of the week. No other details were available as of press time.

The second "Transformers" project was last seen in the AV in September at the Service Rock Quarry, at Palmdale Boulevard and 75th Street East.

The production previously filmed at the quarry for about a week in mid-August, staging an action sequence featuring a helicopter, pyrotechnic explosions, wind machines, debris and gunfire. A crew spent about a month prepping at the site.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" also filmed in July at Edwards Air Force Base. Several fan Web sites have posted pictures online allegedly taken the last time the crew visited the base.

They showed Autobot chief Optimus Prime being loaded onto a trailer, a couple of shiny silver sports cars and an assortment of other vehicles arranged outside a large hanger

If a reshoot occurred, chances are its second unit work that didn't involve Bay or the principle cast and is simply being used to fill out shots that the editing process determined was needed.

In regards to the potential trailer, Cody reports that someone he knows involved with Transformers 2 said they are "90% sure" that the trailer will premiere with The Day The Earth Stood Still which comes out December 12th. They also said the trailer was "finished about a month ago".

Considering that the trailer for Wolverine is debuting with TDTESS, it seems that there is an expectation that the movie will have a demographic that TF2 advertising would be aiming for. It’s also the last big budget popcorn movie of the year so last chance to get the most eyeballs aware that the sequel is coming before year end. After that, it seems to me that the next opportunity will not be until Watchmen in March. After Watchmen, the final theatrical trailer will premiere with Star Trek, no surprise since both are Paramount productions.

Thanks to KevKev and Cody for the information.

Update: Added the name of the newspaper and the date KevKev found the article. I tried to find it on their website but apparently a lot of what they print isn't mirrored on newspaper's site.