Surprising news, along with news you may already know, including a little nudge at Astrotrain's role in DOTM
found at
http://www.imdb.comMichael Bay expressed his intention to make Dark of the Moon not necessarily larger than Revenge of the Fallen, but instead to go deeper into the mythos, give it more character development and storytelling, make it darker and more emotional, and focus it more on the characters. Series executive producer and Hasbro head Brian Goldner has explained further about Bay's idea for the storyline, adding that the forthcoming movie will bring the core mythology from the Autobots and Decepticons' history. The plot could involve humans turning against the Autobots as they feel unsafe with their presence. On set, walls were graffitied and bins were covered with the Autobot logo written "Go Home" underneath. Bay has also said that the plot will involve a hidden Transformers role and that there will be a Space Race between the US and USSR
AUTOBOTS
RETURNING AUTOBOTS
Optimus Prime - The Autobot leader that transforms into a Blue Peterbilt 379 Semi truck with red flame decals and now features a Semi-Trailer similar to his G1 roots and will also receive a Jetpack. His weapons include an energy rifle that unveils from his back, two retractable energon blades that extend from both forearms, Ion cannons on both of his arms, as well as two retractable energon hooks on both of his forearms. Optimus has been updated for the third movie, his character is going to look more heroic. It has been rumoured that Prime will combine with his Trailer. Concept art of Optimus here.
Bumblebee - Sam's guardian who turns into a Fifth Generation Chevrolet Camaro. He can transform his right arm into a plasma cannon and has missile launchers in his shoulders. Bumblebee has also gone through some changes, his alternate mode features new body kit and paint job. He was modified to look more mature.
Ironhide - The Autobot Trigger-Happy weapons specialist who transforms into a GMC Topkick. Ironhide possesses weapons that include an energy rocket launcher on his left arm, a plasma rocket launcher on his right arm, with a super gatling gun connected around the outside of the right forearm plasma rocket launcher. He has also received a Machine Gun.
Ratchet - The Autobot medic who transforms into a Green/Grey search and rescue Hummer H2. His weapons include a Cybertronian rotary saw that emerges from his left arm and can transform his right and left arm into a medigun. Ratchet also had some modifications done to his alt mode, he has been painted green and grey. He was yellow in the previous two movies.
Sideswipe - The Autobot Combat Instructor who has now upgraded into a Silver Chevrolet Corvette Centennial Convertible. An expert fighter with his swords and tries to get in close with his opponents. He is armed with two retractable Cybertanium arm blades in robot mode, along with a double barreled machine gun on each of his wrists and a gun on his back. Sideswipe was previously a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept in the last movie.
Wheelie - A Blue Radio-Controlled Toy Monster Truck. He originally worked for the Decepticons because he was afraid of them in the last film, but then joined the Autobots.
NEW AUTOBOTS
Sentinel Prime - A Descendant of the Dynasty of Primes who turns into a Red/Black Rosenbauer Panther Fire Truck. He is a Mentor, Brother and Predecessor of Optimus Prime and is armed with a shield and lance in robot mode. He is briefly mentioned in the rambling speech given by Sam Witwicky while under an All Spark fragment-induced trance in ROTF. Sentinel Prime is seen as the Autobot in stasis on the Ark and appeared to come to life in the teaser trailer. Sentinel Prime in his Cybertron mode here. SPOILER
he kills ironhideDino - A Red Ferrari 458 Italia. Originally meant to be called Mirage until it was changed in late post-production. He still appears named Mirage in comics, books, toys and the video game. He is said to have an Italian accent. He appears to sport black Mantis like blades and his weapons includes a dart rifle, electro-disrupter and has the ability to create holograms and turn himself invisible.
Que - The Autobot Scientist who transforms into a Blue Mercedes-Benz W212. Originally meant to be called Wheeljack until it was changed in late post-production. He still appears named Wheeljack in comics and books. His Robot form looks similar to Albert Einstein.
*THE WRECKERS* - An Autobot Sub Team that function as a group of Mechanics helping Epps rebuild an Autobot spaceship called Xantium. The Wreckers consist of three members who transform into modified NASCAR Chevrolet Impala stock cars equipped with machine guns and armed to the teeth. They're often called in to fight when the odds of success are slim. The Members of The Wreckers are:
Leadfoot - A Red #42 Juan Pablo Montoya NASCAR Target Chevrolet Impala. He is Armed with laser guided missiles, jet boosters, 6 barrel 7.62mm minigun and 30 caliber machine guns.
Roadbuster - A Green #88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. NASCAR AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet Impala. His weaponry includes a 30 caliber machine gun, 6'' barrel 7.62mm minigun, and missile pods.
Topspin - A Blue #48 Jimmie Johnson NASCAR Lowe's/Kobalt Chevrolet Impala. He is eqipped with a 50 caliber machine gun and a flame thrower.
Brains - A small and intelligent Autobot who has also designed Sam's grapple gun glove. In IDW comics he was a brain unit, who escaped from Shockwave and Astrotrain. And then found Sam and Bumblebee and befriended with Wheelie.
NOTE: A number of Dead Autobots were seen in the trailer, their remains along with Sentinel Prime were seen on the Ark.
Skids and Mudflap were originally meant to be in this film until Nelson informed them being removed in the final cut.
James Avery was reported to be voicing Silverbolt in this film. But there's nothing else is confirmed about Silverbolt's appearance.
DECEPTICONS
RETURNING DECEPTICONS
Megatron - The Decepticon leader that has now Downgraded himself into a Armored Rusty Mack Titan 10-wheeler Tank Truck equipped with Heavy Weaponry and a tarp which may be used as a cape in robot form to hide half of his face that was torn apart by Optimus in the end of the last movie. He has been described as the demented version of Optimus Prime's vehicle mode, and somewhat like Two-Face from the Batman series thanks to Optimus in Revenge of the Fallen. He is hiding in the Africa, nursing his wounds of vainly hiding his pulverized visage in Africa while plotting his revenge.
Starscream - The Decepticon second in command and air commander who transforms into an F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet. His arms store heavy weaponry, with a missile launcher carrying six missiles in both arms, a saw in his right arm, and a high caliber machine gun. He also has the ability to leap great heights into the air and take flight using the jet's powerful main engines on his back.
Soundwave - Megatron's communications officer that now turns into a Silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. It seems that Soundwave will in be participating battles on earth, in the last movie, he was in space the whole time.
NEW DECEPTICONS
Shockwave - The Decepticon scientist and the movies main villain that turns into a Cybertronian Tank. Though Shockwave did not appear in the last movie, he is briefly seen on the front page of a newspaper that is hanging from the pipe in the scene where Devastator is trying to suck up the twins. At some point during 2009, Shockwave was caught on film and the event was written up for a newspaper article. A newspaper page with the headline "Mysterious Robot Spotted" was discarded in Egypt, where it was sucked up by a rampaging Devastator. Shockwave has been imprisoned underneath Chernobyl for years and is now seeking revenge from his captors and enemies. .
Driller - A subterranean tentacle-beast lifeform native to Cybertron and some of the single most dangerous creatures on or under the planet's surface. Shockwave keeps one as a pet, and is seen wrapping itself around a building in which Sam is in.
Laserbeak - Soundwave's minion that resembles a Giant Mechanical Condor. Transforms into a Black Computer/Copy machine. He was seen flying in mid-air towards Simmons's limousine during the Superbowl TV spot, presumably going to attack it.
*THE DREADS* - Three Decepticon assasins and infiltrators that transform into Chevrolet Suburban Emergency Vehicles. Two of them were spotted in the trailer crashing into and fighting Ironhide. The mebmbers of the Dreads are:
Crankcase - Leader of the Dreads and the only one who is indicated transform into a Suburban in toyline.
Hatchet - A Dread with an animal-like robot mode. Indicated to transform into a jet in toyline.
Crowbar - Indicated to transform into a Carbon Motors E7 police car in toyline.
? - A Superfund Armored Truck. It has been reported that this Decepticon will be involved in a bank robbery scene. His name has not been identified yet.
Deep Desert Brawl - A Decepticon whose Design is similar to Brawl from the first movie, the only difference is that his colour scheme is brown. Spotted in the trailer participating in the Chicago battle. It is possible he could be based on Deep Desert Brawl from the toyline. He has the same weapons and armory of Brawl. Seeing how he resembles him, it is possible his alternate mode is a M1 Abrams Battle Tank.
Long Haul - A Decepticon that looks exactly like Long Haul spotted in the trailer participating in the Chicage battle. Seeing as how he looks like Long Haul, his form could be a Green Caterpillar 773B Dump Truck. Artwork of this Decepticon here.
Unknown Sideways Clone - A Decepticon that looks similar to Sideways. Spotted in the trailer participating in the Chicago Battle. He is impaled and presumably killed by Optimus.
Decepticon Protoform Soldiers - Decepticon Clones that have no alternate modes. There facial designs have been changed. Spotted in the Trailer shooting at the Autobots. A number of unknown Protoforms were killed in the Chicago Battle.
