The Energon Pub

[ZeroWolf]

There's also a possibility that he leads her to that name, still don't think it's anything to panic over in the slightest.

[TulioDude]

Do you guys imagine if Shatter gets a nice characterization,she will be become a regular Decepticon in other media like Armada Demolisher and Movie Blackout and Barricade?

[william-james88]

I will admit, for a film where the marketting is about this being more G1 than anything before (the director having grown up with G1, BB beign a volkswagon, it taking place in the 80s), I do find it really odd that a G1 coloured jet transformer wearing a stylized G1 head of Starscream is not starscream. I know marketting people can be real dumb but this strikes me as an odd choice and I dont kow why they made it. They knew it would be a talking point, and the shot was chosen for the trailer so I am just puzzled as to the point of making us think one way and revealing something left field.

I dont really care about the end product since I am watching this for the film itself, but its still an odd decision in how this jet's identity has been handled.

[Va'al]

I will admit, for a film where the marketting is about this being more G1 than anything before (the director having grown up with G1, BB beign a volkswagon, it taking place in the 80s), I do find it really odd that a G1 coloured jet transformer wearing a stylized G1 head of Starscream is not starscream. I know marketting people can be real dumb but this strikes me as an odd choice and I dont kow why they made it. They knew it would be a talking point, and the shot was chosen for the trailer so I am just puzzled as to the point of making us think one way and revealing something left field.

I dont really care about the end product since I am watching this for the film itself, but its still an odd decision in how this jet's identity has been handled.

Sure.

But also, the character sounds Nothing like Starscream (in the footage we saw), and I think that may have also upset some fans more. Bit of a lose lose situation really.

[ZeroWolf]

Not to mention what happens to him (disposeable villain syndrome...he'll be forgotten by the cast before the end of the second reel).

I do feel a bit bad for the position the film makers are in but then again, they did it knowing how it may go down...wouldn't surprise me if the cons colours are tweaked in the final release so he no longer looks like screamer...seriously they should have just made him him one of the rain makers from the get go.

[william-james88]

Not to mention what happens to him (disposeable villain syndrome...he'll be forgotten by the cast before the end of the second reel).

I do feel a bit bad for the position the film makers are in but then again, they did it knowing how it may go down...wouldn't surprise me if the cons colours are tweaked in the final release so he no longer looks like screamer...seriously they should have just made him him one of the rain makers from the get go.

Agreed, the other two villains are new and dont reference anyone in particular so I dont know why they didnt keep that theme with the jet and just change the colours so that it wouldnt clash with fan expectations.

[Burn]

I will admit, for a film where the marketting is about this being more G1 than anything before (the director having grown up with G1, BB beign a volkswagon, it taking place in the 80s), I do find it really odd that a G1 coloured jet transformer wearing a stylized G1 head of Starscream is not starscream. I know marketting people can be real dumb but this strikes me as an odd choice and I dont kow why they made it. They knew it would be a talking point, and the shot was chosen for the trailer so I am just puzzled as to the point of making us think one way and revealing something left field.

I dont really care about the end product since I am watching this for the film itself, but its still an odd decision in how this jet's identity has been handled.

Sure.

But also, the character sounds Nothing like Starscream (in the footage we saw), and I think that may have also upset some fans more. Bit of a lose lose situation really.

Fans getting upset about change in a franchise where the main concept is about change? How shocking.

[DedicatedGhostArt]

I will admit, for a film where the marketting is about this being more G1 than anything before (the director having grown up with G1, BB beign a volkswagon, it taking place in the 80s), I do find it really odd that a G1 coloured jet transformer wearing a stylized G1 head of Starscream is not starscream. I know marketting people can be real dumb but this strikes me as an odd choice and I dont kow why they made it. They knew it would be a talking point, and the shot was chosen for the trailer so I am just puzzled as to the point of making us think one way and revealing something left field.

I dont really care about the end product since I am watching this for the film itself, but its still an odd decision in how this jet's identity has been handled.

Sure.

But also, the character sounds Nothing like Starscream (in the footage we saw), and I think that may have also upset some fans more. Bit of a lose lose situation really.

Fans getting upset about change in a franchise where the main concept is about change? How shocking.

It's not the change. It's that they used a fan favorite design and called it a different character. And honestly, I'm a bit miffed about it.

[Burn]

I will admit, for a film where the marketting is about this being more G1 than anything before (the director having grown up with G1, BB beign a volkswagon, it taking place in the 80s), I do find it really odd that a G1 coloured jet transformer wearing a stylized G1 head of Starscream is not starscream. I know marketting people can be real dumb but this strikes me as an odd choice and I dont kow why they made it. They knew it would be a talking point, and the shot was chosen for the trailer so I am just puzzled as to the point of making us think one way and revealing something left field.

I dont really care about the end product since I am watching this for the film itself, but its still an odd decision in how this jet's identity has been handled.

Sure.

But also, the character sounds Nothing like Starscream (in the footage we saw), and I think that may have also upset some fans more. Bit of a lose lose situation really.

Fans getting upset about change in a franchise where the main concept is about change? How shocking.

It's not the change. It's that they used a fan favorite design and called it a different character. And honestly, I'm a bit miffed about it.

Yeah, they CHANGED the character.

I honestly don't get why people are so upset about it. But then, I honestly don't give a hoot about this movie anyway, and I have 30+ years of other stories I can enjoy anyway.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I'm super stoked for the movie. The cast and Travis Knight keep making it sound better and better.

Honestly, all of you getting all wound up over a name or 2 is ridiculous. For all we know, the jet guy is named Blitzwing but on November 29 of this year, they will change his name to Ramjet. How many false movie leads have we had over 10 years, really.

And come on, the whole thing over Bee's name is ridiculous. The guy is mute, we're gonna see him get his radio trick and probably either get a name, or somehow get Charlie to guess his proper name based on some pointing and hints. It isn't the end of the world.

I'm excited for Shatter and Dropkick. This is what the movies need to be doing: don't copy paste the names, make new ones, create new characters, make your mark on a character who hopefully can get drafted into the wider continuity, like Animated Bulkhead, Lugnut, and Lockdown, or movie Blackout and Barricade, or even RiD Strongarm.

Y'all are ridiculous. Almost on par with the poisonous disaster that is the Star Wars fandom. Grow the Eff up mates. And quit whining, make a peaceful argument, keep the snip and snark in line, and tell us what you really think. And if you did already, I don't wanna read you saying the same thing 10 times in a page. Find something new to say.

Anyways, good looking movie, me likey, me hoping it goes over well. We finally have a Director that cares, so let's give him and Paramount a reason to make more

[Sabrblade]

FWIW, Starscream's voice actor Charlie Adler did confirm awhile back that he's not involved with the Bumblebee movie.

[TulioDude]

FWIW, Starscream's voice actor Charlie Adler did confirm awhile back that he's not involved with the Bumblebee movie.

I get what you are saiyng but its not like they haven't changed voice actors before.
Bumblebee and Megatron are major examples.

[Sabrblade]

FWIW, Starscream's voice actor Charlie Adler did confirm awhile back that he's not involved with the Bumblebee movie.

I get what you are saiyng but its not like they haven't changed voice actors before.
Bumblebee and Megatron are major examples.

Yeah, but Starscream was one of the notable examples in which they kept the same actor consistent for all of his film appearances in spite of the voice changes made to some of his fellows.

[ZeroWolf]

Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens in the film though I'll be waiting for home release as sadly getting to the cinemas is becoming harder and harder for me. I'm getting priced out

[RotorstormNZ]

In TLK, WW2 Bee was named ZB-7 and in the 1960s-set IDW Bee movie prequel comics he is named Bumblebee. Make of that what you will.

I for one think they (whomever was responsible - scriptwriter?) chose the name Blitzwing because it's a pretty cool name, especially for a jet dude.

Yeah, but Starscream was one of the notable examples in which they kept the same actor consistent for all of his film appearances in spite of the voice changes made to some of his fellows.

In fairness, neither Megatron nor Bumblebee changed actor while Charlie played Starscream.

[Va'al]

I don't want to dismiss what people are feeling about this whole switch, but D.max makes a good point about name switches. That said, one of the Hasbro reps (admittedly marketing, so they do their job) said after the panel - as Ryan and I asked about the Blitzwing thing - told us we'd 'see why'.


On another note:

And come on, the whole thing over Bee's name is ridiculous. The guy is mute, we're gonna see him get his radio trick and probably either get a name, or somehow get Charlie to guess his proper name based on some pointing and hints. It isn't the end of the world.

I didn't realise this also got to people! We saw the scene in the footage:

When Bumblebee wakes up as we saw in the trailer, and has the scene with Charlie, she asks him 'what are you' 'what's your name', etc, and he realises he can't speak, and just shakes his head with sad antennae. After a couple of beats, he starts buzzing (the radio part is later in the movie, we got a glimpse of that too), and she says 'You sound like a bumblebee - that's what I'm going to call you' - AND HE PERKS UP aND IT's SO CUTE AND ADORABLE WITH HIS LITTLE ANTENNAE. ahem.

[Sabrblade]

When Bumblebee wakes up as we saw in the trailer, and has the scene with Charlie, she asks him 'what are you' 'what's your name', etc, and he realises he can't speak, and just shakes his head with sad antennae. After a couple of beats, he starts buzzing (the radio part is later in the movie, we got a glimpse of that too), and she says 'You sound like a bumblebee - that's what I'm going to call you' - AND HE PERKS UP aND IT's SO CUTE AND ADORABLE WITH HIS LITTLE ANTENNAE. ahem.

So he DOES lead her to guess his real name? Cool!

[Va'al]

When Bumblebee wakes up as we saw in the trailer, and has the scene with Charlie, she asks him 'what are you' 'what's your name', etc, and he realises he can't speak, and just shakes his head with sad antennae. After a couple of beats, he starts buzzing (the radio part is later in the movie, we got a glimpse of that too), and she says 'You sound like a bumblebee - that's what I'm going to call you' - AND HE PERKS UP aND IT's SO CUTE AND ADORABLE WITH HIS LITTLE ANTENNAE. ahem.

So he DOES lead her to guess his real name? Cool!

That was not entirely clear - he may have had a different name previously (who knows what Paramount had in mind there) but it seemed as though the buzzing wasn't an intentional thing, just the broken voicebox/processor. So don't take my word entirely for it!

[Va'al]

I have been looking forward to this video being ready for some time, and we can finally share it with everyone here on Seibertron.com and beyond: the San Diego Comic Con 2018 Transformers Bumblebee Movie red carpet event interview series! Join Seibertron and Va'al as they provide the nerdiest content yet with all the celebrities present at the event, including the following people and topics:

- Screenwriter Christina Hodson, her history with Transformers, her love for nameless Ravage, the difficulties of a non-speaking character and influences, and wanting to be Starscream for a day.

- Actor Jorge Lendeborg Jr's initiation through McDonald's Happy Meal Transformers toys, his Armada upbringing, the differences with Spider-Man: Homecoming as a story and reference to Shia LaBeouf, his comedy skills in the movie, and his relatable Hot Shot-ness.

- Some media available footage of Hailee Steinfeld, as we were unable to interview her directly, and her experience with the movie and the fans, and the coming of age parallel between the 2007 movie and this one.

- Director Travis Knight's feelings about the movie and story, working with the characters, and interview difficulties, and his penchant for Wheeljack and 'all the waves, but especially Soundwave' - though he'd probably be Optimus Prime.

- Actor John Cena's experience with the movie and carefully worded answers, his potential romantic element, his character's presence and role in the movie, and his need for supersonic flight to move faster in life.

[Va'al]

In Transformers Bumblebee Movie news this week, we have voice of the same trailer that Anglophone audiences worldwide had already seen (check it out again here), but this time in the official Japanese dub - and the same poster featuring the Cybertronian and Charlie Watson, with the Japanese movie title, also just 'Bumblebee'.

The one piece of added news to the story is the release date for the movie, which will be in Spring 2019 rather than the mostly Western release of December 2018. Check it all out below, and follow the official Japanese site for more information as they update.

[Va'al]

Fellow Seibertronian What's Crackin sent us a notification of what appears to be a new poster for the upcoming Transformers Bumblebee Movie, due in cinemas / movie theatres this December 2018. Sourcing it to the UIP Philippines Facebook page and confirmed by others too, the image shows Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) looking up to Bumblebee, who is squatting down to be closer, while both are overlooking the Californian city night lights in the background.

This is not on the same level as previous Paramount ventures with digital image manipulation, but there are still elements of ..not very good work happening, between the stars and the logo positioning and font work. Nonetheless, take a look below!

[What's Crackin'?]

I told you guys I'd give you some news, even if it was like just a poster, that wasn't produced the greatest. Anyway thanks again!

[EvasionModeBumblebee]

New screenshot from Empire!

F969ABAA-7278-4967-930D-12B88418A2EE.jpeg

[Va'al]

Thanks to a news notification from fellow Seibertronian EvasionModeBumblebee, we have a new image from the upcoming Transformers Bumblebee Movie, featuring the titular character himself as he sits quite uncomfortably on a couch!

The image, which is also part of the footage that was shown during the San Diego Comic Con panel, is part of a light-hearted scene where Bumblebee is trying to be gentle and careful in making himself at home in Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld)'s house - and clearly not doing his best job of it. Think the garden scene with the Autobots in the 2007 movie, but ..you know, done well.

Also in Bumblebee movie news, a new still has appeared courtesy of an old source (YouTube user laszlo ven), showing Dropkick and Shatter in their muscle car modes - confirming that in the previously seen shot director Travis Knight was indeed leaning on one of the Decepticons in the movie. Check it out below, and join the buzz!

[Quantum Surge]

"Think of the garden scenen but you know done well"

Gee Va'al, but I can't think it'd be easy for FIVE big robots (and in different sizes no less) that CLEARLY tower over every house in the average neighborhood, to make themseves comfortable in a single house, inside or out.