Transformers Movie Related News on Seibertron.com

BUMBLEBEE name secured at last?

Date: Tuesday, August 9th 2005 10:47am CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Movie Related News, Toy News, Rumors
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Prime Nova

Permanent Link
Views: 60,685

According to Prime Nova, one of our fellow Seibertronians, "Hasbro has finally secured the rights to the name Bumblebee!

"Minicon Sparkplug will be released under that name in the first or second wave of Minicon Battle Packs to secure the name on store shelves. Hasbro is also looking into releasing the G1 toy somewhere. I'm told there are also designs for TWO new Bumblebee toys as well. One for the Alternators and a second for the tail end of Cybertron.

"I think they're serious about keeping the name this time. :)"

Thanks for the information Prime Nova! Keep the rumors coming!!!

---

EDIT BY SEIBERTRON:

Thanks to Nevermore, we've found out that there's some additional information regarding whether or not "BUMBLEBEE" is an official name. Apparently this has been part of some long standing debates at the other TF sites.

Some information from the United States Patent and Trademark Office:
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=76634431

A thread has been started at Transfandom.com by Aerosurge regarding this back on July 20th, 2005: http://forums.transfandom.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=30197 and a thread was started by Nevermore at TFArchive.com back on April 7th, 2005: http://www.tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29877.

The reason this is in the Sludge Report and not in the News section is because it's a rumor - plain and simple. Please keep that in mind when reading this page. When Hasbro or the Government says "no dice" on this name or someone says the name can apply to our favorite yellow Autobot, then it's news. Until then, it's a rumor which has been posted purely for entertainment purposes. Please remember that a rumor is a piece of unverified information to which we make no claim to the validity of this information. Is this information about the "Bumblebee" name fact or fiction? We provide this entertaining rumor so that YOU can decide ...

Since the writers have included Bumblebee in the story for the 2007 Transformers movie from Dreamworks, I don't doubt for a moment that Hasbro and/or Dreamworks are actively trying to secure this name especially if Volkswagen happens to come around and decide that they'd like the Beetle (new or old) featured in the movie. If they want the name "bumblebee" badly enough, Hasbro and Dreamworks might just get it. Just about anything's possible when money is involved.

Keep your fingers crossed ... we might just yet have a BUMBLEBEE once again just around the corner.

Movie News: Original G1 Voice Actors Unlikley for New Movie

Date: Monday, July 25th 2005 8:50am CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Movie Related News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): TFW2005

Permanent Link
Views: 33,033

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, a producer on the forthcoming Transformers Live Action Movie has has told The Movie Reporter it is unlikley original voice actors from the G1 cartoon series will reprise thier roles in the new movie:

No, I don't believe that is going to happen, I don't know why you would want the original voice over actors. Here you go, this is going to be the process, we are going to meet a lot of people for the voice over's and those guy's might end up being it but making the assumption going in [that the original actors will be used] is I think kind of silly actually. I think people want the best actors to do it. The best Optimus Prime and the best you know, all these characters, you know you want , hmm, I understand I grew up with them too, so you want to be true to characters. I think what's important is being true to them. I don't think being true to them means in literally using the same voice over actors. Some of those guys are TV cartoon guy's. I want get better characters if we can. Some of them might be able to do that and some may not, I am sure that they will get the opportunity.

See the entire interview here at IESB.net

Some small information about movie sketches ...

Date: Wednesday, July 20th 2005 10:41am CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Rumors
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Hayden

Permanent Link
Views: 29,544

I'm not sure that we really gain much from this message from one of this site's long time visitors, Hayden, but it makes for a very interesting read nonetheless. I wasn't sure where to place this info so I decided to put it in the Rumors section for now.

Hi there. I am a long time reader, but first time poster to this site.

I have a bit of interesting news from inside the halls of Dreamworks. My friend works there and actually got his hands on the first set of sketch books for both the Autobots and Decepticons. He said there were DVDs with the books too but he wasn't able to see those. He made the comment that the first sketches look a bit different than the original look from G1. He made the comment that they look much more moderized, and have a terminator style look. Again he pointed out the sketches were the first ones and only concepts.

He also did mention though that while he heard the original script only called for about 4 Autobots (Prime, Bumble, Jazz, Ratchet) there was a "pink" colored autobot character that he forgot the name of in the sketches that looked "chick" like. However he also said that ALL the robots would be non gender specific anyway. So Im not sure what that all means.

Anyway, [my friend] is a good guy and I trust what he says. Much of this info is probably not a big deal, but I just thought it was interesting that he said the first set of sketches were done [and] on their way over to the execs very soon!

Hope you find the info as interesting as I did!

Thanks for sharing this information with us Hayden and thanks for continuing to be a visitor of SEIBERTRON.com!

SDCC Optimus Primes Number Plate is Stolen!

Date: Thursday, July 14th 2005 11:01pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Event News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): Atomsk, SKowl

Permanent Link
Views: 30,253

Its not all good news at the San Diego Comic Con, it appears that some unscrupulous fellow has swiped the number plate reading 'PRIME-1' from the large red transport truck OPTIMUS PRIME parked on the conventions floor to promote the forthcoming movie! A reward is being offered for it safe return by the movie makers Dreamworks.
Read the messageboad post posted by Admin member Prime here and the new story here at the official Movie and Comic Con Website TransformersLive.com

New Transformers Movie forum @ The Energon Pub

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 11:24pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Movie Related News
Posted by: Seibertron

Permanent Link
Views: 21,303

Hey everyone! I added a new forum to the popular Energon Pub message board tonight. Due to all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming movie and with Dreamworks doing some fun promotional stuff regarding the movie, I thought now was as good a time as any to launch the all new Transformers The Movie (from Dreamworks) Forum forum at the Energon Pub. If you want to talk about the Movie, who should voice your favorite characters, talk about the movies that the TF Movie staff has already worked on, or anything else related to the Dreamworks Transformers movie, visit the all-new Transformers The Movie (from Dreamworks) Forum today!

SHOCKWAVE to be in Dreamworks' Transformers The Movie?

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 5:50pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Rumors
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): ComingSoon.net

Permanent Link
Views: 29,963

Amidst all of the other Transformers news that occured today, I wanted to make sure that the first reference of SHOCKWAVE being in the movie wasn't overlooked. Ol' one eyes certainly deserves his time in the spotlight. This might actually make sense why we've seen a couple other Shockwaves (Shockblast, Laserwave - whatever name you want to use) appear as toys in the past year.

Here's the specific quote from

You can read the full article ComingSoon.net.

Today's "most uncomfortable" quote of the day:

"The first question you have to ask yourself is what's the movie? We sat down with Steven Spielberg, and we said that the action scenes in this movie are a given, but he said that that it's the story of a boy and his car and that he wants to bring back the old Amblin movies. It's 'Back to the Future'…great! We're in! It's a real challenge, because the key to making those movies work--and I totally think it's why 'War of the Worlds' works so well--is to be so invested in the people and to maintain the subjectivity of the humans. If you start 'Transformers' with giant robots sitting in a spaceship flying through space, your movie is dead in the water. It's all about keeping it at a human level, and seeing the amazing things that are going on through the eyes of the characters."

Hopefully this will be clarified so we all don't freak out for the next 2 years. I'm sure the movie is in good hands.

Other related links:

JoBlo.com Movie News: Transformers/MI:3 news

Hasbro's Transformers Comic Con Q&A

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 5:30pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Event News
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Hasbro

Permanent Link
Views: 22,216

Transformers.com released a Q&A regarding the massive Transformers presence at this weekend's San Diego Comic Con in California. Their Q&A answers a lot of questions from what they'll be showing at Comic Con (including new Alternators), whether or not the new Transformers will be for sale at the Comic Con, what's up with the Dreamworks movie and finally an official date for the Burger King Transformers promotion which begins August 8th. Check out the full Q&A here at transformers.com.

Dreamworks' Transformers Movie website now online!!!

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 5:18pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Raymond T, Transformers.com

Permanent Link
Views: 19,390

The new official Transformers Movie website has launched! It looks like this will the place where Dreamworks will release new information regarding the movie. While it looks like there are a couple of things that need to be ironed out, there's already a working message board, an articles section for press releases or information about the website, production notes, as well as an official movie blog. You can check it all out here at http://www.transformerslive.com

Red Transport Truck OPTIMUS PRIME at San Diego Comic Con to promote Dreamworks Transformers Movie

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 11:22am CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Event News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): GalacticHunter.com, Transfandom.com

Permanent Link
Views: 23,397

Thanks to Transfandom.com for letting the fandom know that GalacticHunter.com has posted several images of San Diego Comic Con as it is being set up. One particular image depicts a curiuos covered Red Transport Truck with advertising for the movie on the side. Wonder who that might be??
The rest of the gallery can be see here.

Transformers.com updated with NEW movie release date - JULY 4TH, 2007!

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 9:06am CDT
Category: Movie Related News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): Transformers.com, Slamdance, Scorp

Permanent Link
Views: 28,629

As metioned yesterday Transfomers.com has been updated today with a big Announcement concerning the forthcoming Transformers Live Action Movie. The new comes in the form of a Comic Con Q&A and a Movie News Article giving details of the Deamworks film. Both news items announce the Movie will get its US release on July 4th 2007!

NOTE: The tentative release date for the Transformers movie does not coincide with the release date of Spider-Man 3. Spider-Man 3 is set to be released on May 4th, 2007, according to the official Spider-Man 3 website.


TRANSFORMERS WILL BE MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE AT THEATRES NATIONWIDE ON 07-04-07

The live-action “Transformers” movie has been set to open nationwide on 07-04-07, it was jointly announced today by DreamWorks Pictures, Hasbro, Inc.
(NYSE: HAS), and Paramount Pictures.

The feature, based on the globally popular Transformers franchise, will be directed by Michael Bay (upcoming “The Island,” “Armageddon”) from a screenplay being written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (upcoming “The Island”). Steven Spielberg (“War of the Worlds”) is executive producing the film, with Lorenzo di Bonaventura (upcoming “Four Brothers”), Tom DeSanto (“X-Men” and “X2: X-Men United”) and Don Murphy (“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) serving as co-executive producers.

In making the announcement, DreamWorks head of distribution Jim Tharp stated, “Under the direction of Michael Bay, and with Steven Spielberg executive producing, we know that ‘Transformers’ is going to be the kind of explosive action movie that is perfect for the height of the summer movie season. By staking our claim on the 4th of July, 2007, we ensure that we not only have the time to make this movie the way it should be made, but also to build excitement and awareness leading up to its release.”

“Fans around the world have wanted a Transformers live-action movie for a long time and we are thrilled to work with DreamWorks and Paramount to bring this legendary saga to life on the big screen,” said Brian Goldner, President of Hasbro’s U.S. Toy segment. “With some of the entertainment industry’s best talent on board for this film, fans will experience Transformers in a way that is incredibly powerful.”

DreamWorks will distribute the film domestically, while Paramount will handle the international release. Hasbro will work with the production team and DreamWorks on all aspects of the film’s creative development, marketing and promotions, and will manage merchandising in conjunction with the release of the film.

This week, DreamWorks is launching the official “Transformers” movie website (www.transformers.com) at Comic-Con International, being held from July 13 – 17 in San Diego, California. “Transformers” will also be making its presence known in a big way, with a huge 18-wheeler truck sporting the instantly recognizable Transformers logo dominating the area around the DreamWorks booth—and much of the convention floor—letting thousands of fans know that “Transformers” is coming to the big screen on 07-04-07.

Introduced in 1984, the Transformers brand took the world by storm with its compelling saga of the Autobots versus the Decepticons. The innovative “Robots in Disguise” resulted in a tremendously successful toy line from Hasbro and Takara, comic book series, television program and an animated feature film. More than 20 years later, a new generation has discovered the excitement of the Transformers brand and its legendary characters, including the two leaders of the opposing sides: Optimus Prime and Megatron. Today, the franchise features a popular toy line, an animated series on the Cartoon Network and a chart-topping comic book series from IDW Publishing.

DreamWorks SKG was formed in October 1994 by its three principal partners—Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. The studio is actively involved in the production of live-action motion pictures and network and cable television programs, and the distribution of live-action and animated feature films, as well as home video entertainment.

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys, such as MONOPOLY and G.I. JOE, ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAB), one of the world’s largest entertainment and media companies and a leader in the production, promotion, and distribution of entertainment news, sports and music.