Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight

Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 4:21am CDT

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A final final update on Akiva Goldsman's writers' room for the Paramount Transformers cinematic Universe comes once more from Deadline, reporting the addition of another writer to the pool: Steven DeKnight, creator of the Spartacus TV series, and showrunner for the recent Marvel Daredevil.

There are also misreadings being posted online claiming that we are about to see at least ten new Transformers films. According to the interview with Goldsman, which we reported here, and can be found in full on Deadline here, the trust will pitch more or less a script each, making it 12 potential stories that Paramount, Michael Bay and producers can (not will) develop into the continuation of the live-action franchise. But what about you? What would you like to see on the screen? Read through the articles, and let us know your thoughts in the Energon Pub!

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures, Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg and Hasbro started its writers room to hatch Transformers sequels, spinoffs and prequels, and they’ve added the final member of the brain trust. It’s Steven DeKnight, creator of the Starz series Spartacus, and the showrunner on the first season of Marvel’s Daredevil for Netflix.

Credit(s): Deadline

This article was last modified on Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 5:06am CDT

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Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696298)
Posted by King Kuuga on June 9th, 2015 @ 4:50am CDT

Va'al wrote:
MartianSpyGirl1996 wrote:NEWS

At least 12 movies penned for the TFMU
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 0189043094

Yeah, no. Sigh.

Let's get an actual source, shall we..?

It's roundabout, but that Facebook page directed to a TFW article which linked to a Forbes piece which was quoting from the Deadline interview.

So it's linkception, basically.

Va'al wrote:According to the interview with Goldsman, which we reported here, and can be found in full on Deadline 0http://deadline.com/2015/06/transformers-akiva-goldsman-writers-room-michael-bay-paramount-1201438017/here, the trust will pitch more or less a script each, making it 12 potential stories that Paramount, Michael Bay and producers can (not will) develop into the continuation of the live-action franchise.

Also, Va'al, you bungled the code a bit here. Friendly heads-up.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696304)
Posted by Va'al on June 9th, 2015 @ 5:09am CDT

Yep, fixed, thanks.

And yes, that Forbes piece (opinion based on the Deadline article) was a little misleading, as the entire TFverse in movie sites have picked it up as TEN NEW FILMS. I knew I'd seen those words by Goldsman before, I'm glad I triple checked before posting that SIXTEEN NEW FILMS will be coming out.

But hey, now the internet is abuzz, and I'll keep getting notifications of the TWENTYSEVEN NEW FILMS.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696360)
Posted by Noideaforaname on June 9th, 2015 @ 9:02am CDT

Forbes is totally legit, guys! They only post quality news!

But really, thanks for not jumping on the ELEVENTY NEW MOVIES bandwagon, Va'al/Seibertron.

reminds me of when a certain other site reported "Beast Hunters" as a confirmed Beast Wars sequel

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696366)
Posted by joevill on June 9th, 2015 @ 9:16am CDT

I want to see a live action remake of the original movie.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696443)
Posted by Deadput on June 9th, 2015 @ 12:42pm CDT

joevill wrote:I want to see a live action remake of the original movie.

Why?

It would be boring to make the same thing but in live action and would probably be worse then the original (admit it the movie turned boring after Optimus died and they left Earth)

An HD remaster would be good just redo the animation into modern Animation and maybe add in some scenes that got in cut such as Mirage and Red Alert's death (Not like we ever saw them again after the movie)

Wouldn't have to change the story or the audio.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696541)
Posted by Optimum Supreme on June 9th, 2015 @ 5:39pm CDT

mirageandjazz1197 wrote: redo the animation

Why?

That'd be several orders of magnitude less worthwhile than redoing it as cgi/live.

I'm not saying I want to see them do a total shot for shot remake or anything, but I would definitely be interested in seeing them adapt that story for the liveverse somehow.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696610)
Posted by Convoy on June 9th, 2015 @ 10:17pm CDT

How many writers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

I could actually envision Hollywood remaking TF:TM.
Live action could be neat if everything wasn't Bayversified. They could almost even use all the original voices and SFX.
Pinch every penny.
I would only hope it was an adaptation of the comic of the movie.
Didn't Inception make money?

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1696659)
Posted by Sabrblade on June 10th, 2015 @ 1:22am CDT

To be honest, I don't want Unicron to be in these movies since, with as unfair as these films have already been in the portrayal of the TFs in proportion to their more seemingly favoritism-based portrayals of the humans (as a means to appeal to the general masses over just the fans), I really don't feel that these films could do him any proper justice.

At best, they'd just make him be a giant, mindless monster, moreso than most of the Decepticons have all been, what with these films being human-focused above all else. So I say better to leave him out than to do him unjustly. Otherwise, we'd probably get something like Mark Wahlberg being the one who either defeats him or holds the key to defeating him. As if Unicron being beaten by germs wasn't already humiliating enough.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1710855)
Posted by Prime Riblet on July 18th, 2015 @ 5:29pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:To be honest, I don't want Unicron to be in these movies since, with as unfair as these films have already been in the portrayal of the TFs in proportion to their more seemingly favoritism-based portrayals of the humans (as a means to appeal to the general masses over just the fans), I really don't feel that these films could do him any proper justice.

At best, they'd just make him be a giant, mindless monster, moreso than most of the Decepticons have all been, what with these films being human-focused above all else. So I say better to leave him out than to do him unjustly. Otherwise, we'd probably get something like Mark Wahlberg being the one who either defeats him or holds the key to defeating him. As if Unicron being beaten by germs wasn't already humiliating enough.

I think you are right. As we get more films, the quality has continued downward, and I would prefer no more cool characters get the treatment Transformers received in the last 3 films, especially DotM and AoE. I have always been undecided whether I think the films are a good or bad thing overall, but my knee-jerk reaction to the idea of MORE characters I grew up with getting written into the current film universe makes me cringe. I have had enough. I really don't care what they decide to do from here on out. I won't support it by going to a cinema or buying toys based on the movieverse.

I also agree with what Burn and others said earlier. Expanding into spin-offs and more sequels will fail. Marvel spent a ton of time, money and thought making their system work, and it has paid off brilliantly. I don't think it is perfect, but their success is something that will NEVER be achieved by Paramount with the Transformers franchise.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1710863)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on July 18th, 2015 @ 5:42pm CDT

If Bay's anywhere involved....Unicron won't be in it! Although I'd love them to get the Combiners right! instead of that apelike Devastator! maybe have Metroplex, Trypticon, Omega Supreme, Grandus ect in it. AGAIN.....If Bay's anywhere involved....then obviously those characters won't appear...& expect more apelike gestalts

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1710881)
Posted by MartianSpyGirl1996 on July 18th, 2015 @ 6:03pm CDT

Whether it would be a good or bad film, I'd love a Beast Wars adaption regardless of if the characters are slandered

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1710893)
Posted by SlyTF1 on July 18th, 2015 @ 6:18pm CDT

Stuartmaximus wrote:If Bay's anywhere involved....Unicron won't be in it! Although I'd love them to get the Combiners right! instead of that apelike Devastator! maybe have Metroplex, Trypticon, Omega Supreme, Grandus ect in it. AGAIN.....If Bay's anywhere involved....then obviously those characters won't appear...& expect more apelike gestalts

Wrong. Bay wanted Metroplex and Tidal Wave in ROTF. Spielberg is the one who told him not to, because the budget would be too high.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1710899)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on July 18th, 2015 @ 6:31pm CDT

SlyTF1 wrote:
Stuartmaximus wrote:If Bay's anywhere involved....Unicron won't be in it! Although I'd love them to get the Combiners right! instead of that apelike Devastator! maybe have Metroplex, Trypticon, Omega Supreme, Grandus ect in it. AGAIN.....If Bay's anywhere involved....then obviously those characters won't appear...& expect more apelike gestalts

Wrong. Bay wanted Metroplex and Tidal Wave in ROTF. Spielberg is the one who told him not to, because the budget would be too high.

In the videogame of the first Bay TF movie....Metroplex was the name of the shopping mall, dunno if that would've been the same with the film, there was some concept art of an aircraft carrier TF....I guess that would've been Tidal Wave.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1710999)
Posted by SlyTF1 on July 18th, 2015 @ 11:11pm CDT

Stuartmaximus wrote:
SlyTF1 wrote:
Stuartmaximus wrote:If Bay's anywhere involved....Unicron won't be in it! Although I'd love them to get the Combiners right! instead of that apelike Devastator! maybe have Metroplex, Trypticon, Omega Supreme, Grandus ect in it. AGAIN.....If Bay's anywhere involved....then obviously those characters won't appear...& expect more apelike gestalts

Wrong. Bay wanted Metroplex and Tidal Wave in ROTF. Spielberg is the one who told him not to, because the budget would be too high.

In the videogame of the first Bay TF movie....Metroplex was the name of the shopping mall, dunno if that would've been the same with the film, there was some concept art of an aircraft carrier TF....I guess that would've been Tidal Wave.

He was probably going to be the military base NEST operated in for most of the movie.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1712602)
Posted by RAR on July 23rd, 2015 @ 8:38pm CDT

I anticipate a Gi Joe Vs Transformers Movie before the end of the decade.

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1713679)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on July 27th, 2015 @ 1:09pm CDT

RAR wrote:I anticipate a Gi Joe Vs Transformers Movie before the end of the decade.

hopefully before even then! as the next TF movie is in 2017

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1714206)
Posted by SlyTF1 on July 29th, 2015 @ 1:18am CDT

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/28/ ... ning-ahead

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1714209)
Posted by Va'al on July 29th, 2015 @ 1:45am CDT

Fellow Seibertron.com user SlyTF1 has alerted us to a new article discussing the goings-on at Paramount, and specifically in the writers room for the extended Transformers universe, as IGN caught up with Daredevil's Steven DeKnight on the current situation with Akiva Goldsman's project, and the surprise visit from Steven Spielberg! Read more below, and head here for the full piece.

Taking a page from how a TV show is run, Paramount assembled a big group of experienced writers to help chart out the future of the Transformers film series, under the guidance of Akiva Goldsman, as the studio looks to build more of an expanded Transformers movie universe. I asked DeKnight what the experience was like taking that TV dynamic and using it in film, and he had an enthusiastic reply.

“It's that wonderful thing where features are now taking a page from television and getting people together to really try and plan things out. It was a wonderful experience. Akiva Goldsman was fantastic and Jeff Pinkner, who's co-writing the fifth [Transformers] movie with him was phenomenal. Zak Penn... It was just a room full of brilliant, funny, amazing people. And we spent two and a half weeks in physically the best writers room I've ever seen in my life. Paramount pulled out all the stops. It was phenomenal! We laughed and joked and told stories and plotted out...”

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1714231)
Posted by Windsweeper on July 29th, 2015 @ 5:31am CDT

Didn't Akiva Goldsman write Batman Forever and Batman & Robin?

How is his involvement a good thing? Bad enough Bay is still around

Re: Paramount Transformers Universe Writers' Room Adds Steven DeKnight (1714366)
Posted by Madeus Prime on July 29th, 2015 @ 3:52pm CDT