Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe"

Posted by El Duque Jun 3, 2011 at 9:38am CDT 39,564 views

Movie News Interviews

View Discussion Sign in or Join to reply

L.A. Times' Hero Complex has published an interview with Shia LaBeouf regarding Transformers DOTM naturally. More specifically the article focuses on the new vibe that was brought to the set when Megan Fox was replaced by Rosie Huntington-Whitely. A couple of excerpts are quoted below, to read the rest of the interview click here.

“Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael, who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women,” LaBeouf said. “Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It’s summer. It’s Michael’s style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it.

“Rosie comes with this Victoria’s Secret background, and she’s comfortable with it, so she can get down with Mike’s way of working and it makes the whole set vibe very different,” LaBeouf said.

More Bots. More News. More Awesome.

Blokees Adds Tarn to Action Edition and DOTM Bumblebee and Megatron to Classic Class

1 day 19h ago 7,574 views

Takara Tomy Teases Masterpiece Movie Next Line with MPMN-01 Sideswipe plus MPG Blaster and Twincast

Sep 25, 2025 16,517 views

Transformers Writer Ron Friedman Has Sadly Passed Away

Sep 24, 2025 8,011 views

Paramount’s New Administration Confirms More Transformers Movies are Coming

Aug 15, 2025 34,189 views

Clarifying Michael Bay’s "Return" to Direct a Transformers Film

Aug 13, 2025 24,854 views

Christmas in July- New Transformers Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments have been Released and Available

Jul 17, 2025 11,132 views

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by dinogeist Jun 3, 2011

ODD how megan Fox didn't want to wear any sexy revealing clothes in the TF 2007 & ROTF movie. Also odd how megan didn't want any close up sexy shots. Also odd megan didn't want to play/act as a sex symbol.

IT'S ALL ODD,because in 2 of megan fox's other movies. she played a call girl in JONAX HEX in a overly revealing call girl outfit. then she played a over sex crazed zombie with overly revealing clothes in another movie called "Jennifers body". she even had a lesbian make out scene in "jennifers body" & wore panties & a bra.

To make things ODDER,Megan fox was playing a sex simple role in a syndicated TV show. a similar role to what Christina appelgate played in the "married with childred" TV show.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by Blackstreak Jun 3, 2011

So, Fox is comfortable doing sex scenes in western movies but doesn't like sexy clothes in sci-fi? Ah well, Fox or not I'm still looking forward to this next TF installment.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by SoooTrypticon Jun 3, 2011

Maybe she chose to work on Transformers so she could have a break from doing "Victoria's Secret" style roles. Transformers is supposed to be a family franchise after all.

It's all about tone too. Actors have to trust their directors, especially when they play sex objects like Megan does. If you're going to play roles like that, you hope to work with a director who will treat you with respect and grace, on and OFF camera.

I suspect Bay knows how to do neither.

Also telling is Lebouf's comment that "Now that we have some girl who's used to being nothing but an object of desire for 16 year old boys, (read: "knows her place"), us men can rest easy around the set."

Yes, yes, these films are truly a work of lasting art that deserve money and praise. We should all be proud in supporting them.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by RiddlerJ Jun 3, 2011

"that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality"

Isn't that Megan Fox's entire persona?

Actually, I think this is just the publicity machine trying to say "You thought the girls in the first two movies looked slutty, wait til you see what we do with the girls in this one!"

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by juxtapose519 Jun 3, 2011

If Megan Fox isn't trampy enough for Michael Bay, then that man has some serious issues.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by Sodan-1 Jun 3, 2011

deathy wrote:ODD how megan Fox didn't want to wear any sexy revealing clothes in the TF 2007 & ROTF movie. Also odd how megan didn't want any close up sexy shots. Also odd megan didn't want to play/act as a sex symbol.

IT'S ALL ODD,because in 2 of megan fox's other movies. she played a call girl in JONAX HEX in a overly revealing call girl outfit. then she played a over sex crazed zombie with overly revealing clothes in another movie called "Jennifers body". she even had a lesbian make out scene in "jennifers body" & wore panties & a bra.

To make things ODDER,Megan fox was playing a sex simple role in a syndicated TV show. a similar role to what Christina appelgate played in the "married with childred" TV show.

If you look at those two movies, her character is meant to be sexy/slutty/whatever. It's part of who her character is. I doubt Jake Gyllenhaal goes around kissing blokes all day, but he did it for Broke Back Mountain because that was part of the character. In Transformers, Fox was playing the industry mandatory love interest, but it quickly degraded into nothing more than on-screen totty with no real purpose.

And yes, there is a difference between love interest and sex object.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by Capt.Failure Jun 3, 2011

Blackstreak wrote:So, Fox is comfortable doing sex scenes in western movies but doesn't like sexy clothes in sci-fi? Ah well, Fox or not I'm still looking forward to this next TF installment.

I never doubted the fact that Megan Fox is a damned hypocrite.

SoooTrypticon wrote:It's all about tone too. Actors have to trust their directors, especially when they play sex objects like Megan does. If you're going to play roles like that, you hope to work with a director who will treat you with respect and grace, on and OFF camera.

I suspect Bay knows how to do neither.

Also telling is Lebouf's comment that "Now that we have some girl who's used to being nothing but an object of desire for 16 year old boys, (read: "knows her place"), us men can rest easy around the set.

I failed to find sexism, especially with Fox's noted hypocracy on the matter. Fox didn't like Bay because of the fact he's a very demanding director during his action scenes and she's a precious little princess who doesn't know how to think of anyone but herself. Lebouf's comments seem to say that Rosie's better at following the director's orders, something any actor must know how to do especially during filming of a movie this complex and dangerous to shoot.

SoooTrypticon wrote:Yes, yes, these films are truly a work of lasting art that deserve money and praise. We should all be proud in supporting them

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by crystalwidow Jun 3, 2011

I think that if (Fox) is willing to play the roles she played in Jonah Hex and Jennifers body she cant complain about the type of character she plays in TF, b/c the other roles are far less approprate and if this role bothered her she should have said something earlier.

other than that I can't wait for the next installment of the Transformers

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by CrimsonPrime Jun 3, 2011

Huh let's just hope that the character "Carly" isnt slutty.

Still cant wait for TF 3 nonetheless !

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by SoooTrypticon Jun 3, 2011

I failed to find sexism

precious little princess

Wait a minute, I just found it.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by SlyTF1 Jun 3, 2011

I'm just glad she's gone. She was the wort thing about both movies.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by bthree78 Jun 3, 2011

It's funny then that in her new indie movie with Mickey Rourke she plays a topless stripper angel.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by krenger99 Jun 3, 2011

CrimsonPrime wrote:Huh let's just hope that the character "Carly" isnt slutty.

You'll be happy to know that in the G1 cartoon, Carly was a genius type girl. There was nothing slutty about her and she went on to be Spike's (Sam) wife and mother of his son, Daniel. When the first movie came out, I initially thought the brainy blonde that broke the code was meant to be her.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by Dagon Jun 3, 2011

SoooTrypticon wrote:Also telling is Lebouf's comment that "Now that we have some girl who's used to being nothing but an object of desire for 16 year old boys, (read: "knows her place"), us men can rest easy around the set."

I find that an unsettling comment as well. I'm not trying to claim some great male mysogonist conspiracy here, but I think the Megan Fox bashing has gone on just a bit too long, and it's crossing over into that Uncomfortable territory.

SoooTrypticon wrote:
I failed to find sexism

precious little princess

Wait a minute, I just found it.

In total fairness to Capt. Failure, whos rank of captain I have already questioned today

, I understand what the Captain meant, and also acknowledge that SoooTrypticon has removed these lines from their original context.
That being said, it's a terrific example of the 'sexist' nature of the Lebouf interview. Like, it's fine for Shai to say this stuff about Fox, but we're all supposed to ignore and chide people who found the Twins to be on the racist side. The Twins may have implied the folly of racism, but Shai implied sexism. Someone will tell me it's a different thing though, or that I'm white knighting, and that's cool, because people used a similar style of thought to deny/support the Twins. So, as long as we're consistant, I'm good with both sides.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by Dagon Jun 3, 2011

krenger99 wrote:
CrimsonPrime wrote:Huh let's just hope that the character "Carly" isnt slutty.

You'll be happy to know that in the G1 cartoon, Carly was a genius type girl. There was nothing slutty about her and she went on to be Spike's (Sam) wife and mother of his son, Daniel. When the first movie came out, I initially thought the brainy blonde that broke the code was meant to be her.

The video in you sig is hysterical. I just wanted you to know that.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by SlyTF1 Jun 3, 2011

krenger99 wrote:
CrimsonPrime wrote:Huh let's just hope that the character "Carly" isnt slutty.

You'll be happy to know that in the G1 cartoon, Carly was a genius type girl. There was nothing slutty about her and she went on to be Spike's (Sam) wife and mother of his son, Daniel. When the first movie came out, I initially thought the brainy blonde that broke the code was meant to be her.

Oh, damn!!! I just thought of this! What if the new TF movie series is a sequel to this series and features Daniel, who is Sam's son!? Ok, now I'm kind of excited that DOTM will be the last of the series, now that I know there is a possibility of it being a continuation rather than a reboot. IDK why I didn't think of this before.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by 5150 Cruiser Jun 3, 2011

Sodan-1 wrote: If you look at those two movies, her character is meant to be sexy/slutty/whatever. It's part of who her character is. I doubt Jake Gyllenhaal goes around kissing blokes all day, but he did it for Broke Back Mountain because that was part of the character. In Transformers, Fox was playing the industry mandatory love interest, but it quickly degraded into nothing more than on-screen totty with no real purpose.

And yes, there is a difference between love interest and sex object.

Very true. All good points.

crystalwidow wrote:I think that if (Fox) is willing to play the roles she played in Jonah Hex and Jennifers body she cant complain about the type of character she plays in TF, b/c the other roles are far less approprate and if this role bothered her she should have said something earlier.

The difference is she knew what the role was going to involve going in. And being that, there ussualy is a different pay scale associated with it.

Re: Shia LaBeouf Interview: "Megan Fox’s absence changed ‘Transformers’ vibe" (view post)

Comment by Capt.Failure Jun 3, 2011

SoooTrypticon wrote:
I failed to find sexism

precious little princess

Wait a minute, I just found it.

Nothing to do with sexism, that's just her personality. If she wasn't that way I'd have no reason to say it.

Don't try to confuse sexism with someone's personality to justify your arguement.

Dagon wrote:In total fairness to Capt. Failure, whos rank of captain I have already questioned today , I understand what the Captain meant, and also acknowledge that SoooTrypticon has removed these lines from their original context.

Hey, somebody has to captain the Failboat.