Transformers 4 News: Boblo Boats as Setting and Filming Starting in Detroit

Two Boblo boats have landed a role in Transformers 4.

The S.S. Columbia and her sister the S.S. Ste. Clair, both docked in River Rouge, are being used as props.

The Columbia ferried people to the island amusement park from 1902 to 1991. The Ste. Clair did so from 1910 to 1991.

Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year.

The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in the movie while the Columbia's appearance is "minor."

"When the movie folks are in town, they’re always looking for unique place to shoot so these boats came into play," Buchanan said. "They’re moving right along. They’ve been shooting primarily at night. I don’t know how much more is going to be going on there but they’re not nearly finished."

“Next week, we begin in Detroit on the big set we’ve built underneath the monorail,” says “Transformers 4” producer Ian Bryce, referring to the Asian-style structures that have been constructed next to Grand Circus Park — near the People Mover.

Detroit will be portraying Hong Kong for the shoot, which is expected to run through the second week of August.

Work continued Thursday on the large outdoor set, which stretches from Washington Boulevard to Bagley. Signs and decorations have been installed on some storefronts to create the look of Hong Kong streets. According to Bryce, the sequences being done there are for the climactic third act of the film.