'Transformer' Robots May Appear in Film

AP ^ | ANTHONY BREZNICAN

[Sir Gawain]

'Transformer' Robots May Appear in Film

 

Jun 12, 11:13 AM (ET)

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The shape-shifting "Transformer" robots from the 1980s may soon be using 20-something nostalgia to fuel a Hollywood movie.

The Hasbro Inc. (HAS) toy company has teamed with the production company Angry Films to create a live-action version of the popular cartoon series that ran from 1984 to 1987, about a group of alien robots who disguise themselves on Earth as common vehicles.

"The basic thing is that if you've been going to the comic-book festivals and seeing all that stuff, the '80s kind of came back last year in a huge way," Angry Films producer Don Murphy said Wednesday.

"We figured the technology had finally caught up to the point where we could actually show an 18-wheel truck turning into a giant robot," added Murphy, who also helped make the upcoming comic book movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

The story of "The Transformers" centers on a war between two mechanized armies - the heroic Autobots, led by the red tractor-trailer Optimus Prime, and the evil Decepticons, ruled by the gigantic silver gun Megatron. Seeking new sources of energy, both factions crash-land on Earth.

Although the "Transformers" toys have changed over the years - from animal shapes to the current series of futuristic machines - Murphy said the movie would be based on the original lineup.

The 1980s Hasbro toys, which the cartoon helped turn into a money-machine for the company, have recently been reissued by the original Japanese manufacturer, Takara Co. A recent comic book based on "The Transformers" and a DVD of the original cartoon series have also become best sellers.

Murphy and his producing partner, Tom DeSanto, whose credits include "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United," are still in the early stages of the "Transformers" movie. The project has not yet settled at a studio and no potential release date has been set.

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On the Net:

http://www.hasbro.com/

[Paul C. Jesup]

Well, thank goodness. They were giving the rest of us a bad name!

True.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Oh, you are right! I forgot about those weird aliens living in the Andes!!

Just remember, anime has always been a little strange.

[The Grammarian]

I can't find the link any more, but there was an article a few months ago about an Ohio National Guardsman that legally changed his name to Optimus Prime for the reasons that you cited. The paperwork came back from the Pentagon to him with a note from a general about how the general was "glad to see that the commander of the Autobots was on their side," or words to that effect. ;)

[Rebelbase]

"while at night you secretly watch old Looney Tunes cartoons"

The classics!

[Paul C. Jesup]

The classics!

LOL!

[LanPB01]

The Iraqi people curse the day Optimus Prime enlisted in the battle against their Baath party!

http://www.livejournal.com/users/jwz/176980.html

http://www.geeklife.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=712&CommentCount=12

[Green Knight]

BIG difference between Beast Wars and Beast Machines. I LOVE Beast Wars and can't wait to own the whole series on DVD. Beast Machines is a whole other kettle of fish, though. In that one, Optimus Primal becomes an enviro-whacko hippy and ends up turning Cybertron into Teletubby Land. The original and Beast Wars were great, but Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise, and Armada are crap. And from the sounds of it, the next series after Armada (Transformers: Energon) is likely to be garbage, as well.

[TC Rider]

I remember now, it was when they got back to Cybertron. Something about the Green Slime. You're right, it was unbearable with an unintelligible plotline.

No, not this Green Slime.

I did enjoy "Transformers-The Movie"

[Skywalk]

I still remember getting chills when at the end of the cartoons post-movie, they had a teaser "Autobot Alert" and you see Optimus Prime and he said "Optimus Prime will never die."

The funny thing about the later episodes--they were deeper than previous ones, but more bizarre. I actually enjoyed the Quintessons and the spores, the ones that turned everyone into energy vampires. Nothing beats seeing Optimus and Starscream again.

It's sad that the guy who voiced Starscream and Cobra Commander is deceased.

[Axenolith]

How about a mini-series based on The Creature From Jekyl Island...;)

[Green Knight]

I was. I was I think 10 when I saw it. Didn't see it until it came to tv, so I knew ahead of time that Prime had died, but I still bawled my eyes out when I saw it. Heard there was a huge letter writing campaign by kids shaken by Optimus Prime's death, which is why they brought him back (Something which I was glad for, although that "Dark Awakening" episode was utterly brilliant! It was incredibly poignant and made me cry all over, again. I can't wait for season 3 to come out on DVD just so I can watch that, again).

But yeah, that death scene was awesome. Nevermind the battle which preceeded it, in which Prime kicks the crud out of a dozen Decepticons before confronting Megatron. The end of the fight was especially awesome, when Prime was about to gun down Megatron, even though Megatron was unarmed and on his knees begging for his life (He wasn't actually begging, just buying time to reach a nearby gun).

Any other cartoon hero would've put him under arrest or something lame like that, but not Optimus Prime. He knew that in war you kill the enemy, and like what Patton wanted to do to Hitler (Namely go to Berlin and personally shoot Hitler, not arrest him, and I doubt Patton would've waited for Hitler to arm himself before shooting him), he was gonna finish Megatron off once and for all. There was no wishy-washiness there. No "It's wrong to kill, even in wartime" messages. No bits about Megatron shooting first, therefore allowing Prime to gun him down in return, justifying his killing him. Prime was just gonna kill him, right then and there, without remorse. GREAT stuff! THAT'S the Prime I want to see in the movie! The one that does the job put before him. He may not like it, but he does what's necessary to win the war. And if that means gunning down an unarmed Megatron pleading for his life, then so be it, because he knows that if he lets Megatron live then things'll be much worse.

[Steel Wolf]

I always liked Optimus Prime's style. Brave, determined, and supremely confident without a touch of arrogance. Most heroes these days come of as being either so good that they're preachy and obnoxious, completely lame, or so angst ridden that they're not really all that heroic. Optimus Prime never felt anyone's pain or wrestled with inner demons; he simply fought with unyielding conviction, and without malice.

Try watching Captain Planet, Pokemon or just about any of the other cartoons out these days, and you'll see the difference. (Although I am a big fan of Justice League and Samurai Jack)

[Green Knight]

Simply amazing. To think that you actually have to TELL people to bathe and put on deodorant when going out in public. Occasionally I skip bathing for a day, but that's only when I got nowhere to go and I haven't been doing anything strenuous which caused me to sweat. If I have to go somewhere, though, I ALWAYS bathe first. I HATE going out unless I'm clean. That's just common sense and common courtesy. Who wants to be around someone who stinks? Why would you want to subject others to that? Nevermind respect for yourself. Who can go out looking and smelling like a greasy smear and respect themselves in the slightest?

[Green Knight]

Yeah, I remember that. I was dejected at the end when Optimus stayed dead, and then my heart went into palpatations when they showed that. As it turns out, that wasn't the original ending. They made that episode before they had planned to make "The Return of Optimus Prime", and when that decision was made, they changed the ending to allow for Prime's return. Hopefully the 3rd season set will have both versions of the ep, with the different endings.

[Preech1]

"Core Dangermouse...it's Penfold..."

I want to see a big screen version including Baron Silas Greenback and the Custard Mite of Glut...

[Green Knight]

Justice League and Samurai Jack are great shows. Ever see X-Men: Evolution? I highly recommend it, although they're taking forever to air the last 4 episodes of the third season.

But yeah, the difference between Optimus Prime and other cartoon heroes is striking (Especially Captain Planet. What a joke THAT guy, is)! As I said, the actor who did his voice portrayed him as a cross between Captain America and John Wayne. How can you go wrong with an imitation of the Duke? Good thing he's still alive (Unlike poor Chris Latta, the voice of Starscream and Cobra Commander :( ), though I'd prefer he not voice the new Primes, as the latest shows suck. But if the movie's any good, I hope they get him to do the voice, so long as they don't make a PC version of Prime.

[Skywalk]

I think a couple of people on this thread (IRONJACK) do not understand how universally beloved Optimus Prime is amongst those of us who watched the 80s series. Sure, I guess there are other stories to be made, but let OTHERS make it.

Optimus is one of the few heroes that captivated the imagination of children during that era, as villains like Darth Vader and Cobra Commander(ok, he was whiny) were "cooler." IN fact, in those days the villains always had the cooler look and the cooler attitude. Optimus was pure without being saccharine and good without being self-righteous.

He is a defining character of the 80s and of that generation. I'm not sure how influential he was, but he is one of the top fictional heroes of the past 20 years. He overshadowed Megatron and Galvatron, and indeed overshadows pretty much every cartoon character in history, in terms of good v. evil cartoons.

To compare him or the Transformers to Pokemon is a mark of ignorance or a bad joke.

[The Coopster]

When I met my wife, she would't believe that there was such a cartoon, nor would she believe in the existence of The Blue Falcon and Dog Wonder.

Thank god for Boomerang and the internet for offering me vindication (for once in my life)......

[Preech1]

I LOVED Dangermouse...I never even saw it until after I was married, but it was one of my favorites...Blue Falcon? I couldn't stand him...that one was right up there with "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl" or "Wonder Twins"

[Paul C. Jesup]

Optimus Prime had something most good-guys characters made today don't have, class and tack.

To compare him or the Transformers to Pokemon is a mark of ignorance or a bad joke.

By the way, speaking of Pokemon. I had a dream a while back of a orange wall showing the silhouette of Pikachu saying 'Pika. Pika' and then come in the silhouette of Grimlock in T-Rex mode flating the silhouette of Pikachu with one stomp.

Needless to say it was a very good dream.