The two main official sites for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has added some content.

The main movie site has altered the backdrop to look like the theatre standee and a few new desktop images.

The official video game site also updated, this time with the "Battle for the AllSpark" version two of the game that was part of the promotion for the first video game. Once again players get to choose their faction and character as they fight against other online players for points and territory. I haven't played yet but it appears the game has improved graphics and new character models to play as. Thanks to The Chief for the heads-up.

Trailer mania continues as Entertainment Tonight teases that tomorrow it is going to air the new Transformers 2 trailer (bootleg version here) in HD. Exactly when will depend on your local listings. On the bright side, probably in most areas in the States, the Yahoo! Movies release will beat it. The main reason to watch the tease is about five or so seconds of clear footage. Thanks to Michael for the heads-up.

If the embed below doesn't work, then click here to see it.

Nelson, MichaelBay.com's admin, has posted two comments on the forums relating to the new Transformers 2 trailer debuting with Wolverine and online tomorrow (or view bootleg version here).

The first answers questions on why the HD version of the trailer isn't getting released early.

There are contractual agreements with Yahoo I believe. Plus there has been a small recall on the video for color correction purposes.

Nelson didn't indicate if this could cause a delay with the planned 3PM EST official release of the trailer tomorrow.

The second comment indicates that Bay might be planning some with some of the May movie releases.

Just spoke to Mike.

He indicated that there *might* be different cuts for the other movies this trailer is attached to: Star Trek and Terminator Salvation.

Note the emphasis on "might". Don't assume and get upset if this doesn't occur as probably at the idea stage. I am guessing it will only work for theatres that have a digital setup as I don't see the studio paying for printing and shipping alternate cuts of the trailer. Hopefully more details will get released next week if the plan goes forward. Thanks to Michael for the links.

Thanks to the internet, you can watch the new Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen before it shows with Wolverine (or Transformers tomorrow for some). Watch it while you can as I doubt it will stay up long. The good news, the trailer does use some footage from the ShoWest Montage, but most of it is brand new stuff we haven't seen before.




Update: YouTube video pulled so replaced with Vimeo link from the comments. Another link to the trailer is also here.
To download: MediaFire

It seems Hasbro love of repaints has made its way to the movies as the mystery of the Blackout appearance in the ShoWest Montage is explained.

Based on the Fast Action Battler pictures from TF08.net, the actual name is Grindor whose alt mode is MH-53 Sikorsky Pave Low, the same alt mode as Blackout. The FAB line doesn't have enough detail to know if the character (and other toy classes) will have more differences then just the paint job. Thanks to Phil for the link.

FAB Bumblebee Bio

With the battle raging in the desert, Bumblebee knows he needs to be ready. He upgrades with the latest in deep desert weaponry and prepares to charge into battle across the dunes. The Decepticons will never know what hit them when they get a taste of his sand blast.

FAB Grindor

Grindor is always ready for a fight. He plans everything out in detail, so that he knows exactly how a battle is going to go before it even begins. He is always at the center of the action so that he can use his heavy firepower to ensure his plans succeed.

Coming Soon is reporting "the new trailer for Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will come online at noon Pacific Time on Thursday, April 30th" or 3pm EST/8pm GMT.

Update: Bay's admin Nelson reports the trailer will premiere on Yahoo! Movies. Thanks to Michael for the link.

Via TFW2005, Destructoid.com is reporting that GameStop is offering a little something extra for people that pre-order Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen game through them.

From GameStop:

Reserve The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and receive a keychain containing a GameStop Exclusive download of Gold Optimus Prime and Megatron character skins. Internet connection required to redeem code. Available for online and in-store customers, while supplies last.

Online Customers: The keychain containing exclusive download code will ship with your order.

In-Store Pickup / Store Customers: The keychain containing exclusive download code will be available at time of game pick-up.

A new image of Deluxe Ravage has popped up on TF08.net. It hard to see any details but its pretty clear it matches the box image. Still clueless on what his alt mode could be. Thanks to Adam for the link.

S250, who has revealed a good bit of toy related information over the last few months, is reporting that the Voyager class Autobot cargo jet that some fans were calling Silverbolt is going to be called Stratosphere and rumor is the small shuttle was removed from final design. No packaging images (yet) to collaborate this and it remains unknown if the character is in the film or not. Thanks to Scorpio for the link.

Hasbro has a Q&A panel at TFCon last weekend where they provided a little bit of information about their process developing Transformer toys. It is an interesting read that can be found here. Makes you wish that Hasbro would do a video as an extra for the Transformers 2 DVD/Blu-Ray that documents a Transformer toy from idea to the store shelves.

Here are a few galleries for your enjoyment.
Deluxe Chromia - Many images of the toy with comparisons to other Transformers cycles including Arcee toy released with the first movie.
Devastator etc - More images of Devastator and other toys from the upcoming Transformers 2 toy line. Thanks to Phil for the link.
Voyager Ironhide and Starscream - More pictures of the redesigned toys.
Cannon Bumblebee Review - Video review of the toy that looks pretty good. Thanks to Scorpio for the link.

Update: Added two additional galleries and link to TFCon report.

Ugo Movie Blog is reporting that legendary voice actor Frank Welker has been officially cast in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as Soundwave. The news is from an interview with Roberto Orci as he was promoting Star Trek. Soundwave is a character Welker originated for all three seasons of the 1980s cartoons or G1 cartoon as sometimes referred to that ran from about 1984-1987.

Jordan Hoffman: Who€™s voicing Soundwave in Transformers?
Roberto Orci: Welker.

Jordan Hoffman: That€™s official?
Roberto Orci: I think so.

Jordan Hoffman: Uh oh.
Roberto Orci: Might be something I just told you for the first time, but I think so.

Fantastic news for die hard Transformer fans who have been trying to get our favorite voices cast in the movie.

Peaugh, Transformer reviewer extraordinaire, continues to get hold of those Revenge of the Fallen toys before anyone else. This time he reviews Voyager Mixmaster, Deluxe Rampage, and Voyager Demolisher. Note that these figures do not combine to form Devastator, which is an entirely different $100 toy that has the separate vehicle modes and the combined mode but not the individual robot modes. Thanks to Scorpio and other readers for the links.

Last week, Michael Bay indicated he is open to casting Leonard Nimoy as a voice in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen but "I just feel kind of bad about asking him. Like €˜I can€™t pay you that much? But would you do this voice?" and maybe use his mother as a go between.

Today, IESB asked Nimoy if he would be willing to do a voice in the movie. Sadly a video of the exchange could not be posted due to a press embargo on Star Trek stuff in the states until May 7th. This is usually done by the studios so that there is a huge amount of talk about the movie before the critical opening weekend and most sites are not going to breach it for fear of losing access. It is also a way to contain bad reviews but that isn't an issue in this case as Star Trek reviews have been glowing.

I am paraphrasing our conversation. Nimoy was in a great mood, laughing and having a good time and said he would be perfectly willing to do a voice in the Transformers sequel, all Michael has to do is ask - but has he?

IESB asked Nimoy straight out if Michael Bay has contacted him yet regarding the voice work, Bay has said he may use his mother as a go between if need be.

Nimoy said he had just seen Bay's mother and she didn't say anything. He doesn't think she wants to be the go between. Nimoy said that he's not hard to get ahold of, if Michael wants to get ahold of him, he can.

Since it is voice work which can be done in a day or so under experienced hands, Bay still has plenty of time to cast who he wants when he wants. Of course with the world premiere now schedule just six weeks away the clock is ticking.

From a link posted on TFW2005, it appears the World Premiere for Transformers 2 is scheduled for June 8th at TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, Japan with Michael Bay, Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox attending. The site with the info is here (and a translation would be appreciated).

Update: Using Google, Dom and Scorpio provided the below translation of the article. Since a computer translation, it has rough edges but you can get the gist of what is being said. Long story short, Japan is getting the world premiere as it is the birth place of Transformers (via Takara). If I remember right, I do believe the very first Transformer was a dark brown Megatron (yes the gun) in 1979.

07 to the hit record published in the SF blockbuster, "Transformers" sequel, and four days earlierthan the United States will be published June 20 in Japan, the world's fastest "Transformers / Revenge" . The world premiere will be at the unveiling of the world's first film, in Tokyo June 8 TOHO was decided at the Roppongi Hills SHINEMAZU. According to this, director Michael Bay, Shire of RABUFU star, Megan Fox, who plans to visit Japan.

July 3 is the original 1907 opening date is in 1900 North America 300 million dollars, all in world record 700,000,000 grossed 800 million dollars. In the same year in Japan was published in the August 4 date, fun revenue and 41 billion yen was a big hit, DVD has sold 64 million copies.

"Transformers", was released TAKARATOMI 85 years, the original toy robot that transforms into various vehicles, such as. The latest "Transformers / revenge" of the Transformers toys come from TAKARATOMI May 30 will be released on Sunday.

Steven Spielberg's and accomplished, following the original recently, and coach bay is said to have seen a rush of people in this film, in doing so, to further scale-up from the original content, "if this SUGO it! "divulging that exclamation. The previous total of 12 transformers of the body appeared in the film is more than five times over 60 new and original from 5000 and cost 100 million dollars, twice the number reported three billion dollars.

The blockbuster that sort of "place of birth" will be unveiled the first in Japan, but is likely to receive attention from around the world.

TF08.net has posted images of Voyager class Mixmaster in his packaging which reveals his bio. He looks like a pass to me, don't like the robot mode and calling him a "triple-changer" is a reach. Thanks to Phil and DeceptiFreak for the link.

Voyager Mixmaster Bio

Resident chemist and explosives expert for the elite among the Decepticons, Mixmaster has spent his entire life learning all there is to know about chemical interaction. He can make thousands of poisons, explosives, and deadly gasses from the materials around him. The other Decepticons rely on him to fashion powerful warheads for their missiles, and dangerous venoms in which to coat their blades.

Mike Shinoda, member of Linkin Park, has officially confirmed that the band is working on the score and a song for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as mentioned the other day.

BREAKING NEWS: Linkin Park will be working on the score for Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen.

Although I wasn't at liberty to say it before, the song I've been referencing here on mikeshinoda.com in the past few weeks...is actually being done for Michael Bay's new Transformers film, due out June 24th.

In addition--and probably ever cooler--we have been offered the unique opportunity to help score the film. The song we wrote is being used as one of the themes, and we will be writing various interpolations on that theme, and trying out some other thematic ideas as part of the (very large) team scoring the film.
My bandmates and I are working with award-winning film composer (and resident ass-kicker) Hans Zimmer. We met with Hans last week, and heard some of the incredible things he and his guys have done with our new song. In the next few days, we'll be doing some work with Hans' amazing writing and recording crew.

Michael Bay has shown us select scenes from the film, and it looks incredible. I can't wait for you to see it.

The only part I am confused about is Steve Jablonsky is the composer for Transformers 2, not Hans Zimmer. My best guess is Zimmer is lending a hand since he is producing the score and Jablonsky works out of his Remote Control Productions studio. Shinoda has been talking about the album on his blog for a few weeks now along with posting pictures.

April 14th, 2009

Studio update: still making progress on the new album. Still working on that one song, too, ha. Things are going well. I thought I'd put up a few pictures of the guys for you to see. My favorite one is of me and Phoenix--it looks like I'm saying, "that bassline is kinda...eh...not so good." (I'm actually just talking to someone who's not in the frame)

March 28, 2009

We've been working on a new song in the past couple of weeks that has been a lot of fun. The backdrop for the song is built on layered, heavy synths and a sharp performance by Mr. Bourdon. We're keeping the drums a little looser on this track, not doing too much studio trickery...it creates a nice interplay between the organic feel of the rhythm track and the more robotic feel of the keyboards. Bass and guitar are next, meanwhile Chester and I are emailing lyric notes back and forth...

Thanks to Hanna for the link.

IGN has posted a video with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci at the Paley Festival (from last weekend I think). The interview asked them about Transformers they wanted to add (Soundwave, Arcee, Ravage, etc) and they also discussed their goal with the movie's main villain. Thanks to The Chad for the link.

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