The movies’ love affair with space exploration is almost as old as the movies themselves, reaching all the way back to A TRIP TO THE MOON with that iconic image of a rocket planting itself in the eye of the man in the moon way, waaay back in 1902. For most of the next decades, outer space became a backdrop for flights of fancy, from the classic 1930’s “Flash Gordon” kiddie matinee serials through the “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” franchises (with this Summer’s mega hit GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY igniting another series). It wasn’t until 1968’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY that film makers really began grounding space flight flicks in a more scientific reality, much like last year’s GRAVITY, while THE RIGHT STUFF and APOLLO 13 looked back on the history of manned space missions. Now, after completing a successful screen revamp of the caped crusader for the “Dark Knight trilogy”, writer/director Christopher Nolan turns his attention to the stars with INTERSTELLAR. And although it’s set in a near future, he brings a more realistic depiction of the science and physics that any movie ride we’ve taken with the Enterprise or the Jedi Knights. And just as many heart-stopping thrills.
The film journey begins with talking-head video testimonials of senior citizens describing their young lives during a past similar to the 1930’s “dust bowl” America. But they’re not speaking of that far-off time. It’s the near future that’s being documented. Cut to just a scan few years from today. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is jolted awake after a nightmare flashback from his past as test pilot. Those days are long gone as he hurries to get his kids off to school with the help of his late wife’s dad, Donald (John Lithgow). Cooper’s a big corn farmer who also repairs the equipment for neighbors. Corn’s the only crop growable since a worldwide blight has wiped out all others and is producing horrific dust storms that make those from the 30’s seem like gentle Spring breezes. Everything is caked with a heavy coat of soil and soot. After looking into some bizarre happenings in her room (a ghost, perhaps?), Coop’s brainy daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy) tags along with her pop and discovers a hidden, fenced-in compound deep in the desert. It houses a group of scientists led by Coop’s old mentor, Professor Brand (Michael Caine), who have built an exploratory rocket/spacecraft on the QT. They believe the Earth is doomed, with the only hope for survival resting on a wormhole to another galaxy near Saturn. One crew has already made the trek, but they’ve lost contact . Brand believes that Coop’s piloting skills will make the mission a success and lead them to a new habitable planet for mankind to begin anew. Murph pleads with her father not to go, but he must make the trip, no matter how many years it may take. So, along with Brand’s daughter Amelia (Anne Hathaway), and scientists Doyle (Wes Bentley) and Romilly (David Gyasi), Cooper pilots the good ship Endurance on a journey to find a new home for humanity.
It goes without saying that McConaughey looks dashingly heroic in his space suit, but he surprises by bringing so much emotion to what might have been a stoic, almost Western-style role (instead of facing down outlaws on the noon train, he’s taking on the universe). He shows us the inner torment of a man agonizing over the decision to leave his kids in order to save them. Coop’s a warm and supportive farmer father, but we can see his repressed frustration over giving up his true calling and passion. Once he’s back in the pilot’s seat we can tell that he’s finally home, using all his considerable skills and instincts for this mission. Hathaway’s a terrific co-pilot who doesn’t ignore her heart when making the big decisions. Foy is a most compelling child actor as the sibling with an unbreakable bond with her father. Her reaction to Coop’s departure his heart-wrenching. Caine brings his twinkley grandfather-ly charm to the role of the wise old sage who sends his four knights out on a desperate quest. How can Coop resist his call to destiny? Lithgow avoids cranky clichés as the actual Earth grandpa’. He calls out his son-in-law without hesitation. Jessica Chastain shines in the film’s second act as the Earth bound tech whiz trying to get word back from the explorers. It’s a role that recalls her unflinchingly determined Maya in ZERO DARK THIRTY. She just knows that the right answer will come to her…soon. There’s also some wonderful work from Ellen Burstyn. Bill Irwin, and …well, I won’t spoil the surprise. It’s truly an all-star cast, up there in the stars.
Nolan takes movie goers on the most exhilarating trek since Kubrick blasted off. Make an effort to see it on the biggest screen with the best sound possible. His vision of space is an endless star-specked vista with these travelers mere floating specks. The theatre seats vibrate as the sound effects makes us feel as though we’re strapped in alongside them as the ship is pummeled and buffeted. Hans Zimmer abandons the big drums for a score that almost feels like it was pumped through the largest pipe organ of the grandest cathedral, lauding the majesty of the heavens. The art direction gives the ship and its controls a nice worn, cobbled-together look, particularly with the helper-robot TRASK who resembles an ambulatory cold-steel “Kit Kat” bar with a data screen for a heart. Some of the exposition dialogue gets hazy with some wonky logic and lines muffled in the often chaotic action sequences. Much of the time on Earth seems to be the script spinning its wheels till the big launch (the retrieval of an old aerial antique in the first act doesn’t really pay off dramatically). And the addition of a dimensional MC Escher-like maze in the last act gets mired in speculative ‘gobbledygook” and feels endless, adding too much to its nearly three-hour running time. But these faults don’t detract from the film’s scope, its grandeur (helped by the inspired cinematography of Hoyte Van Hoytema on alien hills and valleys). Christopher Nolan, along with screenwriting partner, brother Jonathan, has crafted a tribute to history’s pioneers, and a rallying cry for the world to take up the torch once more and, as a famous captain says, explore strange new worlds. INTERSTELLAR is a tribute to courage, curiosity, and love along with being one helluva’ ride. Initiate countdown!
Google announced today a groundbreaking collaboration with Paramount Pictures for a first-ever multi-platform pact for Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film INTERSTELLAR.
The partnership will feature initiatives delivered across Google platforms, including Google for Education, Google+, Google Play and YouTube. Together, the companies are helping moviegoers connect to the film through immersive experiences, exclusive content and detailed information on how to see the film, find showtimes and purchase tickets.
The partnership launched with the INTERSTELLAR SPACE HUB, a first-ever digital initiative supporting a film on a Google domain atg.co/interstellar. As the official website for the film, the INTERSTELLAR SPACE HUB features a Space Hunt content discovery feature and a movie ticket purchasing function, as well as links to a Solar System Builder app available via Google Play.
Nolan is working with Google to deliver information about the various film format experiences provided by movie exhibitors. This initiative will provide moviegoers with in-depth information about the distinctions between 70mm, 35mm, 70mm IMAX® film and digital projection, as well as 4k digital and digital motion picture viewing.
After audiences have seen the film, they will be encouraged to offer feedback directly to Paramount via the INTERSTELLAR SPACE HUB.
Said INTERSTELLAR producer Emma Thomas, “Having the power of Google behind our efforts to inform the audience and enhance their experience of ‘INTERSTELLAR’ is an exciting new development in the relationship between filmmakers and audiences. Google has provided the ultimate Hub for the theatrical experience, and now, for the first time ever, there is a mechanism for audiences to give direct feedback to the studio about the quality of the technical presentation.”
The companies will also collaborate on a Time Capsule project that compiles user-generated content into a short film that will showcase and capture the magic of the current human experience on Earth. This project, curated by Google Play and Nolan, will be available early next year.
The cast is also set to participate in a live Google+ Hangout on Air, to talk directly with fans about the release of the film.
Additionally, in mid-October, Google for Education will deliver its first-ever, movie-themed lesson plans, exciting students at thousands of schools across the country about the math and science that served as the inspiration for the film.
Said Brian Irving, global head of marketing for Google Play, “‘INTERSTELLAR’ is one of the most highly anticipated films of this year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Paramount and Christopher Nolan to bring the movie to life for fans around the world. Google is excited to help our studio partners develop innovative marketing programs that support the lifecycle of their films.”
Commented Megan Colligan, president of worldwide distribution and marketing for Paramount Pictures, “Google is at the forefront of exploring the unknown and seeking new information, two major themes in director Christopher Nolan’s film. We are excited that ‘INTERSTELLAR’ is the focus of Google’s continued innovation as we present this incredible film to audiences around the globe.”
INTERSTELLARstars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow and Michael Caine. With time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history: traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, and produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Lynda Obst.
INTERSTELLAR opens in select locations on November 5 and in theaters everywhere on November 7, 2014.
He said he’d be back. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the new title for the latest installment of the TERMINATOR franchise today – TERMINATOR GENISYS – along with this photo via his Instagram account.
Hasta la vista, baby. I want to thank the cast and crew of @TerminatorGenisys for a fantastic shoot. It was challenging, it was fun, and it was rewarding. From our director to the producers, from the camera team to catering, from visual effects to hair and makeup – we couldn’t have done it without you. I can’t wait to see our finished project and I know we’ll remind the fans why they fell in love with the Terminator. On July 1, 2015, I’ll be back.
Directed by Alan Taylor (THOR: THE DARK WORLD,) the reboot began shooting earlier this year in April.
TERMINATOR GENISYS stars Schwarzenegger (THE EXPENDABLES 1 & 2, TERMINATOR 1, 2 & 3), Jason Clarke (DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, ZERO DARK THIRTY), Emilia Clarke (TV’s “Game of Thrones”), Jai Courtney (DIVERGENT), J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi and Byung Hun Lee.
The new film is written by Laeta Kalogridis (AVATAR, SHUTTER ISLAND”) and Patrick Lussier (DRIVE ANGRY). David Ellison and Dana Goldberg (WORLD WAR Z, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS) of Skydance Productions are producing. Executive producers are Skydance’s Paul Schwake (WORLD WAR Z, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS), Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison (AMERICAN HUSTLE, HER), Kalogridis and Lussier.
The TERMINATOR, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, spanned three subsequent films.
For the last few years, Summertime has been super-hero time at the multiplexes. It seems ever other week another costumed character with incredible abilities is battling away for a big chunk of the box office pie. But what about the original amazing avenger? Sure the MAN OF STEEL was here last Summer and is gearing up for his return (when he’ll face off against another hero). Nope let’s go way, way back to the real original, that demigod HERCULES. The superstar of Greek mythology has been a cinema staple since the late 1950’s when American Steve Reeves laced up his sandals in two surprise hits imported from Italy. Reeves was the first of many famed body-builders to portray him right through 1969 with Arnold Schwarzenegger in HERCULES IN NEW YORK and 1983 with TV’s Hulk Lou Ferrigno in a pair of low-budget epics from Cannon Films. The man of muscle also went animated, first with a series of syndicated shorts (with a snappy theme song) in the 1960’s and in the 1990’s Disney did a full-length musical feature (around the same time that actor Kevin Sorbo became a syndicated TV staple in a long-running live-action series). Why just this past January the import THE LEGEND OF HERCULES starring Twilight series hunk Kellan Lutz left an (ahem) aroma in theatres. The body builders have had their time, how about a wrestler? No doubt, this guy’s the biggest movie star to come out of the ring. Make way for Dwayne (“the Rock”) Johnson as HERCULES.
As the film begins, an off-screen narrator relates that oft-told origin story: fathered by the king of the gods Zeus, birthed by a human woman, cursed by Hera, fought fearsome giant creatures as part of his twelve labors. Said narrator is Iolaus (Reece Ritchie), Hercules’s nephew and public relations man. But some nasty pirates have heard enough and decide to execute the motor mouth. But Iolaus has bought enough time for the big man, Herc (Johnson) to find him. The lion-hooded hero and his posse’: greedy Autolycus (Rufus Sewell), seer sage Amphiaraus (Ian McShane), Amazonian archer Atalanta (Ingrid Bolso Berdal) and wildman Tydeus (Aksel Hennie), make short work of them. Turns out the real Herc is not just a good Samaritan, he and his band are hired mercenaries and they soon get wind of a new job. The ruler of Thrace, Lord Cotys (John Hurt) needs them to aid and train his army of farmers against the menace of the mysterious Rhesus (Tobias Santelmann) who supposedly has an army of demons and centaurs! The promise of gold and the pleading of Cotys’s widowed daughter Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson) convince Hercules to take the job. But as the mission begins, somethings just don’t add up, as Ergenia wonders just what happened in Athens that got Herc exiled.
Seeing him swinging his big club (watch it!) and pulling on the lion’s head, you wonder why Johnson hasn’t taken on the role before. He seems born to play the son of Zeus. Yeah, sure he’s got the physicality, but Johnson has the acting chops required for this very different take on the big “H”. He needs to sell himself as the myth in order to intimidate his foes and get hired for new jobs. Often he seems to be an early “mythbuster”, proving that the Hydra was a group of men wearing reptile hoods (like a certain cartoon great Dane’s teen buddies). And somehow, he makes the larger than life muscle-man more human and vulnerable than ever seen on-screen. He’s haunted by ghosts of his past and is hesitant to open his heart once more. Fortunately his pals understand. Ritchie is entertainingly energetic as the teen sidekick who tires of being the team’s “carnival barker”. And McShane has a snarky laid-back charm as the mystic who is certain of his fate which allows him to be foolishly fearless on the battlefield. And Hurt lends the proper authority to his regal role. The whole cast is equally comfortable with swordplay and wordplay.
Kudos to director Brett Ratner for keeping the movie rolling along at a brisk 100 minutes (something that directors of action epics would be wise to emulate) and for making excellent use of 3D. Spears, arrows, and swords appear to hover just above the audience reminding us of the fun gags of those 1950’s flicks (the paddleball guy in HOUSE OF WAX). Plus there’s excellent outdoor photography in the bright sunlight as opposed to the muddy skies of the green screens of the 300 films. There seem to be more real sets than many other fantasy flicks which help sell the sequences of countless forces gathering (I know they’re combining things with pixels, but it’s well done). Some of the battles go on a bit too long and are too chaotic to easily follow (c’mon, let us catch a breath!) while much of the carnage is too tidy, perhaps to avoid a dreaded “R” rating. But the film is much better than it needed to be, certainly miles above the feeble effort from earlier in the year, and it even has some of that old studio Cecil B.DeMille kitchy fun. If you’re needing a nice nostalgic trek back to those matinees (or weekend afternoons in front of the tube) starring beefy sword and sandal heroes than HERCULES will more than deliver the goods, along with the muscle (to spare).
“As the sine qua non of the franchise, it’s the robots — endowed here with character-rich physicality and almost human-scaled facial features — who give the film its emotional heft. Optimus Prime’s charismatic leadership of his team, as well as his unwavering compassion for the humans, again makes him the movie’s moral anchor. Drift, with his samurai getup and Watanabe’s dignified line readings, strikes a neat balance with Goodman’s cigar-chewing, wisecracking Hound. Still, the character most likely to be beloved by audiences, especially tykes, remains Bumblebee.”
“The giant scale action in this one is amazingly staged once again. There are few filmmakers alive who would even try to stage things on a scale like this, much less make it look like something that’s sort of effortless. Bayhem just keeps getting better.”
Photo credit: Industrial Light & Magic / Paramount. Left to right: Hound, Bingbing Li plays Su Yueming, Stanley Tucci plays Joshua Joyce, Bumblebee, Jack Reynor plays Shane Dyson, Nicola Peltz plays Tessa Yeager, Mark Wahlberg plays Cade Yeager, Optimus Prime, Drift, and Crosshairs. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.
With help from a new cast of humans (led by Mark Wahlberg), Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Photo credit: Industrial Light & Magic / Paramount. Optimus Prime (center) TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
A new chapter in the Transformers universe, TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION stars an all new live action cast lead by Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing , Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, T. J. Miller, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Titus Welliver
In T4, John Goodman will play Autobot Hound, Ken Watanabe will play Drift, while Peter Cullen reprises his role as the voice of Optimus Prime, and Frank Welker takes on another new character, Galvatron.
Rounding out the voice-over cast are actors John DiMaggio, Robert Foxworth and Reno Wilson. DiMaggio will take on the new characters Crosshairs, while Foxworth reprises the role of Ratchet and Wilson returns as Brains.
Recently I spoke with British actor Mark Ryan, who provides the voice of LOCKDOWN, about the latest installment of the hugely successful TRANSFORMERS series.
According to Hasbro, LOCKDOWN is one of the most feared bounty hunters in the universe. He captures everything he tracks, collecting his prizes in his massive prison ship. Few of his targets have outmaneuvered him, and even fewer have escaped his jails.
In the film, LOCKDOWN is a bounty hunter who transforms into a grey 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Coupe who is capable of turning his own face into a cannon gun.
Mark Ryan has been combining his acting, singing, writing and directing talents in a successful international career for more than 30 years.
He performed in several major musicals in London’s West End, including four years in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit “Evita,” originating the role of Magaldi and then playing Ché. He originated the character of Nasir for the cult British TV series “Robin of Sherwood“ and has appeared in dozens of films and television series, both in the U.S. and UK.
He recently co-starred in the premiere season of “Black Sails,” Michael Bay’s television series for Starz.
WAMG: You previously voiced fan favorites Bumblebee and Jetfire for the TRANSFORMERS film franchise. What is it like to be involved in the new film?
Mark Ryan: I’m very excited about this particular one. I think the way the filmmakers have taken it and the way it’s evolved, makes this next chapter fantastic. The very fact that they have the Dinobots, and the way the story progresses in the movie, gives it a rollercoaster ride feel.
The cast is superb. Everybody involved, from Kelsey Grammer to Mark Wahlberg – who is such a lovely guy – it’s a great cast.
WAMG: You’re part of such a successful franchise.
MR: It’s one of those things in your lifetime, as an actor, you kind of – when I came to Hollywood, seventeen years ago, it was one of those things where I could do anything I wanted to do in England. I’ve been in the West End for seven or eight years in various shows, I was in a hit TV show there (“Robin Of Sherwood), I’ve toured.
As an actor, I’ve done all different kinds of things, so when I ended up coming here I thought it would be really nice to be involved in a large Hollywood-style franchise where you’re making epic-sized movies. It’s really is a dream come true.
Here we are seven years later and I’m still involved with Michael Bay’s movies. It’s a really amazing gift from the industry. I’ve travelled the world and been invited to these different conventions around the world. I really enjoy meeting and talking to the fans. I’m a fan myself. I grew up with Voyage To The Bottom of the Sea, Star Trek and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. I love hearing the fans reactions and what they think about the films. It’s an amazing privilege to be involved with the whole process.
WAMG: How cool is it that you’re LOCKDOWN – the new Lamborghini Aventador?
MR: It’s very cool! It’s a bit like when we did JETFIRE (TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN). I was actually in the studio with Mike and we were going through voices, seeing which one would work best for the character.
We were trying to round out the character and he was asking if this is how a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird would sound. What he didn’t know was that I was a SR 71 geek myself, so I almost exploded in the studio when I saw what it looked like and I went on about it.
Michael is looking at me, going, “You really do know about this aircraft.” It’s huge, with big iron spikes, sitting the Aerospace Museum. It’s an amazing piece of equipment.
I feel exactly the same about the Lamborghini. It’s one of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen.
If you reading this, Lamborghini, I’d really like to go in one.
WAMG: With all the new TV spots rolling out, audiences are beginning to get a good look at LOCKDOWN. It’s pretty neat.
MR: It’s very cool. I’ve been going around these past seven years, signing people’s Camaros. One guy owns the actual car from the first movie – the classic Camaro – while people around the country have the cars with the BUMBLEBEE paint job. People are very enthusiastic about their cars, so I’ve been going around signing those over the years.
I don’t know how many Lamborghinis I’ll be signing. I’m sure there will be the rare occasion when someone drives up.
Photo credit: Andrew Cooper. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
WAMG: What sort of input did you get from Michael Bay as you were recording LOCKDOWN?
MR: It’s an interesting process. Now we’ve got this whole on set voice thing down to a fine art which, when we first started doing this, I don’t think it had been done quite like this way, but Michael was very smart and very wise. What he wanted was to have a voice on set with the actors so they could change their pacing, change the way they did it, where they had a reactive voice that could answer back to them. It feels more live and more real when you have a human being in front of you.
I’ve spoken to people who’ve acted in front of a green screen for special-effects driven films and they’ve said what’s the most difficult thing to do is when nobody is there, or it’s just a pole, and you’re trying to do the lines, but there’s nobody there to bounce it back off.
During the course of this is I have Michael on one side and I’m in the middle with a headset, so he can give me direction. He can change lines, we can adlib or throw things in. Plus he lets me know what’s going on in the scene as well as everyone on the set playing a Transformer.
For this film, LOCKDOWN’S voice grew out of me thinking about the character while on set. I wanted to bring something new and different to Michael because there are only so many voices that can come out of one head. This is just the result of that. It was the actual performance on set that stuck in Michael’s head.
Without giving any of it away, it’s all part of an evolution, both the technical way we filmed it, and the way the characters get fleshed out from the script during the filming.
WAMG: You’ve worked on Bay on the TV show “Black Sails.” It looked like a rigorous, but fun show to be a part of. I was really sad to see your character, Mr. Gates, go.
MR: So was I. (laughs). It’s a good show. It’s well put together, well produced, and well directed. There’s a whole movement online to resurrect my character. There are many who’d like for Mr. Gates to return in one form or another.
It was great working on the show. There are many from the show who are deserving of some Emmys and I’m very proud of the performances we gave over the course of filming. We had such great material to work with and brilliant actors to work with on set.
WAMG: Audiences know your books and your work in film and TV, especially “Robin Of Sherwood,” which I was a fan of. What’s it been like to meet the fans at conventions?
MR: Just a quick note of “Robin Of Sherwood,” we recently had the 30 year anniversary convention inChepstow, Wales run by a chap called Barnaby Eaton-Jones. Thirty years later it was absolutely amazing. People who followed the show, brought their kids who are now following the show. Now there are new followers all over the world who watch the show on DVD. It’s incredible.
The show is a very deep part of my life and I’m very proud of the work we did on that.
I’ve written two books, I’ve been in theater and toured with Monty Python’s Eric Idle. When I meet people, I hear ‘Oh I like Monty Python, I like Transformers, I like Robin of Sherwood – it’s all very humbling. It’s very humbling to know something that you were involved with affected people’s lives and gave them that spark of entertainment.
People will ask me how did I manage to do all these things and I tell them, ‘don’t limit yourself. Everything you try in this life, give 110% effort.’ You can’t go wrong. Even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll take something from that experience that you’ll be able to apply in a different area or challenge. Life is an amazing adventure.
WAMG: Have you see any of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION?
MR: I’ve seen a lot of it – I see the scenes as we’re recording the voiceover in the studio with Michael in the room. He’s very involved with every aspect of the movie. He’s hand on all the way through and I think that’s what makes him one of the most talented, dedicated filmmakers I’ve ever worked with.
Technically there isn’t anything on a set he doesn’t understand. He understands lighting and cameras, special effects, and stunts. He has an intense understanding of how everything works. The whole process of editing and CGI he knows so well. He knows what works and has an amazing eye. He looks at the film from the point of view of the audience and what will give them a spectacular ride to watch. He’s a tremendously gifted director.
(JUNE 23: Director Michael Bay poses for photos beside a Bumblebee Autobot at Pangu Hotel on June 23, 2014 in Beijing, China. Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for Paramount)
WAMG: I love the visual look of his films – ARMAGEDDON, PEARL HARBOR and the TRANSFORMER series of films. No one thought the first movie would be received as well as it eventually was.
MR: It was an amazing achievement. Take OPTIMUS PRIME and BUMBLEBEE – you’re making a movie with two alien characters and giving them human traits where people sympathize with them and are rooting for them. It’s quite something. No one thought it would work and here we are four films later, with one of the most successful franchise in cinema history. That’s due to Michael Bay.
WAMG: What do you think about the footage we’ve seen in the trailers and TV commercials for the film? The film looks thrilling.
MR: You ain’t seen nothing yet!
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens on
June 27th in theaters, Real D 3D & IMAX 3D
Photo credit: Andrew Cooper. The Autobots in TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Andrew Cooper Left to right: Director/Executive Producer Michael Bay with Mark Wahlberg (as Cade Yeager) on the set of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, from Paramount Pictures. (c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win a First Edition Optimus Prime From TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION.
Are you Team Decepticon or Team Autobot? Plus tell us your favorite Transformer and why!
ENTER YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND E-MAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
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CONTEST ENDS – JUNE 27th, 11:59p est
If you live in the St. Louis area, be sure sure to enter our contest for a chance to win tickets to the advance screening on Wednesday, June 25. ClickHERE.
TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens on June 27.
The fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing, Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, T. J. Miller, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Titus Welliver star.
The film begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.
With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
In T4, John Goodman will play Autobot Hound, Ken Watanabe will play Drift, while Peter Cullen reprises his role as the voice of Optimus Prime, and Frank Welker takes on another new character, Galvatron.
Rounding out the voice-over cast are actors John DiMaggio, Mark Ryan, Robert Foxworth and Reno Wilson. DiMaggio and Ryan will take on the new characters Crosshairs and Lockdown respectively, while Foxworth reprises the role of Ratchet and Wilson returns as Brains.
(c) 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
China Movie Media Group will team with Paramount Pictures to launch the marketing of TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (TF4) in China, a movie that has incorporated many Chinese elements and locations.
“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with CMMG on the marketing of this next installment in the TRANSFORMERS franchise. Michael Bay’s films have been very popular among Chinese audiences and with CMMG’s support, we hope Transformers: Age of Extinction will continue that tradition,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures.
To acknowledge their new alliance, executive officers from Paramount Pictures and CMMG held a small celebration in West Hollywood, CA on June 3rd.
CMMG is a comprehensive film group that provides a full range of movie services, including production, investment, promotion, Chinese domestic distribution and marketing.
TF4’s Chinese marketing campaign is a collaborative effort between CMMG and Paramount Pictures’ International Marketing Department to manage the organization, planning and execution of its launch in China. CMMG’s long-standing relationships with the top 10 Chinese theatre chains and China’s top social network and online ticket purchasing platform, Tencent’s WeChat will help drive its promotional efforts.
Together with Wanda Cinemas, China’s largest cinema chain, CMMG is organizing the premiere of TF4 in Beijing.
Michael Bay’s TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION opens in theaters on June 27th.
Matt Smith, best known for playing The Doctor on the popular “Doctor Who” television series (2011-2013), is joining the the cast of the upcoming TERMINATOR reboot.
Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions made the announcement today.
Smith will play a new character with a strong connection to John Connor, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi and Byung Hun Lee.
Alan Taylor is directing the film from a screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. David Ellison and Dana Goldberg of Skydance Productions are producing. Skydance’s Paul Schwake, Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison, Kalogridis and Lussier are executive producing.
Smith’s other television credits include “Christopher and His Kind,” “Moses Jones,” and “The Street.”
He can be seen next on the big screen in LOST RIVER, directed by Ryan Gosling, alongside Christina Hendricks, Saoirse Ronan and Eva Mendes.
He is represented by United Talent Agency and Michael Duff at Troika.
The “TERMINATOR” franchise launched in 1984 with Schwarzenegger as the title character and spanned three subsequent films, which have earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Paramount will distribute the film worldwide on July 1, 2015.
Megan Fox is April O’Neil in this brand new photo for TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, from Paramount Pictures. The studio has also released the first teaser posters of Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Donatello from director Jonathan Liebesman’s upcoming movie.
Paramount Pictures and Plan B announced today that writer / director Adam McKay has come aboard to adapt and direct THE BIG SHORT, based on the acclaimed book by Michael Lewis.
Based on Lewis’ best-seller The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine about the housing and credit bubble of the 2000s, the film will be produced by Paramount and Brad Pitt’s Plan B.
Pitt previously starred in and produced Lewis’ MONEYBALL, which earned an Academy Award®-nomination for Best Picture.
“Michael Lewis has the amazing ability to take complex formulas and concepts and turn them into page turners. Plan B and I connected over that breathless quality the book has. Very excited to jump into this,” said McKay.
Said Adam Goodman, Paramount Film Group President, “I am so excited as this project marks my third collaboration with Adam McKay – a tremendously talented filmmaker and one of my favorite storytellers.”
Said Plan B, “There are those rare literary treasures – as with “THE BIG SHORT” – that park in the harbor and you just wait, with hope. Adam McKay is a singular voice and talent and a ferocious mind – the vector of Adam and this book is what a producer dreams of.”
McKay most recently co-wrote, produced and directed the sequel ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, for Paramount Pictures. The hit film has grossed over $170m globally. He is repped by WME and Mosaic.
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