Transformers 3

The movies-loving world was stunned a few months when "Transformers" star Megan Fox was suddenly replaced by Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. What didn't accompany the news was information about which role the newcomer would be taking on, leading many to speculate that she'd simply be taking over Fox's Mikaela Banes character. Now it seems that that may not be the case however.

"Transformers" fan site TFW2005.com has a set visit report up from Nelson, who serves as the site admin at Shoot For the Edit, Michael Bay's website. In the report he identifies Huntington-Whiteley's character as Carly, with no further explanation. As JoBlo points out, Carly was also the name of the character who eventually becomes Sam Witwicky's (Shia LaBeouf) wife on the animated series. We already know from previous interviews that bringing back the franchise's "core mythology" is very important to Bay and his team. Could this be the first sign of that plan in action?

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Here is a spoiler for the opening scene of Transformers 3:

There's a disturbance on the Moon. A robot shaped disturbance. Scientists on Earth see this and the information gets passed up the chain of command. In the White House men in black suits are breathlessly running through the halls, and they burst into the Oval Office. The president is behind the desk, back turned to the door, looking out the window. One of the men tells the president, 'Sir, something's happened on the Moon!' The president turns around.

It's John F. Kennedy.

Yes, the opening scene of Transformers 3 takes place in 1961 or 1962. The gist of the story has to do with the Transformers' involvement in the space race, and this is the reason why JFK was so hot to make sure America was first to the Moon. It sounds like a fun direction; there are a lot of stupid conspiracy theories about Neil Armstrong et al meeting ETs on the Moon, and this is a fun way to play with them. I hear this was Spielberg's idea, and it really does sound like something he'd come up with. If you're like me and you like the Spielberg-influenced Transformers but hate the mostly Spielberg-free Transformers 2, this is all good news.

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New set of photos form director Micheal Bay and from the stars Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shooting the third installment franchise of the movie Transformers 3 which will come out in theaters July 1, 2011.

More Photos Here

Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, talks about plans for closing city streets and landmarks for the filming of “Transformers 3." (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune / June 23, 2010)

The “Transformers 3” news conference held Wednesday at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications wasn't meant to stir up interest in the film, which will shoot in Chicago from July 10-Aug. 19, but to prepare the general public.

For what? Jets flying by Willis Tower? Cars plummeting into the Chicago River? Shia LaBeouf's awkward return to the Walgreens on North Michigan Avenue?

Nope. Traffic.

OEMC Executive Director Jose Santiago said the closures on LaSalle Street (8 p.m. July 9 to 5 a.m. July 12), the Michigan Avenue bridge (8 p.m. July 16 to 5 a.m. July 19) and Upper Wacker Drive (9 p.m. July 18 to 5 a.m. July 22) will have the most impact on traffic. He added that most of the movie's filming in Chicago will take place during daylight.

“It's an ambitious production … but we and the producers are committed to mitigating the disruptions and addressing community concerns,” said Chicago Film Office Director Rich Moskal.

What can Chicagoans expect from filming — besides traffic?

Moskal said recently a few “scenes they're planning could match if not exceed the spectacular stuff ‘The Dark Knight' production pulled off.”

Yes, he's talking about the 2008 Batman film that featured an 18-wheeler getting flipped over on LaSalle Street and a massive explosion that leveled the old Brach's Candy building on the West Side.

“Flying debris, flipping cars, stunts, that's the kind of stuff you'll probably be seeing here,” added Moskal.

During a news conference June 16, Mayor Richard Daley announced that the Michael Bay-directed action sequel would contribute $20 million to the local economy and create more than 200 jobs, including 10 internships for Chicago Public Schools students.

The movie has begun filming in Los Angeles and is expected to shoot in Milwaukee in July, Detroit in August and Washington D.C. in mid-September.

Unfortunately for fanboys in Chicago, there will be no glimpse of Optimus Prime or Shockwave, the main villain in the third flick. The robots are computer generated and added after the scene has finished filming.

Still, the cast is heavy on stars, including LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and franchise newcomers Frances McDormand and John Malkovich.

LeBeouf's love interest in the first two films, Megan Fox, either was dropped from the third film or quit, depending on who you ask. In her place this time around will be Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Little is known about the film's plot, but USA Today reports it will involve the Transformers' role in the space race between the U.S. and Russia. Bay, who considered shooting scenes from the original “Transformers” in Chicago before settling on Detroit, told USA Today the storyline will wrap up the trilogy.

Christopher Borrelli contributed to this report.

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Celebrity Website Justjared was able to take some pictures of Transformers 3 main casts Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Tyrese Gibson on set pictures. Obviously as the picture shows a broken glass, it seems that it would really be an action packed film.

According to the site: [spoilers]

This specific scene had Shia, Rosie and military troops being chased by an evil Decepticon, who tips the building over. For this shot, one floor of an entire office building was built on a giant platform, which tilted at an angle while “tipped over.”

A week before Shia began filming he said “there’s going to be a lot of death, human death. This time, they’re targeting humans” which should be interesting.

Toppling the Trump Tower? Mangling the Michigan Avenue Bridge? Anything will be possible this summer when the Hollywood production of "Transformers 3" comes to Chicago.

"Youre going to see a little bit of mayhem," said producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. "It wouldnt be 'Transformers' without it."

Bonaventura stood with an obviously proud Mayor Richard Daley as he announced the shooting schedule for the Michael Bay directed blockbuster of July 10 through August 19. Daley said the city was thankful for being chosen as a major location for the film, which will also be shot in Los Angeles and Moscow.

Di Bonaventura, who has relatives living in Chicago, said he is always happy to film here.

While the exact locations have yet to be chosen, Di Bonaventura said many of the scenes will be shot downtown because of the citys scale.

"What is great about Chicago is that it has that wide open aspect to it so we think we will be able to deliver a phenomenal look for the film and do justice to the city," he said.

The announcement comes on the 30th anniversary of the release of the "Blues Brothers," a film credited with shattering production barriers here and opening the city to Hollywood. Since 1989, 900 films and TV productions have contributed more than 275,000 jobs and $1.6 billion to the local economy.

The untitled Ron Howard film is currently in production here, along with a new TV series called "Ride Along."

While Chicago is offering no financial incentives to producers, the State of Illinois has a 30 percent tax credit for films made in the State.

According to Rich Moskal of the Chicago Film Office, producers often choose to film in Chicago because of access to quality crews and actors and the ease of doing business with the city.

Recent project filmed in the Windy City include "Batman: The Dark Knight" and "Public Enemies."

Production for "Transformers 3" is expected to bring more than 200 jobs to Chicago. Ten of those jobs will be paid internships for students from the citys South and West sides.

"This is my career," said Montell Williams, a senior at North Lawndale College Prep, who will be working on the film. "I am looking for anything out there that is going to benefit me and my career."

Daley is hoping the exposure the city will get through the movie will be a boon to the tourism industry.

"Youd be surprised how many people say they saw us in a movie," he said. "Its free publicity for us."

"Transformers 3" is slated for release next June or July.

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Filming on Transformers 3 is currently underway and director Michael Bay had some time to discuss the third film in an interview. He doesn’t give much away, however he does confirm that the villain will be Shockwave, the robot cyclops-turned-laser-cannon, who became dictator of their home world of Cybertron after the other Autobots and Decepticons journeyed to Earth.

Bay also says Transformers 3, which he has decided will be 3D, will have a “killer ending” that will bring the franchise to a close. For now, anyway.





From USA Today:

Plot details are under wraps, but it delves into the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, suggesting there was a hidden Transformers role in it all that remains one of the planet’s most dangerous secrets. “The movie is more of a mystery,” Bay says. “It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened.”

While Optimus Prime, Megatron and even Sam all have died and been resurrected, di Bonaventura says this film will have no do-overs: Die, and that’s it.

Bay hints that there may be a lot of that. “As a trilogy, it really ends,” he says. “It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending.”

I suppose the franchise could be rebooted in 7-10 years time. Bay’s films are hardly The Lord of the Rings, and could have been a lot better with a different creative team behind them (maybe Neill Blomkamp will be up for directing big budget films in a few years?).

Until then let’s focus on Transformers 3. They’ve already suffered the sequel curse, so it shouldn’t be too hard to improve for the next outing.

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