The next instalment of the Transformers franchise might not be able to boast Megan Fox’s acting abilities, but it will, despite Michael Bay’s earlier objections, be released in 3D.
There's no detail on whether that means the thing is being shot in the format, or will undergo conversion in the post process, but given Bay's perfectionism when it comes to film, we'd guess (and hope) it's the former.
USA Today’s Anthony Breznican visited the set recently, and brought back a wealth of new information on the new film, much of it spewed directly from the mouth of Bay himself (although that's no guarantee it's all reliable, as journalists who remember NoMegatronInTheSequelGate of '08 will attest).
Such as? Well, plot details are (naturally) thin on the ground at this point, since Paramount would like to keep a few things hidden away until the movie actually hits. But the overall arc will feature hints that the space race of the past between the US and Russia had more of a giant robot influence than anyone thought. It will also find Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky trying to figure out his life as an adult while dealing with his connection to Optimus Prime and co.
And the planned Big Bad? Shockwave, the cyclops-eyed ‘bot who was originally appointed as guardian of Cybertron once the Autobots and Decepticons left for Earth, but ended up trying to run the place. At least, that’s one version of his story. In the twisted, overlapping chronology of the robot characters, he’s had several identities. Plus, like the previous outings, the movie could always put a new spin on his existence.
One thing (hopefully) severely reduced this time? Bay’s clunky attempts to bring the funny. "One thing we're getting rid of is what I call the dorky comedy," Bay says, adding that the annoying, jive-jabbering twins are “basically gone.” Forget them! What about giant robo-testicles?
And that’s not all. Bay was also refreshingly honest about just how sub-par many elements of the second film actually were. Take The Fallen, who spent the majority of the plot watching events on Earth like someone's grandad sitting in his comfiest chair, bitching about what’s going on, until he’s released to arrive on the planet in a fiery portal and ends up quickly offed by Optimus Prime. Bay’s subtle, succinct assessment? He was “kind of a (expletive) character." Too right, mate.
He’s apparently ready to handle his share of the blame for how the film turned out, also: "I'll take some of the criticism," he says. “It was very hard to put the sequel together that quickly after the writers' strike of 2007-08."
Finally, despite the director constantly claiming that he’ll move on after each film, Bay claims that this time he’s really aiming to bring the story to a close. “As a trilogy, it really ends. It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending." You know what that means, folks: everyone dies.
Okay, just kidding. Hands up who thinks Paramount will let the TF cash cow stop mooing just yet? Thought not.