Transformers Movie Scouting and Voice Actor Progress From Don Murphy

[Super_Megatron]

Don Murphy has posted a progress update about the upcoming Transformers Movie <a href="http://www.d13satellite.com/donmurphy/showthread.php?s=&postid=366131#post366131" target="_blank">on his message board</a>:

-Michael and Ian toured Toronto- not sure.
-They toured Boston- probably a no.
The feeling was Boston seemed SMALL for what we wanted
-They worked on the budget- the lower number is within reach.
-Michael, Roberto and Alex continue to make the third act grow and prosper.
-Dreamworks and Paramount continue to merge and mesh and figure out how it all works.
-No voice actors yet. Ian gets it. Tom gets it now, at least for Cullen and Welker. The other producer who I seldom mention resists.
-We are approaching the gate- while the film COULD, you understand, still not happen, it is looking very very good that it will.
until someone says ACTION any movie can crash
It happened last September on COOL BREEZE

[Brandon]

Sounds good so far.

[GetterDragun]

So we are 75% of the way to getting Cullen and Welker, sounds good to me!

[Ruination04]

Love the news on Cullen & Welker. Kick that other producer's ass!! I still have bad feelings about the possibility of this film NOT getting made....or maybe it's those burritos I ate for lunch.

[Midnight Studio]

Yeah really, what's this crap about some nobody producer who doesn't want Cullen and Welker?

And heaven help Hasbro if this movie doesn't get made....

[Nerd Bomber]

Damn on boston. Still, the VA news is good.

[Cruellock]

I wonder why the 3rd producer refuses. The big draw on the movie isn't which celebrity is doing voice acting, you have human characters for celebrities, and if the special effects are incredible, who cares ?

Besides, Cullen and Welker are professionals. So Joe Nobody next door doesn't know who they are. A lot of celebrities can't voice act anyways..

[Elvin Pena]

Excellent V/A news! Casual and hardcore fans will definitely appreciate the talents of Cullen and Welker in this film if they in fact do make the cut. How this impacts the casual moviegoer remains to be seen, though.

[Greyryder]

The casual movie goer isn't going to care. As long as they remember to get Prime's and Megatron's voices in the ads and trailers, having the original VAs could draw in the people who remember TFs from their childhoods.

I can still see somebody critizing the movie, because "Prime sounds like the evil KITT from Knight Rider." You know that somebody will do it.

Now, if somebody could please explain why people in Hollywood are so resistant to using voice actors for voice acting work.

[Gnaw]

I think the 3rd producer is actually.......Alf. Hes had it out for the Transformers since day one.

[OptimusTattoo]

I can still see somebody critizing the movie, because "Prime sounds like the evil KITT from Knight Rider." You know that somebody will do it.



I'm with you on that one. K.A.R.R was awesome!

[Kranix2k]

That third producer is obviously going along with the "hollywood notion" of big named actors with recognizable voices being a bigger draw. Sure, it would be awesome for fans to hear the original VA's but the producers of the movie gotta think about the money potential too.

[Soundwave3k]

Hmmm, I wonder why we got that comment about the possibility of the movie not getting made? I haven't heard Don say anything like that before and there HAS been a fair amount of hype surrounding it.

[Galaxy Convoy]

Uh, isn't Murphy himself one of the producers? Seldom talks about him? Well sure, he ain't gonna talk about himself :p

[Cyberdramon]

He doesn't seem to talk too much about Speilberg who is also a producer of the film...

[Shaun_C]

Excellent V/A news! Casual and hardcore fans will definitely appreciate the talents of Cullen and Welker in this film if they in fact do make the cut. How this impacts the casual moviegoer remains to be seen, though.

I'm the minority

IMPO if Welker and Cullen are in the movie.It shouldn't be as voices.It should be done like Stan Lee in the Spiderman movies.As a cameo as background people.

Having them as character voices would be too "fanwanky" for my tastes

Besides I picture Welker more for his work in the What's New Scooby Doo show more then a villain.Most of his present/most recent is with Disney/Scooby 'toons.

And with Cullen he's mainly the voice of Eeyore on Winnie The Pooh.Or other Disney toons

I'd prefer the roles went to people with STRONG,COMMANDING voices

Keith David would make an EXCELLENT Prime.And Jonathan Frakes would make a great Megatron.They both have the deep charismatic voices that would sell the characters more.

[King Starscream]

As much as I would like Cullen and Welker in there reprising their roles, I would have to agree about them having a more Stan Lee-ish type of role. Though the voice acting should be done based on the character, not on what big name actor would 'fit' the role. That being said, Kieth David, yes. Jonathan Frakes . . . um no. He may fit as diabolical businessman on a kids show with gliding stone statues, but he doesn't really fit the bill as Megatron. Frakes is about as appropriate as Vin Diesel for the role.

[Valkysas]

I'd prefer the roles went to people with STRONG,COMMANDING voices
Same with me. which is why I want cullen and welker to voice the characters they helped create. just listen to their performances in the first movie. they're fucking awesome. welker was hit and miss on the show, but he was at the top of his game for the movie. and for prime, come on. "Megatron must be stopped. no matter the cost". listening to that line, THAT is what optimus prime is supposed to be like.

I'm glad don is trying to get the producers on-board for at least the leaders.

[aey103]

Damn on boston. Still, the VA news is good.

I agree, Boston would have been sweet. The news on the voice actors though is good though. Although with bigger names doing the voices the movie would appeal to a larger audience than just fan boys and girls, just as long as they don't do something like cast Ben Alflack or Matt Damon to do Optimus or Megatron. I do find it a bit disconcerting that there is mention of the film possibly not being made.

[Shaun_C]

I do find it a bit disconcerting that there is mention of the film possibly not being made.

It happens,movies get canned before production ALL THE TIME.It happens with Tv show and it happens with movies

Just the nature of the industry

Same with me. which is why I want cullen and welker to voice the characters they helped create. just listen to their performances in the first movie. they're fucking awesome. welker was hit and miss on the show, but he was at the top of his game for the movie. and for prime, come on. "Megatron must be stopped. no matter the cost". listening to that line, THAT is what optimus prime is supposed to be like.


Sorry just watched the first 30 minutes of the movie.Just to listen to Welker and Cullen.I don't see it.Their voices were synthacized to sound deeper then in the toon.But that's due to vocal enhancement.

Welker's too well associated with Scooby show and movies.And Cullen's main work is Eeyore so maybe they don't WANT to work for Transformers anymore.They obviously found their place with Disney and WB toons

Besides TFTM was just a 'toon from the 80's.

Let's say that Don did secure Welker and Cullen.If the movie plot sucks,no amount of fanwank will save it.I won't pay $10 for a ticket or $40 something for the DVD just to hear Cullen and Welker.I WILL pay to see an enjoyable movie.Unfortunately Welker and Cullen won't sell the movie.It's only the minority that'll care

Besides,who's to say that they even really care anymore.Just because the fans or Don want them,doesn't mean they even want to be involved in a bit role.Let alone a staring role

Honestly Cullen and Welker's voices worked for an 80's toon.But this isn't an 80's toon this is a movie MEANT to make money

That's like saying Lou Ferrigno should've played the voice of the Hulk in the recent movie.It worked then but wouldn't work now.

I personally think the fandom is looking through rose colored glasses.Just because their voices worked for the toon DOESN'T mean it'd worked for a live action movie

[TSFC]

Problem with a Cameo is "Who the hell are those guys and why are you so hyped?" *give answer* "Oh. My. Gawd. You are such a geek and a loser. No wonder this movie sucks, people like YOU like it." And don't tell me there aren't people out there who would do that.

Stan Lee works because everyone and their brother knows who he is. Comic fans, movie fans, internet news fans...somehow, some way...you can find Lee and his face. Welker and Cullen unfortunately didn't get that kind of recognition.

No offense to us, while it's incredibly humbling for Mr. Cullen that we as a group would be honored by his attending one of the conventions...does not a star make him. Nor famous, nor reknowned. Sorry. That's the facts, Jack. (thank you Mr. Murray!)

They'd be much better used as the voices than anything else and if you cannot use them, there's no point in attaching those poor guys to the project just to be a cameo while someone else plays your namesake. That's just a slap in the face honestly. I know I'd be pissed were I in their shoes.

[Valkysas]

Besides,who's to say that they even really care anymore.Just because the fans or Don want them,doesn't mean they even want to be involved in a bit role.Let alone a staring role
As Cullen stated at botcon, he WANTS to do it, and he damn near cried when he realized how important optimus prime was to everyone. He would jump at the chance to voice prime again.

He really worked hard to develop optimus prime's character. He flat out refused to do a lot of things in the series because it wasnt who he saw prime being. thanks to him, we have the optimus prime we (well, most of us) know and love.

Seibertron.com did have botcon videos online of the cullen panel. if they still do, go watch them.

[Shaun_C]

As Cullen stated at botcon, he WANTS to do it, and he damn near cried when he realized how important optimus prime was to everyone. He would jump at the chance to voice prime again.


REALLY? Seriously man I never even knew that :)

I never went to BotCon '04 so if what you say about HIM explicitly stating he'd be interested in the role if offered(Although remember back in '04 plans for the movie weren't even underway).Then my argument of "He might not even want to play the role" is obviously invalid.But my opinion on the "Fanwank" still stands

I'd still rather Cullen and Welker AREN'T involved in the movie though.To me it'd make it WAY TOO FANWANKY for my tastes

But IF they did,I'd still go if I felt the movie overall was worth it.

Despite being part of the target demo(I'm 27,I was 6 when TFs appeared and 13 when it died)and keep in mind I like '80s Transformers.I just don't share the fandom's strong desire for Welker and Cullen to reprise their respective roles.And I probably never will.

[REDLINE]

it was Botcon '05! :)

Andy

[Shaun_C]

it was Botcon '05! :)

Andy

I was at '05, unless I missed something I don't recall ANYTHING about that at BotCon

Cullen's only 2 appearance were at BotCon '04 and CyberCon '05

[TSFC]

Fanwanky, yes. Bankable, absolutely. To give the public an idea of who they are, show each cast member's photo next to the character's name or a picture of the character or both.

Let the public see who they are. If Don Lafontaine can become famous and slap his mug on Blockbuster Ads, do a Dateline NBC interview about voice overs, and be reknown for Rick Dees's weekly top 40...then Cullen and Welker could too.

[Valkysas]

welker and cullen are already famous voice actors. everyone in the industry knows who they are, and pretty much anyone doing casting for voice actors knows too.

[TSFC]

The public doesn't though. They've no idea who they are.

However, if you mention some of their previous exploits...then it would make sense to the public. Put a name and a face and a body of work together, you can make anyone seem famous.

[Feralstorm]

There's a lot of room for 'celebrity voice talent' on robot characters where either the original voice actors are no longer available, and/or the average joe doesn't remember or care what they sounded like. In TF's, Mr. "Hey, the 1980s were pretty cool." probably recognizes the voices of Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, and... that's about it. Sense memory can be a powerful thing sometimes though, and I can imagine some movie-goer seeing a huge CGI truck-bot and thinking "Wow, he sound's PERFECT" even if he/she doesn't know why.

Cameo on-screen appearances of the voice guys are definitely fan-wanky, but quite likely a wasted effort, as I'd bet half the people on this board wouldn't know them visually, and if not all of us would, can't expect much from someone with less TF-geek-knowledge.

Maybe they need something like in the Jay and Silent Bob movie, where a big arrow pops up that reads "Hey kids, it's Mark Hamill!!!" :)

[Twin Twist]

Wow, people against Cullen and Welker, and I thought this would be the one thing we'd all be stoked for.

Great job fandom! High five!

[Misatokitty]

I'm of the opinion not to use the original VAs either. I'd prefer the movie crew to go with a wholly original cast. If you really want to see Cullen and Welker playing Op and Megs, pop a DVD or video. I just picture it, I go see this movie, I pay my $15 to get my ticket and knuckle all the kids out of the way to get a comfy seat where I'm not going to be trying to wrench my neck back into position for the rest of the day, I relax, the titles play, some important voiceover gives the history of the Transformers... we watch the Ark crash, and then nothing. Half the movie goes by, it's awesome, and then a truck stand up... and sounds like the exact same character I saw 20 years ago in cinemas. I'm so going to feel cheated. I'm not going to think, "wow, a new take on my favourite franchise!", hell no, I'm going to think, "Where's Unicron? He should have been in this by now? And why hasn't Hot Rod done all he can to kill Optimus yet?" etc etc.

In short, it's going to flash me back to a completely different movie, and I'm not going to be able to appreciate the film for what it is on its own... I'm going to think of it as Transformers: The Movie --::Special Edition::-- and wonder why they didn't just release the original movie with the added magic of a "cybernet space cube" or some such.

My view, anyways. Cullen and Welker will kill it for me.

[Laser_Optimus]

Honestly, as far as the VA's go... I really don't give a crap as long as it's someone with talent AND it's not someone who they blatantly put in the role just so they could have name recognition. IMO name recognition should be done with the human characters. Let the giant robots be whomever the producers think the best guy sounds like. Wether it's Cullen and Welker, Kaye and Chalk or just some bum they picked up off the street. As long as it sounds good and the movie has a good plot I think we should be happy.

[Valkysas]

I wont see the movie if chalk voices prime. the man is a fine primal, but he is NOT optimus prime.

[TSFC]

I've no problem with Cullen and Welker reprising their roles. I have a problem with making them a cameo and not giving them their roles. I have a problem with slapping them up on the screen when no one knows who the hell they are, and most of us don't even know what they look like.

[OptimusTattoo]

Oh, I know, we can make two movies. One where you get Cullen and Welker to voice, and the other where you see them in cameo. Now what the hell do they look like now anyway?

[REDLINE]

think about it: the producers want the casual non-fans to see the movie and say whoa those robots were cool! and what about "insert famous actor/actress name here"'s blowing that thing up?! ... if you use a-list actors for the robot's voices, instead they will say, man that was neat hearing so and so doing the robot's voice. I can't see anything but a detraction if they went that route. let the humans be played by the big names, let the main TFs have their true voices.

Andy

[Shaun_C]

think about it: the producers want the casual non-fans to see the movie and say whoa those robots were cool! and what about "insert famous actor/actress name here" blowing that thing up?! ... if you use a-list actors for the robot's voices, instead they will say, man that was neat hearing so and so doing the robot's voice.

Not true,movies like Shrek 1 & 2,Toy Story 1 & 2,I Robot and possibly Hoodwinked shows that big names do work

I think you're just being overly negative ASSUMING*and yes you are assuming* that it'd be a distraction.It's just as possibly that using big name actors for some of the robot roles would ACTUALLY work to the movie's advantage

And what's wrong with people leaving the movie thinking "man that was neat hearing so and so doing the robot's voice" either way they leave enjoying the movie.Some people watch movies for the SFX, some watch just because of who's involved.And in between that if the plot's good they might actually enjoy the overall movie itself


I can't see anything but a detraction if they went that route. let the humans be played by the big names, let the main TFs have their true voices.

Except the movie's bound to focus on the robots more then the humans.So that'd be like Shrek's Mike Myers having a bit role & giving the main role to a noobie

People are IMPO hyping this movie up to a level that it CAN'T POSSIBLY live up to.

[Twin Twist]

People are IMPO hyping this movie up to a level that it CAN'T POSSIBLY live up to.

Where are you getting this impression from? All I see is lukewarm to middling responses.

[Super_Megatron]

They don't need big A list actors, they have Steven Speilberg's stamp on it for name recognition. Cullen and Welker or bust :p

[REDLINE]

:lol here here, SM! yes I loved Shrek, but I also kept thinking of him as mike meyers, not an actual original character, in fact there were many places where I got fat bastard in my head thanks to his accent :p and this movie we've been told on countless occasions that its being told from a human perspective, not from the robots, so there WILL be lots of screen time for the main human characters!!

Andy

[Greyryder]

Cullen and Welker would be great. Somebody completely different, would be fine, so long as the voices fit, and the acting is good. Somebody trying to sound like Cullen and Welker would fill me with an unspeakable hate.

I don't mind Kaye's Megatron. It's different, and a pretty good egotistical villain voice. It fits.

Chalke's Prime drives me nuts. He sounds too much like he's trying imitate Cullen's Prime. It's close, but not quite what I'm familiar with. It's distracting and takes me out of the show. It's a lot like Looney Toons, after Mel Blanc died, or when Brian Henson first started doing Kermit the Frog.

Laurence Fishbourne for Prime, and Vin Diesel, for Megatron?

[OptimusTattoo]

What about the other voices? Starscream, I'd love to have the original voice for him, or Cliffjumper, is Casey still alive? What about Bumble bee? Is that guy still alive?

[Greyryder]

Yeah, the guy that did Bumblebee is still around. Good luck getty Casey Kasem back. They kind of pissed him off, with the old "Carbombya" episode.

While I'm not fond of a lot of the stuff that he's done, I still think that John Travolta would make a good Starscream. He can do a good whiney incompetant over reaching bad guy.

[Dragma]

I would love it if Cullen and Welker could reprise their roles. Specifically Cullen, but if Welker was not on the list, either some one that could do a good resembelance of G1 Megs or Kaye (Pref).

As to other voices, for Starscreem, heh, lets give it to Cheech Martin.

[Valkysas]

Starscream, I'd love to have the original voice for him
... not happening.

another reason to get cullen and welker, if they sign them on, not only do we get the G1 leaders as they should be, they also have most of the TF cast taken care of right then and there. they save money on voice actors!

[OptimusTattoo]

Yeah but with Cullen saying "only on toonami" he's gonna need some money!

[Jasonnin]

All I can say is I be ESTATIC if they used Cullen and Welker. While I would still goto the movie either way. But man, I am already drooling at the thought of Cullen and Welker reprising there former roles. Yeah I am a fanboy or whatever.. so what? Honestly they could use them and still have a "hit" movie.

[Quantumus Prime]

[QUOTE=Shaun_C]Not true,movies like Shrek 1 & 2,Toy Story 1 & 2,I Robot and possibly Hoodwinked shows that big names do work

I think you're just being overly negative ASSUMING*and yes you are assuming* that it'd be a distraction.It's just as possibly that using big name actors for some of the robot roles would ACTUALLY work to the movie's advantage
________________________________________________________________



It can go either way...you're absolutely right that Shrek was pulled off without a hitch with big name actors providing the voices, but then you look at a movie like Ants, and those big names just totally distracted me from the movie itself.

Bottom line is that some people want one thing, others another, and not everyone's gonna be happy with the final result. I for one am just keeping an open mind (even though I'd personally love Cullen and Welker to reprise their roles) and I'm gonna go see the movie regardless of who does what voice or who's playing who...it's the frickin' Transformers on the big screen, live action!!!!! That's enough for me, I'll make my judgement after I've seen it.