Transformers People News on Seibertron.com

Ethan Phillips (Star Trek Voyager, The Island) to have role in Transformers: Movie?

Date: Thursday, March 30th 2006 6:11pm CST
Categories: Movie Related News, Rumors, People News
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Jon Askins

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Views: 26,238

Jon Askins has informed us that the German Strar Trek website, TrekZone, is reporting that Ethan Phillips will play a role in the upcoming Transformers movie. Could he be a military General? Spike's father Sparkplug? Or maybe he'll be the voice of one of our beloved Transformers? He does have voice-over experience.

Phillips has been on several popular TV shows and movies, including five seasons on "Benson" (1979), and seven seasons on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995). He has been a guest star on scores of other television shows. Ethan has appeared in many feature films and award winning shorts and has an active voice-over career. Phillips is also a playwright and an author. His original play, "Penguin Blues" has been produced more than 150 times throughout USA and Canada.

For more information about Ethan Phillips, you can view his profile on IMDB.com at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0680392. You can view pictures of Ethan Phillips on Google Images. As always, stay tuned for the latest information!

Richard Newman added to MechaCon 2.0

Date: Thursday, March 30th 2006 4:31pm CST
Categories: Event News, People News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.mechacon.com

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Views: 25,743

The organizers of MechaCon 2.0, which will be held August 11 - 13 2006, Lafayette, LA, has dropped a line, informing us that Richard Newman has been added to their list of guests to be featured at their convention.

Richard Newman provided the voice for Rhinox in Beast Wars and Tankor in Beast Machines. Newman currently is the voice for Vector Prime in the Cybertron cartoon. He will join his Beast Wars co-stars, Gary Chalk, Alec Willows, and Scott McNeil at this convention, where they will celebrate 10 years Beast Wars.

You can head over to their site for more info.

Don Murphy Confirms Shia LaBeouf to Play Spike Witwicky in the Upcoming Transformers Movie!

Date: Thursday, March 30th 2006 7:42am CST
Categories: Movie Related News, People News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): Don Murphy

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Views: 55,232

Don Murphy has confirmed on his message board that Shia LaBeouf will be in the upcoming live action Transformers movie. Murphy also revealed that LaBeouf will be playing Spike Witwicky! All previous reports said LaBeouf would be playing a character named Sam. Here is what Murphy originally posted:

"By Borys Kit and Tatiana Siegel

Shia LaBeouf is in final negotiations to star in "Transformers," the DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures live-action adaptation of the 1980s Hasbro toy line of giant robots that morph into cars, trucks, planes, ships and other technological creations.

Michael Bay is directing the movie, which is being produced by Angry Films' Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Steven Spielberg is executive producing.

In Transformers lore, the robots are divided into two groups: the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, who believe in tolerance and the sanctity of life; and the Decepticons, led by Megatron, who espouse survival of the fittest and the extermination of biological life.

LaBeouf will play Spike Witwicky, an 18-year-old on the lookout for his first car. When he buys one, he discovers it is actually an elite sentinel for the Autobots.

The original script is by John Rogers, while Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci penned the most recent draft.

Hasbro's Brian Goldner also is exec producing.

The movie, which has a July 4, 2007, release date, is set to start shooting in Los Angeles in May.

Adam Goodman is overseeing for DreamWorks.

LaBeouf will now have the distinction of starring in the first two DreamWorks movies to go before cameras since Paramount acquired the studio -- he also is starring in DreamWorks' "Disturbia," which starts shooting Friday. He most recently starred in "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and will next appear in "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," followed by Emilio Estevez's "Bobby.""

Go to Don Murphy's message board to see the original post.



EDIT FROM SEIBERTRON: Now if they'd only get Bruce Willis to play Sparkplug ... :)

Voice Actor Michael McConnohie to Attend TransformersCon 2006

Date: Wednesday, March 29th 2006 4:14pm CST
Categories: Event News, People News
Posted by: Hotrod | Credit(s): Transformerscon.com

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Views: 21,421

Voice Actor Michael McConnohie will be attending TransformersCon 2006. He was the voice of G1 Tracks and Cosmos. He was also the voice of Ironhide and Hotshot in the Transformers: Robots in Disguise and a writer and co-director on the series. Mr. McConnohie will be taking part in a Question and Answer Panel about Voice Acting and Transformers, signing autographs, and taking part in a live script reading with the fans.

Don Murphy to Attend TransformersCon 2006

Date: Sunday, March 5th 2006 1:51pm CST
Categories: Movie Related News, Event News, People News
Posted by: Calenatarion | Credit(s): Don Murphy, TranformersCon.com

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Views: 26,202

Don Murphy himself has stated that he will attend the TransformersCon in Toronto this year.
He will be part of a Question and Answer panel the during this convention on April 29th.

Click here to see Don's original thread and post over at his own messageboard. Plus, click here to view the official website of the TransformersCon!

Don Murphy: Cullen / Welker are far from a done deal

Date: Monday, February 6th 2006 1:40am CST
Categories: Cartoon News, Movie Related News, People News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): Don Murphy Message Board

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Views: 37,909

Don Murphy's has posted this message in reference to Peter Cullen and Frank Welker returning to thier roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron in the forthcoming Transformers Movie:

I should tell you all that the Cullen/Welker thing is far from a done deal. I spoke to some Dreamworks execs last week long distance and they really think the old voices link our new movie to old things. I disagree. I know you do too. It will be Michael Bay's decision. When I prepare my report to him about this very subject I will let you know. I believe this is the ONLY thing the fanbase is in agreement with. And before reporting this as news, like a lame site like Cinescape might do, be advised- NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET about the voice actors, EITHER WAY.

Read the full message here on the Don Murphy Message Board.

Neil Kaplan contacts Don Murphy!

Date: Monday, December 12th 2005 7:20pm CST
Categories: Movie Related News, People News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.donmurphy.net

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Views: 76,080

Neil Kaplan, the voice actor of Ro-Tor and of course Optimus Prime from Robots In Disguise, has contacted Don Murphy by E-mail. This hot on the heels after Gary Chalk (Armada, Energon and Cybertron Optimus Prime) made a similar contact with the producer of the new Transformers Live action movie.

The E-mail, which we can report was actually send several weeks ago, was made public by Don Murphy on the board of his site. The following is Neil Kaplan's E-mail as it was posted by Murphy.

Hello Mr. Murphy...

My name is Neil Kaplan. I am one of only three actors in the world to officially play Optimus Prime; leader of the Autobots.

I realize that in the grand Transformer universe Peter Cullen is Sean Connery (THE man!)... and Gary Chalk is Timothy Dalton... and I am thought of as "the George Lazenby of the Transformer world!"

--You know, I always did like "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."--

Since posting Gary Chalk's e-mail on your website, I have received several pieces of wonderful e-mail from fans in urging me to get involved with the long awaited live action adventures.

I just want you to know that I am very interested in playing ANY of the many transformers in the
upcoming films.

And yes, if given the chance I would be thrilled to read for the role of Optimus Prime.

Thank you sincerely for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,
Neil Kaplan

P.S. you will find attached a one minute demo of some of my animation work, including Optimus Prime from the FOX-TV series "Transformers: Robots in Disguise."

New Interview with IDW's Chris Ryall and Simon Furman

Date: Wednesday, October 26th 2005 8:50am CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, People News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): comicnewsi.com

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Views: 33,806

Comic News International has interviewed both IDW Publishing's Editor in Chief Chris Ryall and Transformers writer Simon Furman concerning IDWs Transformers comic book properties, and focusing their forthcoming Beast Wars series!
Read the full interview here.

Alan Hassenfeld to retire into Non-Employee Status

Date: Wednesday, August 31st 2005 5:16pm CDT
Categories: People News, Company News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.hasbro.com

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Views: 36,162

Hasbro has made a statement about its long-time Chairman of the Board of directors, Alan Hassenfeld. Taking effect from Januari 1st 2006, Alan Hassenfeld will step down as Active Employee.

Hassenfeld (56) will still remain active within the Board of Directors, but shall take up the function as a non-employee for the company. After 35 years of service to Hasbro, he shall now concentrate his efforts as leading guide for the company in its future endeavours.

Hassenfeld is a third generation CEO for Hasbro, a family owned company that started in 1923 as Hassenfeld Brothers, which mainly dealt in production of School accessories. In the 60's the company started to concentrate its efforts in toys, rather then school equipment. Stephen Hassenfeld directed the company into creating toy lines like GI Joe, from which eventually with aid from Takara the Transformers developed. When Stephen Hassenfeld died in the late 80's, Alan took over from his brother to give the final say in what happened with Hasbro toy-lines, including the Transformers.

One of Alan Hassenfeld's most recent involvements with the Transformers was giving the green light to Dreamworks and Angry Films to start production on the live action version of the Transformers movie.

Kurtzman and Orci Interviewed again.

Date: Wednesday, August 17th 2005 9:54am CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, People News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.the-trades.com

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Views: 39,849

The writing duo of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have been spotlighted once again on the net. The Trades sat down with the script writers of the the upcoming Dreamworks produced Transformers movie

The article talks mostly about them breaking through in Hollywood with their writing skills. But mention of the Transformers movie is not left behind.

"It’s a live action and super special effects heavy, but the robots have to be characters, and they have to interact believably with humans. It takes out of the box thinking"

"A lot of the requirements of film storytelling are very different from the requirements of comic book storytelling. If you look at movies like X-Men, they find an amazing way to balance and vary the two worlds. That’s totally what we’re going for"

The duo is planning on adapting the story for Transformers into a workable script. But as was reported previously, they are currently working on the script for Mission: Impossible III.