“Transformers 4” adds “Underworld” actress

The cast list keeps growing as Michael Bay’s (“Pain & Gain”) nears the start of filming. Sophia Myles, best known to American audiences for her role in “Underworld” and “Underworld: Evolution” has joined the cast in a “major supporting role”. She joins Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Kelsey Grammer, who was revealed to be the main antagonist in the film. Of course, gone are Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf are out. This sort of reboot is scheduled to hit theaters on July 10, 2014.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Michael Bay backtracks on “Ninja Turtles”

Oh Michael Bay. First he was done with “Transformers”. Now he’s back for “Transformers 4” with Mark Wahlberg in. Then he said that the “Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles” would just be called “Ninja Turtles” and that they would be alien turtles. Now he’s backtracking again. Here’s what he told Moviefone:

“There was that quote saying that we’re making [the Ninja Turtles as] aliens. We’re not. It’s the ooze! It’s from the original source material. These are from the original writers, and I never went out to correct myself in the press. I do listen to the fans and I do want this to be authentic. I think they’re going to be really happy with this movie. When I see the digital stuff, the turtles look great.”

Here’s director Jonathan Liebesman’s explanation of that quote;

“Look, it’s so funny—if everyone was such a die-hard fan, they would know that the TCRI canisters where the ooze comes from. That is alien ooze. Now I’m not saying what Michael said is exactly what the movie is, because we’re sitting in a room now figuring everything out. So we don’t know, but we are like Michael said: we’re expanding it, and the expansion will be true to the mythology.”

That’s funny because no one brought that up until now. So yeah, I’m guessing the backlash was so harsh they changed it. The new film stars Megan Fox (ugh), Will Arnett, Danny Woodburn, Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard and Pete Ploszek.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

TMNT casts Splinter

Oh boy. Producer Michael Bay’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is really happening. The film cast its Master Splinter, the rat who of course raises the turtles. Danny Woodburn has been named Splinter. Woodburn is probably best known for his role as Big Figure in “Watchmen”. The film stars Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Will Arnett and Megan Fox.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Some good and bad casting news

One of these pieces of casting news has me genuinely excited. The other…well…you’ll see.

First the good news. Rooney Mara has garnered pretty much all the attention thanks to roles in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “The Social Network”, but now it looks like her sister Kate Mara will get her chance to shine. Kate’s had some smaller roles in “127 Hours” and “We Are Marshall”. Now comes news that she’s joining the cast of “Transcendence”, the debut directorial effort of Wally Pfister, who is the long time collaborator with Christopher Nolan. The film stars Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall and Paul Bettany so this one seems to be loaded with potential.

On for the bad news. Anyone see ‘The Last Airbender” from M. Night Shyamalan? Don’t worry, there’s not a sequel coming, though there is still that possibility. But I digress. Do you remember Katara played by Nicola Peltz? Even if you don’t, my point is everyone in that film did a terrible job acting. Now Peltz is set for a starring role in another big adaptation. Are you ready? She’s in “Transformers 4”. She’ll star along side Jack Reynor and join the likes of Megan Fox and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as the female leads for Michael Bay to look at in the series. Word of advice to Peltz. After working on one of the worst films made in recent memory, don’t use Bay as your “comeback” attempt.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Meet your new (alien?) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Michael Bay and Jonathan Liebesman’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” have found their hard shelled heroes. Here we go: Alan Ritchson is playing Raphael, Pete Ploszek is playing Leonardo, Jeremy Howard is Donatello and Noel Fisher is Michelangelo. If you don’t recognize those names…neither do I. Ritchson was on “Smallville” and will be in “Catching Fire” so out of these four he’s probably the biggest name. Megan Fox (ugh) is also starring. All that’s left for the main characters is Shredder. I shudder to see who they’re bringing in.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Guess who Michael Bay is working with again…

Back when “Transformers” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” came out, it made mega stars out of Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. Then Fox called director Michael Bay either Hitler or a Nazi and she left the series. Looks like time heals all wounds and Bay confirmed that Fox is joining “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”. No word on what role she’ll have, but I’m surprised. I guess grudges only last until you’re out of work in Hollywood.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

“Transformers 4 lands its lead actor

Little known Irish actor Jack Reynor will star opposite Mark Wahlberg in “Transformers 4”. Original stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are long gone now.

Director Michael Bay posted this on his website:

I just hired a great new actor for Transformers 4 to star against Mark Wahlberg. Jack Reynor, he is an Irish kid that came to America with 30 bucks in his pocket. Pretty ballsy. Seriously who does that? Anyway I spotted him in a great little Irish movie WHAT RICHARD DID. This kid is the real deal.

Transformers 4, is not a reboot. That word has been floating around on the net.

This movie takes place exactly 4 years after the war in Chicago. The story makes a very natural transition, and reason as to why we have a whole new cast. This Transformers will feel very different then the last three. We are embarking on a new trilogy.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

“Transformers 4” to take place four years after “T3”

In the sort of reboot, sort of sequel “Transformers 4”, Michael Bay’s revealed some new details. In an interview with TMZ, Bay had this to share:

“The movie is going to continue four years from the attack on Chicago,” says Bay, “which was in the last movie. It’s going to have the same lineage, but it’s going in a full new direction. It actually feels very natural how it’s going in that direction… We’re doing a lot of things that are really going to make it fresh and feel new.”

Former series stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are long gone now. Though, those rumors about Mark Wahlberg appearing in this film could be interesting. Bay has said in the past this film will have a female main character.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

“Transformers 4” to feature female lead?

Michael Bay is a busy man. After finishing “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”, he’s currently working on “Pain & Gain” and has the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (or should we say aliens) reboot. Now, he’s also set to work on “Transformers 4”, which may have a female lead, a high school student.

It would be a nice difference to have a female lead in a major action blockbuster. This news also means Shia LaBeouf is indeed done with the series. As long as they get someone with a little more talent than Megan Fox, this could be a good move.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Here we go again…Wonder Woman may be coming…

From way back when rumors swirled that Megan Fox would play Wonder Woman, this project has been green lit and cancelled on numerous occasions. From the failed attempt by producer Joel Silver to David Kelley trying to get it to television, it seemed doomed until rumors started that there would be a Wonder Woman reference in “Man of Steel” from Zack Snyder.

Now, it appears CW is looking to develop a TV show on Wonder Woman under the working title Amazon. Obviously, the company has to be pleased with Arrow and wants more success like Smallville. We’ll see if anything comes of this though. We’ve heard this before.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.