The “Transformers” Facts You Never Knew About

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. With the likes of Mark Wahlberg (so bad ass!), Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing, and Kelsey Grammer on board, the film begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn. Although the world was saved, the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

Are you prepared to find out what it is? Do you think that the bad guys deserve to win at least just this one time? How anxious are you to see an entirely new cast this time around and more importantly, the Dinobots?

To prod at your excitement just a little bit more, we’ve compiled some fun facts from the “Transformers” franchise films. Yes, including some from “Transformers: Age of Extinction”.

Enjoy!

“Transformers” (2007)

1. Michael Bay originally turned down directing the film, considering it “a stupid toy movie”. He only took in on because he wanted to work with Steven Spielberg.
2. In “Transformers”, the US Military was invited to collaborate in the making. Military installations used in the movie included Holloman, Kirtland and Edwards Air Force Bases, and the Pentagon.
3. “Transformers” was the first motion picture to be permitted to film in and around the pentagon grounds since 9/11.
4. The US Department of Defense provided authentic military uniforms for the actors in “Transformers”. How awesome is that?
5. Bumblebee’s original alternate mode was a Volkswagen Beetle, but this was revised to a 1976/2009 Chevrolet Camaro. This was because Michael Bay feared comparisons to Herbie the Love Bug. As a tribute to the original, Bumblebee is positioned next to a Volkswagen Beetle in the car dealership scene.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009)

1. Prior to shooting “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, Megan Fox had lost weight. To improve her figure Michael Bay prescribed a “cake diet” for her to follow. She then gained 10 pounds within three weeks.
2. If you took all the robot parts from “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and laid them out end to end, they would stretch from one side of California to the other (almost 290km).
3. “Transformers” took 20 Terabytes of disk space whereas “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” took 145 Terabytes. Seven times bigger! Perspective: 145 Terabytes would fill 35,000 DVDs. If stacked one on top of the other, they would be 145 feet tall.
4. In “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, the animators modelled Devastator’s stooped stature and lumbering movements after a gorilla. Devastator is also oh, only about as tall as a 10-storey building.
5. “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” was released on the 25th anniversary of The Transformers (1984).

“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011)

1. “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” may be the first 3D movie to feature appearances by Barack Obama, Walter Cronkite, John F Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Bill O’ Reilly.
2. Despite the rumours of a “feud” between Megan Fox and Michael Bay, it was actually Steven Spielberg who had Megan Fox fired from “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”.
3. 532 cars were destroyed while shooting the film. They were actually given away by the insurance company, with no charge, as all of them were flood-damaged.
4. Sentinel Prime was originally meant to be coloured yellow, but as fire trucks are a standard red, he had to be re-coloured at an expense of thousands of dollars.
5. All the aptly-named Dreads are seen to bear dreadlocks, as well as mandibles and fangs. This design is an homage to the sci-film Predator (1987), which had a similarly designed extra-terrestrial.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” (2014)

1. Initially, Michael Bay said that he wouldn’t return for “Transformers: Age of Extinction”. Later, he confirmed that he’ll be working on the film and that this will be the shortest instalment in the series.
2. Prior to filming, lead actor Mark Wahlberg asked that his children Ella Rae, Michael Robert, Brendan Joseph, and Grace Margaret get roles in the film since they’re “Transformers” fans.
3. Skrillex was reportedly hired by Michael Bay to inject “the craziest Skrillex sounds he could ever make” into the robotic adventure that is “Transformers: Age of Extinction”. Word has it that he’s specifically working on the Dinobots’ sounds.
4. Bumblebee’s alternate mode in this film is a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS automobile for some of the film then later a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro concept. Bumblebee also features a new burly design, sporting horns instead of antenna.
5. Some of the possible titles for this instalment of Transformers were such as, “Transformers: Last Stand”, “Transformers: Future Cast”, and “Transformers: Apocalypse”. We’re glad they settled for “Transformers: Age of Extinction” in the end. Phew!

Bonus: Megatron is the only Transformer to have a different alternate mode in each film.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” opens in cinemas nationwide on 26th June (Thursday)! For more information, visit their official website or their Facebook page.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.