This past weekend at Botcon, while the last year of Transformers Cybertron weighed heavily on our minds, and the new Transformers Classics line captured our attention with every peek, there was little doubt that an unstoppable force was looming ready to make or break Transformers.
Thats force was without question, the 2007 Transformers movie from director Michael Bay.

First thing anyone saw after entering the gates to the convention was a giant fist with a countdown time to the 7-4-7 release date. A quick sweep around it, there was no doubt it was the hand of Optimus Prime.

Once inside, the Hasbro booth was supplying Autobot and Decepticon car magnets with 7-4-7 printed on them. All their reps seemed trained to dodge any movie questions.

Activision had a small booth promoting the new Transformers Game, which was officially announced for Xbox 360. I pressed the reps for info, but aside from mentioning it would be multiplatform and based on the movie, they had nothing.

On Saturday’s Hasbro panel is where news finally broke. Hasbro has historically allowed no cameras, audio or video during their panel, and this was no exception. Except that they reminded us AGAIN. Michael Bay had sent over an approx. 2 minute video from the set. Prime’s truck roared through the frame, Bumblebee out ran Barricade, and smashed through a window… and then explosions. Cars flying, a bus igniting and splitting in half, mixed shots of cast and extras running from a CG menace to be added later. When the lights went up, all anyone could do was demand it be played again. As we let out of the panel, it looked like half the fans in the room were on cellphones trying to reach anyone who wasn’t attending to let them know what they’d just seen.

This was easily the highlight, but not the end. Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime mentioned during his panel that he’s signed a 3 picture deal. That doesn’t mean we get 3 movies, but it does mean Paramount/Dreamworks want him available to do a Transformers 2 and 3. Cullen also announced the Make Prime Speak contest, where fans can submit a single line of dialog for the heroic Autobot leader. Submissions end on Oct 12, and voting begins on Oct 16, so if you want in, do it now!

Finally, Botcon 2007 has been announced at the Rhode Island Convention Center for June 28, 2007 thru July 1, 2007. This is significant for 2 reasons: Its in the backyard of Hasbro World Headquarters, and its mere days before the movie’s release. Nothing else has been announced, but I’d be surprised if the red carpet movie premiere isn’t right there.

Just got off the phone with Zac. He says the IDW panel just finished up. He didn’t mention much to me, but here’s some summaries at Allspark and TFormers.

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Well, seeing as Zac, Caleb, Sean, Crazy, Sam and who knows who else have arrived at Botcon while I’m stuck at home behind a monitor, it’s my job to relay any information they pass on to me, as well as organizing all the information and links available throughout the net regarding this year’s Botcon and Transformers.

Here’s what we got so far.

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Jazz, the soulful Transformer made famous in the 1984-86 cartoon series by the voice of Scatman Crothers, has made it to the Transformers 2007 movie. Now after the jump you can see the car he turns into, and a detailed design sketch of his robot mode. (skip to the good part)

Producer Don Murphy has announced the last day of shooting the movie was today. Or at least major filming…

Today is the last day of main unit shooting. In two hours we’ll break for lunch. Then blow up more shit in downtown LA.
Next week a reduced unit with very few actors will head to different cities and pick up some establishing shots. Then some of the team will head to the Frozen North.
The film is basically done today boys and girls. And by done I mean filming. If ever there was a film that was really going to be made in post production, this is it. Much editing and many effects to go.
How do I feel? There is a promo reel that has been put together for exhibitors and retailers that is mind boggling. There is a trailer being put together for later this year that should blow your mind.
I’m feeling pretty good that we’ve made a film that you will like. Only time will tell.

Ok… now on to Jazz…
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TFW2005 is reporting that the toys for the Transformers movie are going to be released June 2nd, 2007.

Ben Yee has put up a few reviews of the upcoming Classics figures, which includes pictures as well. Hit the link below to check out Prime, Bumblebee, Rodimus and Astrotrain.

http://bwtf.com/classics/

In an update to an entry I previously made, an eBay auction has surfaced which shows of the beast mode to this new Alternator. Check out the link below and the mirrored pics.

Auction.

Die Cast Construction isn’t so lost after all!