ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Transformers" Loses a Big Cast Member

"Transformers" Loses a Big Cast Member

by Scott Weinberg | July 11, 2006

In an effort to deliver the timeliest and geekiest giant versatile robot news, all the movie sites have been reporting that Michael Clarke Duncan would star in Michael Bay's "Transformers." And he was going to. But he's not anymore.

From ComingSoon.net: ""Believe me. Trust me when I say I wanted to do that movie. Trust me when I say I wanted to do 'Transformers.' I'm a big kid at heart. I watched 'Transformers.' That was one of my favorite cartoons. Optimus Prime was one of my favorite characters and to be head of a Navy Seal team going in and fighting these gigantic robots would have been perfect. But, we just, I don't know. It was oil and water. It just did not mix and I wanted it to. Me and Michael Bay talked but we were on two different pages. I told him I was really sad because I said 'you know I'm coming to do good work.' I said 'you already know that. You won't have an actor that comes in high and that doesn't know his work.' I said 'you know that I'm coming to do good work.' We just couldn't get it together."

For a little info on flicks that Mike IS going to appear in (like "Talladega Nights" and "Sin City 2") check out the full article right here.

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(1-20 of 30 posts) | Reply

Viginti-Tres writes:
on Jul 11 2006 07:52 AM

another reason for me not to watch this movie

(Reply to this)

Drunkpostingftw writes:
on Jul 11 2006 08:12 AM

Why didn't Michael Clarke just say he was leaving because he thought Bay's direction for the Transformers was going to suck? Would have been quicker�and true.

(Reply to this)

Azlam Orlandu writes:
on Jul 11 2006 08:33 AM

I was holding out hope, but this is just bad.

(Reply to this)

South_park300 writes:
on Jul 11 2006 09:02 AM

i'm not saying transformers is going to be a great movie (heck, we haven't seen ANYTHING from the movie, considering nothing from the teaser is in the movie) so i really don't care what Duncan has to say. it actually sounds pretty cocky of him to be saying things like that. i mean, he is a pretty good actor, but he seems a little full of himself in my opinion. oh well.
i just want to see some real footage for crying out loud, haha.

(Reply to this)

rlshaffer writes:
on Jul 11 2006 09:52 AM

Yeah, this was Michael Clarke Duncan's "nice" way of saying that Michael Bay is ruining the spirit and tone of the Transformers. The final product probably won't look anything like the original Transformers we know and love. But this isn't surprising after watching that horrid teaser attached to PotC 2. Yuck!

(Reply to this)

taran72 writes:
on Jul 11 2006 10:39 AM

"I said OK...before I even read the script...I blame the prescription I'm on...anywhoo, I finally got around to reading it, and I laughed. It makes Daredevil read like 'Goodfellas', I thought out loud. The problem was, Bay was in the room. So I got ****canned, and mercifully so."

(Reply to this)

Now it's dark writes:
on Jul 11 2006 10:47 AM

[b]Smells like...[/b]
...Godzilla. The American one.

(Reply to this)

jeremyf1977 writes:
on Jul 11 2006 10:50 AM

Mr. Duncan you don't need to apologize. Michale Bay has made horrific films from armageddon to Pearl harbor. Maybe we;ll get lucky and Michael will get fired sometimes a Trailer is put out before the film is finished. So maybe halfway it will stop and Steven Spielberg will hire robert zemiciks

(Reply to this)

StrikeFalcon writes:
on Jul 11 2006 11:21 AM

Wow. Duncan's been with Bay for two films. Something really must've gone wrong to make Mikey wanna split. Bad cereal, perhaps? I hope not. I really want this movie to be good...

(Reply to this)

Ciaranmv writes:
on Jul 11 2006 11:29 AM

[b]Bay's on his way out[/b]
Good for Michael! I mean seriously, who'd want to work with a director like Michael Bay, anyway?

(Reply to this)

Reel 2/Dialogue 2 writes:
on Jul 11 2006 11:30 AM

In reply to this comment (#839907)
[b]Less than meets the eye.[/b]
Exactly. Duncan sounds like his heart is in the right place and didn't realize earlier on that he was in Michael Bay's [i]GoBots[/i].

(Reply to this)

KwazyWabbit writes:
on Jul 11 2006 12:36 PM

Yeah he knew the movie would probably suck so he just left. Same thing I would have done.

(Reply to this)

Aeneas&theBloodyOracle writes:
on Jul 11 2006 02:03 PM

M.C.D.'s comments sound obtuse, like trying to euphemise "oil & water" into political correct-speak. Wonder if MCD got down with Bay's housekeeper? "You'll never eat BOX in this town again, Mr. Duncan..."
BUT: everyone interested should read the early script review at latinoreview.com; very astute observations with provenance. Let's hope the art direction isn't screwed... it might make for crappy knockoff toys.
Who's running the betting pool on this movie?

(Reply to this)

nogard64 writes:
on Jul 11 2006 02:29 PM

[b]huh who wrote this story?[/b]
Crappy McCrapperson? BOO HOO Thanx MB for killing a dream, looks like TF is going to blow cap all over the screen!

(Reply to this)

I Am Remote writes:
on Jul 11 2006 03:24 PM

Wow. Not a good sign. lol this movie is going to suck.

(Reply to this)

bugmenotx writes:
on Jul 11 2006 07:36 PM

Anyone consider Duncan was asking for a hefty paycheck?

(Reply to this)

killthemall4444 writes:
on Jul 11 2006 07:44 PM

I never thought "Transformers" had any hope. When Micheal Bay is the directory you know what to expect. The saddest part is that Micheal Bay has gotten so many projects that had potential but he butchered them the instant he got his hands on them. Transformers will be likewise.

(Reply to this)

darcko writes:
on Jul 12 2006 12:00 AM

Dammit y'all, I still have hopes for this movie, regardless of who the director is :'(

Denial's starting to sink in.

(Reply to this)

nogard64 writes:
on Jul 12 2006 12:28 AM

[b]justing hatin everything about it now!!![/b]
I hate yeah I used the word HATE! I hate the poster looks so lame! It should have just been all black with the red Autobot symbol or teh pruple decpeticon symbol and 7-4-07 under it. The trailer stinks! Because everyone knows they cashed onto earth millions of years ago, not mars. And bumblebee is a what? A camero instead of VW bug??? I was hoping maybe a 2006 VW turbo bug would be cool but a camero? HUH? Terrible! Just go ahead and rape my childhood Michael Bay!

(Reply to this)

gothamknight99 writes:
on Jul 12 2006 12:49 AM

MCD learned his lesson from the "Daredevil" fiasco. He smelled a warm pile coming from Bay and decided to run the other way. Michael Bay is likely to make Transformer geeks feel ashamed, angry and assaulted after his reimagined version of a childhood favorite will be given a painful Hollywood "treatment".

(Reply to this)

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