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DreamWorks, Paramount prime for Transformers
By Borys Kit
DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures have acquired the movie rights for the Transformers, Hasbro's toy line of giant robots that morph into cars, trucks, planes, ships and other technological creations. Angry Films topper Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto, who exec produced the two "X-Men" films, are producing the live-action feature, along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Steven Spielberg will executive produce.
In the protracted negotiations, DreamWorks beat out several other studios, with Spielberg reportedly involved in acquiring the rights. Paramount is taking international distribution rights, while DreamWorks will handle domestic.
The Transformers are divided into two groups of robots, one led by Optimus Prime, who believes in tolerance and the sanctity of life, the other by Megatron, who espouses survival of the fittest and the extermination of biological life.
DeSanto wrote the story that the movie will be based on. No screenwriters are attached.
"We will be simplifying the universe and getting back to core, character-driven science fiction," DeSanto said. "It will look like nothing you've seen before on a movie screen."
Di Bonaventura said the toy line debuted in 1984, and two generations have grown up identifying with the mythologies of the Transformers, which has been developed further through comics and several cartoon series.
"It's a very rich mythology, one that many intellectual properties do not have, and we will draw on that," Di Bonaventura said.
Brian Goldner, president of Hasbro Toys, said, "This is one of Hasbro's biggest global brands -- 75% of young men have played with Transformers -- and we expect big things. We know this team will deliver big things. The stars are aligned."
Hasbro will work with the production team, DreamWorks and Paramount on all aspects of the film's creative development, marketing and promotions and will manage merchandising in conjunction with the release of the film. Hasbro also will team with Takara, who has been the co-developer of the Transformers brand since its beginning in the early 1980s.
The film is slated for a summer 2006 release. DreamWorks head of production Adam Goodman is overseeing.
Murphy's producing credits include "Natural Born Killers," "Apt Pupil," "From Hell" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." He also is producing "Astro Boy."
DeSanto co-produced "Apt Pupil," and executive produced "X-Men" and "X2." He also is executive producing "Logan's Run" and "X-Men 3."
Spielberg and Hasbro are all repped by CAA.
if your in your 20's and ever were addicted to transformers as a kid, i assume like me you cant wait for this one to come out.
By Borys Kit
DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures have acquired the movie rights for the Transformers, Hasbro's toy line of giant robots that morph into cars, trucks, planes, ships and other technological creations. Angry Films topper Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto, who exec produced the two "X-Men" films, are producing the live-action feature, along with Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Steven Spielberg will executive produce.
In the protracted negotiations, DreamWorks beat out several other studios, with Spielberg reportedly involved in acquiring the rights. Paramount is taking international distribution rights, while DreamWorks will handle domestic.
The Transformers are divided into two groups of robots, one led by Optimus Prime, who believes in tolerance and the sanctity of life, the other by Megatron, who espouses survival of the fittest and the extermination of biological life.
DeSanto wrote the story that the movie will be based on. No screenwriters are attached.
"We will be simplifying the universe and getting back to core, character-driven science fiction," DeSanto said. "It will look like nothing you've seen before on a movie screen."
Di Bonaventura said the toy line debuted in 1984, and two generations have grown up identifying with the mythologies of the Transformers, which has been developed further through comics and several cartoon series.
"It's a very rich mythology, one that many intellectual properties do not have, and we will draw on that," Di Bonaventura said.
Brian Goldner, president of Hasbro Toys, said, "This is one of Hasbro's biggest global brands -- 75% of young men have played with Transformers -- and we expect big things. We know this team will deliver big things. The stars are aligned."
Hasbro will work with the production team, DreamWorks and Paramount on all aspects of the film's creative development, marketing and promotions and will manage merchandising in conjunction with the release of the film. Hasbro also will team with Takara, who has been the co-developer of the Transformers brand since its beginning in the early 1980s.
The film is slated for a summer 2006 release. DreamWorks head of production Adam Goodman is overseeing.
Murphy's producing credits include "Natural Born Killers," "Apt Pupil," "From Hell" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." He also is producing "Astro Boy."
DeSanto co-produced "Apt Pupil," and executive produced "X-Men" and "X2." He also is executive producing "Logan's Run" and "X-Men 3."
Spielberg and Hasbro are all repped by CAA.
if your in your 20's and ever were addicted to transformers as a kid, i assume like me you cant wait for this one to come out.
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