On to more serious news from Transformers: Age Of Extinction. According to sources close to Guangzhou Automobile Group, the Trumpchi E-jet is set to appear on Transformers 4.
We previously received spy photos of the vehicle being filmed and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura mentioning it but this is the first official confirmation of the Trumpchi E-jet’s role on Transformers: Age Of Extinction.
“Product placements with “Transformers” would boost the profile of GAC’s car brands both at home and abroad,” said one of those close to the carmaker, which has local joint ventures with Fiat SpA, Honda Motor Co Ltd, Toyota Motor Corp and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
Neither source wanted to be named due to confidentiality agreements they signed in connection with the upcoming film. A spokesperson for Paramount Pictures, the movie’s distributor, said the company wouldn’t confirm specific brands until nearer the release date. Paramount’s local partner, China Movie Channel, declined to comment.
It wasn’t clear if the Trumpchi E-jet would be cast as an heroic ‘Autobot’ or evil ‘Decepticon’ – humanoid robots that turn into familiar machines and mechanical objects – or have a more limited non-transforming, drive-on role.
One of those close to GAC said the firm wouldn’t want the E-jet to be cast in an evil role. Ultimately, casting will be down to the movie’s director Michael Bay.
EpicTransformer
Soundwave is back!!! lol
that picture of the car gives me chills…………..so beautiful
Skottech
Soo, is it a "Shattered Glass" Autobot?
Scorpio
Eh, it'll probably be an unknown Transformer.
If its a Decepticon it will likely fight them without being named on screen – similar to Demolisher or Sideways in ROTF.
If its an Autobot it'll probably be killed in a battle with a bad-guy to establish the new bad-guy of the movie.
sideswipeprime*
Another jolt.
Moy
This better be a damn Decepticon, it would be a waste if it was used like the Chevy Volt in ROTF.
EpicTransformer
cool car anyhow
tonyformer
All I'm going to say is if GM was to make packages on the Camaro or even things like the Suburban and have Decepticon emblems and effects like the Bee Camaro package, I bet you you would see a lot of people buy those packages lol. I'd drive a new black Camaro with purple racing stripes and a con logo on it lol
User_136440
I think you're clutching at whole bunch of straws there lol
I think that's just to clarify to the 0.001% who don't know what Transformers are that they're not the type of robots that you find in factory assembly lines…
Anyway, yes it does seem that car companies have the opinion that their product being associated with a villain will have them seen in a bad light: I guess Mercedes allowed the SLS for Soundwave because of the extreme product placement and the fact that is was balanced out by having another one of their cars as an Autobot, and the same reason why the Dreads could be Suburbans given that there had been so many GM Autobots. Obviously they went ahead and had Sideways as an R8 regardless, but then they didn't get any licensing for the figure which is telling.
Raiju
Exactly. Why, do people want this movie to cast the entire country of China as mustache-twirling evil Commies bent on world domination? This isn't Red Dawn, folks. So when GMC, an American auto company, demands that all their cars be cast as good guys and stipulate they can't be villains, that's cool, but a Chinese car company can't demand the same? Double standard, much?
tonyformer
Yes. Actually, 2 have. There was a blue one and now a silver one.
EnerJohn
You're all missing the big clue. "humanoid" robot means it's an Autobot. Anything else would be a Con.
Kantus Prime
Wait has an Aston Martin been seen on set!?
Autob ironhide
Usually Michael bay gives into car companys like Chevy demand that Jolt must be in ROTF they got it, Mirage and now Dino, Wheeljack and Que, so I thinks safe to say Autobot.
grimtnt
I like evil cars
please make it a decepticon
Omnius
Erector.
evac167
I would do a back flip in the theater if it was Jolt
Ephland
you sound disappointed.
collectingpies
it's not really fair to say that hollywood is kissing China's ass, it would be more correct to say that China is requesting that all lips be firmly planted on its buttocks…
all movies airing must contain a significant portion of China or it can't be air'd there… since they have so many potential viewers, no big movie is going to forfeit that market.