Multiple reports from entertainment media news sites claim that Pamela Adlon is in talks to join the cast of Transformers Universe Spinoff Movie Bumblebee.
Adlon is to play the role of Hailee Steinfeld’s mother in the movie scripted by Christina Hodson.
Pamela Fionna Adlon is known for voicing Bobby Hill on King of the Hill, for which she won an Emmy Award, and the title character from the Pajama Sam video games. She is also known for playing Dolores in Grease 2 and Ashley Spinelli on the animated series Recess, and for her appearances on Californication and Louie, on which she is also a consulting producer. As of 2016, Adlon stars in the FX comedy television series Better Things which she co-created with Louis C.K
Kubo and the Two Strings helmer Travis Knight is directing the movie, which is being toplined by Hailee Steinfeld.
ZapRowsdower
Really good points.
But in my earlier statement's defense, the entire reason Spike exists is because TFs are meant for boys. YES, boys prefer the robots, but the creators of that cartoon did not know that. They threw in a boy for other boys to relate to.
And on the subject of SW, you're not perplexed by Disney's emphasis on girl power? I don't mind female leads, but I do question using them IN PLACE OF males. Anyway, I'm not so sure the toys sold as well as you think: I see them on mega discount now, and Jyn, in particular, is stupid easy to find. I don't recall the prequels having as many discount toys. So did they actually sell well? What scale are we using? And how many BOYS bought those toys, as opposed to adult fans?
Times are indeed different from the 80s – here's the important part, though: KIDS DON'T BUY TOYS ANYMORE! They play tablet games. They watch other kids play Battlefield on YouTube. Their interest in these things is passing, waning. That's why I bring up the age of SW consumers, as it's actually a vital statistic today.
Hasbro knows this. They're desperately seeking to create that killer APP for kids to play. They're also dipping their feet in toys-to-life with the All Spark figures that just came out.
Anyway, I think you're a little too optimistic about BB's screen time. You can shorten the movie all you like, but even Bay couldn't fit the robots in for more than what? 45 minutes total? We'll see how it turns out, but you've got to admit this much: the toy possibilities are a complete mystery. If the movie features mostly BB, what possible merch could they attach? You think they'll release some figurines of the female cast?
Prime17
They had cast an actor from Spider-Man: Homecoming and the title actor of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Most boys didn't watch the Sunbow cartoon because of Spike or Sparkplug. They watched because of the transformers since they where the main draw. Same for the movies. Since this movie has less robots and is most likely shorter than the other films because of the small budget, Bumblebee will be much more front and center (so different I know lol) and his screen time won't seem as small because of the movie's length.
Besides, that was back in the 80s. More than 30 years later, times are pretty different now. Star Wars still sells boatloads of merchandise and made a billion dollars each with TFA and Rogue One despite having Rey and Jyn star in them. What will determine if the toys sell or not is if the movie is actually good and makes bank and if the toyline is not filled with expensive and crappy toys that Hasbro can't seem to distribute better for the life of them.
ZapRowsdower
Yeah, you're right. I hadn't considered this is a non-sequel, so it could be its own thing. And I agree that the robot is more important, but…
It's LIVE-ACTION. That means they can't afford to put in an expensive CG robot too often (low budget, too). So unless they reduce the complexity of that insane Bay-approved BB, it means we won't actually see BB as often as you might expect. Ergo, it's important to cast a little boy.
You may say it serves no purpose, but I can tell you this: you can't name a G1 fan who adores Carly or Marissa; there are no G1 shelves with fan-made Marissa's or Carly's. Meanwhile, they include Spike and Sparkplug in MP releases: there's a reason for that.
Given the choice of main characters, boys will gravitate to boys, girls to girls. It's just how it is. So whether or not you perceive it consciously, you need a main character that the target toy audience will relate to. A little girl is not it. Sorry.
That's not to say I'm hating on this BB movie! I'm not! I'm just confused about how they will sell toys with a strong female cast, and no mention of any male stars? (I could have missed the male announcements, though). I think it's fine if it's a more girl-centric TF movie, but then they should consider selling more girl products: a pink/purple/teal TF and plushies! Otherwise, this feels like a merch disaster: the movie is about one thing, the toys about another! To put it another way: When the BB movie hits theaters, the movie toys will flood shelves. If you don't want another TLK Wave 1 repaint disaster, you need to be sure boys (and not just girls) are going to see that BB movie! Some girls will still buy movie toys, yes, but the majority of girls will not go for anything war or war-like (the current style of TFs).
ZapRowsdower
Yeah, sorry my reply got long!
I'm curious to see what they do in this new movie. The claim is that the new direction was decided BEFORE TLK? But I have trouble believing that… except that it's a non-numbered, non-sequel, so could be. Given how badly TLK did, it's easy to believe this BB movie will be successful (low investment cost + decent/good box office return = SUCCESS).
But I still say they should cast a little BOY in the main role. Because they're selling these toys to little boys.
Shark
Oh, yeah, I forgot about the dumb masses.
Eh, it's just all so weird the more I think about it. Society is weird.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing what Pamela's character will be like. Hopefully she's not a copy of Sam's mom.
Prime17
I think you're overthinking these castings. Adlon's just playing a mom who will be a supporting role at best. Yes, the film has female main character but the main draw of the film will be Bumblebee. That's who's toys Hasbro will market to boys (and kids regardless of gender) along with any other TF's toys. Little boys (which for the first three films included me) didn't watch the films because they gave a shit about Sam/Cade's journey. The watch them because they cared about the robots. Which is also what the producers at Paramount should get through their thick skulls.
ZapRowsdower
You're absolutely right… for a free-thinking "radical".
I'm not talking about enlightened individuals, though – I'm talking about the MASSES. And you know the dumb masses.
Girls don't typically gravitate to TFs. And that's because it's 99% male humans and TFs. That's something even Hasbro would be aware of, as the only times they've really included females was at the request of TV execs (or the occasional writer). They specifically align the brand with male interests – that's the focus. And yes, they do net some women, too. But that's more of a bonus than an effort, right?
So if you put more girls in a TF movie, you are consciously trying to make the brand appeal more to girls, right? And girls like certain things: that's not sexism, it's a genetic drive to particular things. For example, girls tend to enjoy socializing a lot more than men. Tea parties are what little girls do, NOT little boys – that's not sexist imprinting by the parents! It's actually a genetic thing (i.e. you don't have to push a boy to be more aggressive, or push a girl to be more social – these things tend to happen on their own, without a parent's values coming into the equation). But don't take that to mean that girls are not allowed to like boy things or be aggressive! I just mean that there's a genetic pattern in place for the behavior and interests of each gender.
Hasbro's job is to capitalize on these difference, whether they be natural or enforced by our society. And selling TFs like normal is NOT the way to get girls to buy. Look at how well the NERF REBELLE line did! Hasbro re-packaged "boy" toys to be more appealing to girls, and it WORKED.
You're saying girls still buy Boy Nerf, and you are right. But not enough buy them. Not like they bought Rebelle. So it's an inevitability: for TFs to sell to girls, Hasbro has to change them in a way that will appeal to the most girls.
Anyway, the point is that you can't sell a watch to a man in the same way you sell it to a woman. Beer gets advertised to each gender in different ways. Or, if not beer, cigarettes are a better example – completely different advertisements (and techniques).
ZapRowsdower
So then it needs male actors – boys look to boys, not girls, for emulation and inspiration. A strong male actor would bring boys to the theater. A strong female actress? We're looking at girls and old weirdo's!
The goal of these things is to sell toys, right? So I'm scratching my head about the female-dominant casting thus far.
I don't think girls will ruin the movie! Not at all. I just wonder, from a selling-toys point of view, how this will help the brand…
HuffR_WFCTX_91135
That's my transformer! I don't know you!
Dconworshipper
would all be great choices. would mean that those cons won't die after just being introduced in the film
daniel 97
Maybe even Blackout? I remember a newspaper clipping of an WWII aircraft robot?
primal789
When your boy is going to college and has a talking car girl watcha gonna do?Act a fool!!
Of course and even a cameo of Starscream
daniel 97
Do we really need more humans in it? I mean come'on! Some robot members would be welcomed! Soundwave or Barricade, anyone?
fathi_haziq
Please be a normal mom.
Please be a normal mom.
Please be a normal mom.
PLEASE BE A NORMAL MOM.
Raiju
As long as she's not eating pot brownies and acting a fool.
soundwavejordan
Don\'t know too much about her but would love to hear other\'s thoughts on her and the previous work she\'s been on. I get the feeling though she\'s going to be a comedic/humorous character, just a hunch though!
DeletedUser_119270
Yeah,it is a male based franchise.
Shark
I don't believe making more "girly" merch is necessary. Women who are into TFs already buy the regular TF toys.
What needs to happen is the end of gendering toys in general, tbh. I don't get why everything can't just be neutral.
UltraAlanMagnus
And Ironhide's Clean Burning Fuel.