In Production
Transformers 2 Filming Underway? Barricade Spotted!
Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 27, 2008
A set of photos sent over by a friend this afternoon might lead you to believe that the filming of Transformers 2 is getting close to being underway. The pictures were snapped from a camera phone in Culver City, and they are clearly Saleen Mustangs with the Decepticon logo on the side. This just might prove that even if things have not started yet, they are getting close. We reported not long ago that Michael Bay worked on the story during the Writer’s Strike and that writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were excited to get things underway.
The most recent update was that the script is currently in the working stage, with the production set to start in June, but I don’t think that Mr. Bay would let that stop him from blowing some stuff up. As well, you will notice that there are multiple instances of Barricade, the Saleen Mustang Decepticon. Conspiracy theorists would say that maybe Transformers 2 features multiple versions of Barricade — but that is a pretty wild theory. I would imagine it has to do with needing more than one for special effects purposes — you know, just in case one should get blown up. Which would be, to say the least, awesome.
So what do you think? Is this a significant discovery, leading you to believe that Michael Bay is getting the production of Transformers 2 in gear? Or is this just some dude with 3 replicas? I doubt that it is the latter.
Photos Courtesy of Matt Berman at Internet Business Daily
Read more articles by Neil Miller
27 Comments
March 28th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Since they never killed him in the first movie I guess they decided to blow him up this time around.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Good catch Neil. I’ve been starving for some good Transformers news.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hi Neil. They always have multiple cars in movies, simply so they have backup vehicles in case of mechanical breakdown. All of the main character cars and trucks in Transformers 1 had at least 2 spares if they were modified stock vehicles. Heavily customised or custom-built guys such as Prime and Camaro Concept Bumblebee had 1 spare vehicle.
What’s funny is Bumblebee will still be a concept vehicle when the film is released in 2009 even though it’s likely that the production Camaro will have been released by then.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
This is awesome-and to me, with my huge imagination, like we’re in the Tranformers universe..spying on Transformer sightings. Ha I just KNEW Michael couldn’t hide everything from us.
He never died-it’ll be cool to see one of my faves back in action.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Wow this is pretty cool! This looks like a Saleen Mustang S281 RF probably the SuperCharged version or the S281 simply from the looks of the front-end and the classic rear-end bumper/spoiler combo. Ford is definitely putting out their cars and suvs in all the new movies to gain traction. So far this will be 4th movie to show-off the Might Mustang.
1st. Transformers
2nd. I Am Legend (intro scene, and trailer)
3rd. Knight Rider (pilot movie/plus more to come!)
4th. Transformers 2
It might also show up in other movies, but these are the ones I noticed so far.
Awesome pictures btw! Definitely loved the movie.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Whatever did happen to Barricade in the movie? I think he last appeared in the freeway chase scene but he never shows up for the fight in the city.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
has anyone considered that maybe these are the ones used in the original movie and theyre just being moved somewhere?
plus, just because theres more than 1 prop doesnt mean the movie calls for clones of the character in the movie. one of those props might be only a mockup and has no engine, the other might be setup for inside shots looking out through the car, the other might be setup for chase scenes, the other for still shots. or they might all be identical and the copies are just insurance if any of them get damaged.
in any case, nothing is known and anything anyone writes about these pics that isnt official from the Bay camp is just wild speculation.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
@nobody
You are absolutely right. These could very well be cars from the first movie, just being moved around. There is nothing wrong with a little speculation though, especially considering the fact that Michael Bay has been so engaged in getting production started. Things were scheduled to get rolling in June, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone (at least I hope it wouldn’t) if Bay moves it up.
At this point, we don’t know for sure — but that won’t stop us from getting a little giddy about these cars being out of storage for an afternoon.
@tedrick
We are left to assume that Barricade gets away from Optimus Prime, as he drives off during the highway scene. But I have been told that in the novelization of the film, Barricade is killed by Optimus Prime right after that scene takes place. The gap between the novelization and the actual film could have been intentional, with Bay leaving more Decepticons for the sequel. But that is just a theory at this point.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
If you make your background image bigger than 10px, you won’t have that annoying flicker
when scrolling. just double it a couple times. file size will be negligible.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
@concerned visitor
Thanks for the tip. We will do that.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I would say there is a Transformers #2 Just wait it the end of the credits you’ll see the setup for #2. Hate to be a spoiler but the movie is on DVD. Plus there have been other reports that it’s being created.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
wat kinda camera phone took those pictures????
March 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
this is friggin awesome. mr. bay should ask me to join the cast of transformers 2 even as
an extra i would be glad. even the smallest part is a big part for me. heeh mr. bay cast me
as an extra please!!!!!!
March 28th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
You know… Barricade never showed up to the city battle and Starscream definitely didn’t give his all to get the cube back… could these two be co-conspirators? Could be a cool concept.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Im guessing these are just from the first movie. I remember a couple years ago, before the movie came out, I was in downtown LA, and I saw a couple saleen cop cars on a trailer. I snagged a picture with my phone, then a couple months after the movie came out i was looking through my pictures on my comp, and sure enough it was barricade, complete with matching car numbers and everything.
March 29th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Another Transfomers! /me starts salivating
Another good reason to get a bigger HDTV and an extra sub for the home theatre system :)
March 29th, 2008 at 10:08 am
They had 3 Barricade cars for the first movie, so this isn’t anything new, besides that they are obviously doing something with them.
Ahmed: Barricade was/is a S281E, although it uses the stock Mustang GT engine. It also has nothing to do with Ford, as GM sponsored Transformers, and Saleen supplied the S281E (Saleen is listed as a manufacturer).
March 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
i dont think they are filiming it just yet …
but this does get us anxious … and makes the wait harder …
hehe …
March 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I just loved the special effects in the 1st movie. I really am looking forward to #2.
March 29th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I’m not sure if anyone’s noticed, and I doubt it matters, but I found the fact that the “third” Barricade on the trailer is missing a top strobe bar… Perhaps a stage in his transformation towards the “Recon Barricade” toy we’ve seen? Or just something they didn’t add to that car yet?
March 29th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
^^^LOL, so you noticed it too?
ANd I though I was the ONLY one!
March 29th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
What I find strange is why these cars aren’t covered during transport. Unless they wanted to do a little on-the-road marketing or something (which happens to be the case at least now, given this article), one would think that not only would they want to keep the vehicles from the public eye, but also to protect them from getting damaged on the way.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
What I REALLY want to know is how they’re going to explain Barricade’s mysterious disappearance. Especially given the novelized Prime/Barricade fight…
March 30th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Oh, and Kirk, I guess that just makes us the observant ones…
April 1st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I happen to work in downtown LA (where they filmed the final battle scene in T1) and the other morning when I was coming to work I saw the tell-tale Porsche Cayenne with cameras mounted on it driving down Flower Street with police escorts behind it. Didn’t really see anything interesting that they were filming but the Cayenne was swerving a bit. Perhaps getting some footage to help mock up another LA fight scene? I was groggy so of course I didn’t bother taking any pictures. Useless.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:01 pm
@Templeton
Keep an eye out… If you see anything that might be more than meets the eye, snap some pics and send them over!
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
HECK YEAH! You know our man Bay loves his camera cars….
BTW…… I’m not sure how much “leaked” stuff you guys have seen yet, but I’ve read the early, “unofficial” treatment for TF2 (basically a pre-script storyline and scene breakdown, kind of like a screenplay), and let me tell you, WHOA. Here’s a list:
Soundwave finds and nurses Megatron back to health. (sound=energy, energy=revived Megatron)
The REAL Devastator
Ultra Magnus - Car carrier (thank goodness), and apparently getting a scene vs. Devastator in which he power slides sideways down the freeway, dropping several tumbling, transforming Autobots as he goes, all outside Vegas. OH. YEAH.
Hot Rod - Red Ferrari (SWEET!)
Shall I go on? Very well…..
Aerial dogfight between Megatron and Starscream (yes you read that right)
“Final Battle” in Las Vegas
Oh, and apparently Sam and BB spend their spare time owning street racers…
So, needless to say, we’re in for one AWESOME ride. Even if this only happens in part, or we just get a “version” of this treatment, it’ll still be awesome.
So….thoughts….?