ROTTEN TOMATOES: Writing Team Penning Fast-Tracked Transformers 2

Writing Team Penning Fast-Tracked Transformers 2

Kurtzman & Orci to return, team with Ehren Kruger?

by Jeff Giles | October 04, 2007

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It looked like a long shot, but give 'em credit for moving quickly when they needed to -- DreamWorks/Paramount is getting its ducks in a row for the fast-tracked Transformers 2.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio has secured the services of Michael Bay and Shia LaBeouf, and the production team of Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and Steven Spielberg remains intact. Next up is the script, which looks like it'll be written by a trio: Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who wrote the first Transformers, are in talks with the studio to write the sequel with Ehren Kruger. From the article:

The teaming will not be a case of complete strangers being thrust together, as the three writers are working together on "Nightlife," a DreamWorks serial-killer project that sees Kruger adapting a Thomas Perry novel, with Kurtzman and Orci producing along with Neal Moritz. Kruger also adapted the Stephen King tome "The Talisman," which Spielberg is exec producing for TNT.

Sources are pegging the writing deal, which is not yet closed, in the $5 million-$7 million range, which also might be an industry high for a nonoriginal screenplay. Reflected in the price is the pressure to perform: With the studio hoping to make the movie before a potential talent strike, the writers are going to have to type fast.

The somewhat unusual arrangement might be necessary, according to the article, because Kurtzman and Orci are tied up with writing Star Trek XI, as well as their production duties for DreamWorks' Eagle Eye. Another Kurtzman/Orci project not mentioned by the Reporter, according to IESB, is a rewrite of Alex Tse's script for Watchmen. Says IESB:

Hot off Transformers, the pair were brought in months ago to take a whack at the critically acclaimed superheroes.

I don't know how many elements of Alex Tse's script remains in the current shooting draft but we have been told that the script is quite different from the former.

We have also been informed that there were minor tweaks of the Orci/Kurtzman script done by director Zack Snyder himself. Can't go wrong with these three involved!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Source: IESB

Related Items

Movie:	Star Trek
	Watchmen
Celeb:	Steven Spielberg
	Roberto Orci
	Zack Snyder
	Shia LaBeouf
	Tom DeSanto
	Ehren Kruger
	Michael Bay
	Alex Kurtzman

(1-20 of 37 posts) | Reply

frogleg writes:
on Oct 04 2007 07:35 AM

Wow. Since when was rushing a movie to production a good thing, especially when rushing the writing? Not like anyone expected Citizen Kane, I guess.

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blank blank writes:
on Oct 04 2007 08:27 AM

who's happy about this? transformers sucked major monkey balls in the "writing" department. having these two douchebags write watchmen makes me really, really nervous...

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DanielLee8793 writes:
on Oct 04 2007 08:40 AM

I guess this one is gonna suck major **** just like the first one.

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nathanpoitras writes:
on Oct 04 2007 09:10 AM

All those Transformers writers getting together with their crayons for another go-around. If it's true that sequels are never as good as the original, I guess we're in for one of the worst movies of all time.

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dahluzz writes:
on Oct 04 2007 09:44 AM

this thing is optimus primed for utter failure... well, aside from its $300 million domestic gross.

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renodc writes:
on Oct 04 2007 09:47 AM

Rushing any movie into production is never a good thing creatively. Of course, this has nothing to do with putting out the best possible product. This is all financially driven, and is simply about striking while the iron is hot and before the potential writer's strike.

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DanielLee8793 writes:
on Oct 04 2007 10:07 AM

It doesnt matter how much the movie made, people usually dont know whats good or not. If your smart and edcuated you will know what to look for in a movie, rather than just fancy special effects...

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dahluzz writes:
on Oct 04 2007 10:21 AM

"if YOUR smart and educated... blah blah blah" shut up, you've been owned.

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opTIMus Nerd writes:
on Oct 04 2007 10:39 AM

I was not aware they are adapting the Talisman...Does TNT mean for the cable channel?

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arendr writes:
on Oct 04 2007 10:55 AM

Aren't these the same guys that Bay had eviscerate the original script for The Island?

I fully admit it: I am a Bay hater. Which means you can guess my opinion on this story.

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DanielLee8793 writes:
on Oct 04 2007 10:59 AM

In reply to this comment (#1168060)
what the hell are you talking about? How was I owned?

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sickofitall writes:
on Oct 04 2007 11:04 AM

In reply to this comment (#1167969)
you suck dick *******

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sguy78 writes:
on Oct 04 2007 11:05 AM

I just don't understand how this is being pegged as a good thing. I'd rather wait for them to put a good script together than rush it. Transformers wasn't meant to be Shakespear, it's supposed to be robots kicking the hell out of eachother. Even so, the original script wasn't that great. If they rush the second script it doesn't look good.

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sickofitall writes:
on Oct 04 2007 11:05 AM

In reply to this comment (#1168057)
once again ******* shut the **** up

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Heath Huxall writes:
on Oct 04 2007 11:41 AM

This, 'The Mummy 3' and 'Terminator 4'? I wonder if the world is going to explode? Everyon get ready for the Apocalypse.

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hewpot writes:
on Oct 04 2007 12:57 PM

TRANSFORMERS OWNS ALL YOU **** HEADS!!! CANT WAIT MOTHER ****ERS! WOOO!!!!

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harrismonkey writes:
on Oct 04 2007 01:30 PM

Yeah, I didn't want that team back to begin with let alone writing four different scripts at the same time in about a month before the strike hits.

As much as I'm not a Bay fan, the writing was ALREADY the worst thing about the first one.

Ouch.

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Damon687 writes:
on Oct 04 2007 01:52 PM

I really don't get it, its like this site has a bunch of haters that just WAIT to read an article that has nothing to do with them and then post crap. If you hated Transformers to the level that it sucked bad, why are you even reading an article about a sequel? Just to make other people miserable who really enjoyed the movie? I am still not even sure why these people saw the first transformers at all considering you got exactly what was advertised (maybe not what you wanted but they didn't hide what it was).

Also, I personally like all kinds of movies except for chick flicks and sometimes I'm in the mood for brain candy, sometimes I just want pure fun entertainment. To say people that just like to sit back here and there and enjoy awesome special effects and have a few laughs aren't smart or educated is just plain ignorance.

The writing wasn't great for the 1st one but it was perfectly fine for the movie it was (a summer popcorn action flick). Frankly, the only writing I disliked was Anthony Anderson's character who I normally find funny enough; the rest of it was perfectly FINE. The rest of the movie rocked though and I loved the special affects / battles. Clearly LOTS of people also really enjoyed the movie or it wouldn't have gotten the referrals and super long legs at the box office.

That all being said, the writing strike is a while away so I am not sure why you guys are acting like this is super rushed. They just put it to the top of the priority list before they can't get it done. It's not like its super hard to write a movie script in the amount of time they have when you have 3 guys working on it, especially for a sequel to a Michael Bay action flick (not super complex). I personally don't think this acceleration will mean anything bad at all, it will just mean they'll have a script before the strike, that simple.

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Uradik Smoke writes:
on Oct 04 2007 02:13 PM

And let the Transformers hating begin , again lol ...

What has it been like 2 weeks since a forum on Transformers ? All the haters have a couple weeks of hate buil up and are ready to unleash it ...

Like it or not the movie made close to 700 Million worldwide and that automatically puts it on the fast track for a sequel ...

I expect a similar movie to the first , maybe a lil more robot action and hopefully alot less human plot , some news Transformers , a better plot , some major new action sequences and this will be better than the first one , If anything it will be bigger and louder and have more flash than the first , thats enough for the kid and fan in me ...

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AcE! writes:
on Oct 04 2007 02:57 PM

I dont think the dialogue or plot of this movie is going to be the strong point no matter what happens now. As long as the dialogue and acting doesnt get worse, and theres more action, ill be satisfied. The idea of the sequal being a great movie with a rich story is pretty much gone, might as well get to the explosions and make another popcorn movie. Which isnt really a bad thing, for me anyway. =)

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