ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Transformers" Update: And Your New Megatron Is...Hugo Weaving

"Transformers" Update: And Your New Megatron Is...Hugo Weaving

by Jen Yamato | March 26, 2007

Everyone's favorite "Matrix" operative/elvin lord has apparently landed the coveted role of Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, in Michael Bay's "Transformers."

IESB has been tracking the months-long casting process, which recently pitted Agent Smith of the "Matrix" series -- also known as Australian actor Hugo Weaving -- against longtime "Transformers" cartoon voice actor Frank Welker.

Welker, who has contributed vocal performances to many a beloved series (including "Tiny Toons Adventures," "Animaniacs," the "Scooby-Doo" franchise, "G.I. Joe," "GoBots," "Inspector Gadget," and the dual-role of Rahzar and Tokka in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze") gave voice to no less than eleven characters in the original "Transformers" series.

Weaving himself has lent his distinctive voice to the screen before, voicing Rex the Sheepdog in both 1995's "Babe" and its subsequent sequel, and Noah the Elder in last year's "Happy Feet."

Making casting more curious is the fact that IMDB currently credits Welker with the Megatron gig in this summer's giant robot battlefest, so stay tuned for Bay & Co. to explain that one.

Source: IESB

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(1-10 of 10 posts) | Reply

FluxCapacitor writes:
on Mar 26 2007 02:24 AM

[b]Nice touch[/b]
Just thought I'd get in on the ground floor and say what a good idea this is before the page gets shot down in Flames.

It would've been great to have Welker, but I think his Megatron voice was pretty much rooted in the Saturday morning toon style. The reason Peter Cullen was re-hired as Prime was because his voice is more freely adaptable, echoing many a craggy Western hero or Harrison Ford 'good guy' role.

The only other guy on the planet who could've done Megatron justice would've been Gene Hackman, based on his excellent turn as General Mandible in Antz. But Weaving will be great - he's recognizable and authoritative, and yet you never know how his voice will turn out once it's been processed to sound like a giant robot.

Solid choice. We're in for a treat.

(Reply to this)

bamb0o-stick writes:
on Mar 26 2007 03:45 AM

I really have no preference over who plays the voices of who, as long as it sounds appropriate for the characters they play. Will they be using H. Weaving's normal voice or would like mix it up to make it sound more evil (if that's even possible) and robotic?

(Reply to this)

becnjer writes:
on Mar 26 2007 06:12 AM

In reply to this comment (#859294)
[b]Hugo Weaviing[/b]
I have to agree and can't wait.

I have no particular loyalty to the previous cartoon voice, and really looking forward to see what Mr. Weaving can bring to the role.
I however thought that maybe Gary Oldman would have been good for the role.

Still, can't wait for it!

(Reply to this)

lrm8 writes:
on Mar 26 2007 08:17 AM

as long as he doesnt get too "missssssssssster annnnnnnnnderson" with it, and they synth it like they do with cher's voice (im not saying megatron should sound like cher, although that would be funny), this is fantastic. V for Vendetta is worth watching just to hear the sound of his voice. (here come the haters on V)

(Reply to this)

Merlin235 writes:
on Mar 26 2007 08:43 AM

Every time this guy talks, I think Agent Smith. It ruined parts of LOTR, it ruined V for Vendetta, and it'll ruin Transformers. For me, anyways. I thought the way he spoke in The Matrix was just an embelishment for the character, and was really suprised by LOTRs when he spoke the same way. I can't imagine him voicing a robot invader. I'll be sitting there thinking, "Holy crapy, Hugo Weaving is trying to wipe us out!"

(Reply to this)

timov writes:
on Mar 26 2007 09:13 AM

Hugo's voice for this role? one word: perfect.

(Reply to this)

Elixir writes:
on Mar 26 2007 09:18 AM

yup, i'm pleased with this. Hugo is sooo sick

cant wait

(Reply to this)

FluxCapacitor writes:
on Mar 26 2007 09:50 AM

[b]Prior roles face-off[/b]
Hey Merlin - I never got too much cross-interference between Smith and Elrond, but I did have fun trying to imagine which one would win in a fight.

Now V and Megs have joined the fray, it makes for an interesting field.

I propose that Megs is actually quite vulnerable. V could hit him with nasty terrorist-bombs; Smith could patch into him and become a virus. But would elf-magic work on a robot?

In our day and age, these are the issues that matter.

(Reply to this)

elziard writes:
on Mar 26 2007 10:05 AM

i like it. i'll miss cullen, but then welker hasn't been so highly lobbied for the return to the iconic role. cullen was a MUST, though.

perhaps welker will return in some capacity if the franchise does well.
the animated film had leonard nimoy as the reincarnate form of megatron, eliminating the welker megs. perhaps if weaving's megatron is obliterated, welker would step in as galvatron. oh, the irony. or perhaps a previous megs form.

who knows?

(Reply to this)

getupkid4uga writes:
on Mar 26 2007 10:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#859298)
That's funny, because i didn't think he sounded like Smith at all in the LOTR films. He lost the gravelly sound, spoke with something closer to his native accent, and added some bombast to come off like a powerful king. I think it's not a bad idea at all if he's Megatron, although really I could give a rat's ass about Transformers. I guess I'll see it at some point, though.....

(Reply to this)

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