Oh, Michael Bay, sometimes he makes it too easy. Whether’s it’s Megan Fox as April O’Neil in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” reboot he’s producing, or whatever the heck this trailer is for “Black Sails” which also bears his name, sometimes he really embraces some truly puzzling decisions all in the name of a commercial buck. And so, let’s move on to “Transformers 4.”
Just like every tentpole it seems these days, word arrived last fall that Bay and the team behind “Transformers 4” were looking to shoot in China to help with the international box office, and basically help in securing a decent release date in the country. And now they are courting local folks even more by deciding to choose Chinese actors via a reality show. Amazing. The literally titled “Transformers 4 Chinese Actor Talent Search“ program will place former Academy head Sid Ganis and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura on a panel to pick winners — two professional actors and two total amateurs — from the show that will start airing in June. The chosen will join other Chinese actors, presumably selected via more traditional channels. Producers of the movie promise that “Chinese culture, Chinese traditions and Chinese talent” will feature in the movie, and you might be wondering why everyone is twisting into pretzels to make a good impression.
Here’s the reason: $165 million dollars. That’s how much “Transformers: Dark Of The Moon” earned in the country, making it the fourth highest grossing movie in China of all time. So hooray, Michael Bay has gone from casting Victoria Secret models to anybody who is willing to go on a reality show. Maybe it could be you! We’ll see the results of this unholy experiment on June 27, 2014. [THR]
