GERMANY: European premiere of new Transformers movie 'Transformers: Age of Extinction'

Record ID: 221368

  • Title: GERMANY: European premiere of new Transformers movie 'Transformers: Age of Extinction'
  • Date: 29th June 2014
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JUNE 29, 2014) (REUTERS) FILM POSTER SHOWING MARK WAHLBERG
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA2DXH4CKGMJ0H982IT34TGIT7M
  • Story Text: The stars and crew of "Transformers: Age of Extinction" walked the red carpet in Berlin on Sunday (June 29) for the film's European premiere.
    The film, the fourth based on the Transformers franchise, is expected to become one of the highest-grossing movies of 2014, with the three prior films generating $2.7 billion (1.6 million GBP) in ticket sales at global box offices. New IMAM technologies were used to create the human and Transformer worlds in the action-packed movie.
    In the United States and Canada, "Age of Extinction" is expected to bring in $265 million (155.7 million GBP) during its theatrical run, according to a projection from Boxoffice.com. Paramount spent more than $200 million (117.5 million GBP) to make the film.
    Mark Wahlberg takes over where Shia LaBeouf, who was the lead in the original trilogy, left off in the summer blockbuster. Wahlberg plays a mechanic in the movie, who inadvertently discovers that a truck he is working on is a Transformer and is soon drawn into the battle between the benevolent Autobots and the dastardly Decepticons.
    Wahlberg said being the lead in a film this size was a welcomed challenge but he approached it in a very professional way.
    "I approached this the same way I approached 'Ted' or any other movie that I do," the actor told Reuters. "You know. As an actor you just wanna be believable in the role. And you want to make sure that you're servicing the director's vision. Michael (Bay) is an amazingly talented guy. If you think about that sort of pressure, whether it'd be in a revising, a franchise, any of those things, it kind of distract you from the big challenge. And the big challenge really is just make sure that you live up to Michael Bay's expectations and you make him happy on a daily basis. That's pressure enough."
    Beside Wahlberg, the film also stars Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci and Jack Reynor. The most talked about star of the film is Nicola Peltz. She is playing the role of Wahlberg's teenage daughter.
    Following in the footsteps of Megan Fox and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Nicola Peltz is set to make her debut as female lead in "Transformers 4: Age of Extinction."
    For Wahlberg, himself a dad, playing one was a new experience. But one he loved very much. Because he got to work through the issues of the not-so-suited boyfriend from the dad's point of view.
    "It's crazy because I was that guy, I was the boyfriend, the thorn in the father's eye," he said. "And now I'm the dad. But I'm lucky to be in the position where I get to still do what I do and love."
    Newcomers Nicola Peltz, who plays Wahlberg's teenage daughter, and her on-screen boyfriend, Jack Reynor, said they couldn't believe to be a part of such a huge franchise.
    "It's so exciting for me. I mean, I grew up being a huge 'Transformers' fan and now to be involved in the fourth one... it's so exciting," Peltz told Reuters. "And Michael Bay is a genius. And I wouldn't be standing here without him. So, I look up to him so much."
    But beside not only working with a famous director but also with a great actor made filming more easy for Hollywood's latest star. "Mark, I mean. Everyone knows how talented he is. But he is so hard-working. And I feel very lucky to call him my mentor," Peltz said.
    Filming took place in Hong Kong and three mainland cities including scenes at the Great Wall. Chinese actress Li Bingbing was cast in the film, and four smaller parts were filled by actors chosen from a Chinese TV reality show.
    "You know it's now... China, the market in China is unbelievable," Li explained the big success. "So, now this movie has been already released in China for three days . You know much box office we got? 100 million dollars, U.S. dollars. So you can imagine, it's unbelievable. It is so successful in China."
    But beside hard work and saving the world there was also fun at the set, as newcomer Jack Reynor said laughingly. "Mark and I, every Wednesday we rip Nicola's weave out of her hair, her hair extensions. I hold her down and Mark just start ripping them out. And he holds it up like he scalped her. And that's how we spend our Wednesday afternoons."
    "Transformers: Age of Extinction" opens in German cinemas on July 14.
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