TFNation 2022 (First Draft of TF:TM explained)

[Andrusi]

Skyfire is also absent, but given his whole Situation, that might have been specifically mandated.

In any case, it'd be more accurate to say there's an odd absence of season 2 Autobots in the movie (perhaps indicating that the writers specifically made an effort to include all the Decepticons they could but were satisfied with the core Autobot cast they already had). It's just Perceptor, Blaster, and Grapple, and out of those three, Grapple's a nonspeaking cameo and Blaster disappears halfway through the movie.

 

[Andrusi]

I actually had the same thought about Grapple. I ultimately don't think it's necessary to explain his presence, given that S2 characters were clearly on the table as an option since Smokescreen and Red Alert had appearances planned, but if nothing else it's a fun bit of trivia.

(Free-associating from there, I wonder if the reason Sunstreaker is in two different places is that one of them was supposed to be Sideswipe?)

 

[Andrusi]

Honest answer? I forgot it also happened with Hound. >_>

 

[Shadewing]

One thing I think I actually do like about the concept of this script, is the idea that it attempts to start off like just a regular episode of the series, and then kinda rug pulls you.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

This definitely needed some rewrites but there are some things here I like. Unicron is way more interesting here. Here he's a mysterious entity (literally The Entity) that has the Junkions build him a body, then has the Decepticons gather energy for that body (Did the Energon writers know about this?). This is better than the film's origin where he just shows up one day.

This concept of him needing to acquire energy before he can transform and go on his final attack got dropped in the rewrites, but I think we see the ghost of it in the film where he parks next to Cybertron doing nothing for a long time. There was originally a reason he waits so long to attack.

This would have been an absolute clusterhug of a movie, but I think this could be tweaked (and merged with some of the eventual film's better ideas) into a season long arc, or a whole trade's worth of comic issues if they're not ridiculously decompressed.

 

[Tuxedo Prime]

This definitely needed some rewrites but there are some things here I like. Unicron is way more interesting here. Here he's a mysterious entity (literally The Entity) that has the Junkions build him a body, then has the Decepticons gather energy for that body (Did the Energon writers know about this?). This is better than the film's origin where he just shows up one day.

This concept of him needing to acquire energy before he can transform and go on his final attack got dropped in the rewrites, but I think we see the ghost of it in the film where he parks next to Cybertron doing nothing for a long time. There was originally a reason he waits so long to attack.

This would have been an absolute clusterhug of a movie, but I think this could be tweaked (and merged with some of the eventual film's better ideas) into a season long arc, or a whole trade's worth of comic issues if they're not ridiculously decompressed.

Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but the concept of Unicron being built as a protector could (for future media) be merged with the IDW2005 backstory that the builders had been attacked by a previous Cybertronian expansion from long before the Autobot-Decepticon War.

We probably wouldn't get the "All of History is Shockwave's fault" angle had that been the 1986 film, of course. Time travel shenanigans might work well for grown-up audiences, but this proto-movie is still being marketed to an average age of 10, so "Optimus and Hot Rod don't know how bad Cybertron's history used to be" is likely enough of a complex reveal at that stage.

Although if Rewind and company had met an "Onyx" helping A3 during "Forever is a Long Time Coming"....

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I want a Commander Class Rails.

The hero we need.

 

[Blot]

Friedman: The reason I invented Arcee is because my daughter loves Transformers! I wanted a character for her!

Friedman's script: Wheeljack: "haha man Arcee you're sure dumb and a girl and dumb because you're a girl am I right?"

 

[Undead Scottsman]

It sounds like it was played for comedy where Arcee was extremely competent but it was all when Wheeljack wasn't looking so he would remain oblivious and continue to be a sexist dumbass. So, by the script, it would seem the intention that Wheeljack is in the wrong.

Still glad that stuff never made it into the film, even if it would have given Wheeljack a bigger role.

 

[Shadewing]

It sounds like it was played for comedy where Arcee was extremely competent but it was all when Wheeljack wasn't looking so he would remain oblivious and continue to be a sexist dumbass. So, by the script, it would seem the intention that Wheeljack is in the wrong.

Still glad that stuff never made it into the film, even if it would have given Wheeljack a bigger role.

I could see the concept working without the sexism. Wheeljack might be a top scientist, but even in the G1 toon his stuff had the rep of possibly backfiring big time. Arcee just so happens to be as good a scientist if not better, so while Wheeljack's not around she would spruce up his inventions to be less accident prone; and Wheeljack just believes that like he's just gotten better at not making things that explode after one use rather then thinking his assitance is secretly fixing all his mistakes.

It removes the "joke", but preserves the concept of Arcee being super competent but Wheeljack being oblivious to it. Which feels much more in-character for Wheeljack to be so blinded by science that he doesn't realize the other things going on around him.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

That could work. If I were to give this a less drastic revision than it actually got, my first thought was to drop Wheeljack entirely, but his role might be worth fixing instead of dropping entirely. He does have a job to do here. This script passed the torch from the old cast to the new cast much less abruptly. Wheeljack is part of that. The film really just has the Dinobots. Blaster disappears and Perceptor fades out.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Maybe it'll make more sense when we can read the script. A summary by definition isn't telling us everything.

 

[Shadewing]

I think its very simple, this version of the script calls for an Autobot Scientist. This was written before any of the 85 characters were created, so no Perceptor. So that leaves Wheeljack. As Fnu says we don't know everything, so maybe other characters are still promenant; just don't do anything 'summery' worthy. Wheeljack mostly seems mentioned becuase of his sexism and being paired with Arcee.

 

[Greebtron]

Full panel videos are here: https://tf.spacestation-online.com/medi ... gust-14th/

Just remember that these are Mega.nz uploads, which have a data transfer quota for free viewing. You may need to pace out how much you view each day.

 

[Ultra Magnus13]

My head canon used to be that Bluestreak and Huffer died giving Hound and SS cover, long enough for them to get to the space bridge, arrive at Cybertron, hitch a ride to Moon Base 1, and that’s how Prime found out about the attack — that Blaster’s transmission didn’t make it past Earth orbit or something.

Oh the joys of the 90’s and early 2000’s, looking for ways to reconcile a cartoon from your childhood.

I always assumed the road crew (minus Kup) got stuck outside the city. When arriving on Earth Primes shuttle rescues them, but not before Huffer is killed.

One thing I think I actually do like about the concept of this script, is the idea that it attempts to start off like just a regular episode of the series, and then kinda rug pulls you.

This does have a lot more S1 vibes in many parts.

 

[Blot]

In all seriousness, it is neat to see what is essentially the "Pokemon Gold Prototype" for the Transformers movie.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

And our wiki won't pretend to be unaware that it exists for some reason.

 

[SHIELD Agent 47]

Well, can a moderator merge these threads together?

Latest News and Updates!

Your one stop shop for Transformers News, Games and Comics!

www.allspark.com

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Merged. That stuff ended up on page 2.

 

[SHIELD Agent 47]

Merged. That stuff ended up on page 2.

Thanks, CoffeeHorse!