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Hugo Weaving calls Megatron Meaningless and Michael Bay gets Pissed

posted 12 years ago by superturbo4
19 replies | jump to latest

In a recent interview with Collider Hugo Weaving called his voiceover work as Megatron in the Transformers films meaningless, and director Michael Bay got pissed off and fired back at the actor on his blog. Here's what the actor said,

Hugo Weaving comments

That's a weird job for me because it honestly was a two-hour voice job, initially. I was doing a play and I actually didn't have time, anyway. It was one of the only things I've ever done where I had no knowledge of it, I didn't care about it, I didn't think about it. They wanted me to do it. In one way, I regret that bit. I don't regret doing it, but I very rarely do something if it's meaningless. It was meaningless to me, honestly. I don't mean that in any nasty way. I did it. It was a two-hour voice job, while I was doing other things. Of course, it's a massive film that's made masses of money. I just happened to be the voice of one of the iconic villainous characters. But, my link to that and to Michael Bay is so minimal. I have never met him. I was never on set. I've seen his face on Skype. I know nothing about him, really. I just went in and did it. I never read the script. I just have my lines, and I don't know what they mean. That sounds absolutely pathetic! I've never done anything like that, in my life. It's hard to say any more about it than that, really.

geektyrant.com/news/2012/10/19/hugo-weaving-calls-megatron-meaningless -and-michael-bay-gets.html

Hugo Weaving comments can also be found on...

collider.com/hugo-weaving-the-hobbit-trilogy-interview/203015/

It'll be really interesting to see Bayformers fans defend the criticisms of the films after Hugo "Megatron" Weaving come out and even said they aren't any good more or less. And that Bay didn't make the effort to meet up with him personally. Hugo can't be faulted for his recent comments, if the director treated him like a mere extra doing voiceover work thousands of miles away in a different country now can he?!

With Shia LaBeouf's recent comments about wanting to do indie films and not crappy big budgeted Hollywood crap (need to find the article) it seems Bay's just not everyone's favorite person right now. Especially in light of the Ninja Turtles controversy he's also stirring up. Denying the script featuring the Ninja Turtles as; "Aliens" wasn't his concept or ideas, the military themes in the leaked script beg to differ on those claims to the contrary though.

What's everybody else's opinions on Hugo weaving comments in regards to the Transformers movies of Michael Bay. And the opinions shared by both men towards one another.

ST4

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdownhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGNMcif9RjA

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] CosmosX9 12 years ago

Psshh! I knew he didn't care. ;)

"YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE ME!" -Fluttershy (MLP: Friendship is Magic)

[–] superturbo4 12 years ago

Yup!

ST4

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdownhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGNMcif9RjA

[–] Blue_Eyes_James 12 years ago

It sounds like Hugo was just being completely truthful. He said he didn't mean it nasty or regret it, but "meaningful" is important to some actors. He was merely reflecting his opinion on what kind of work he takes is personal to him, maybe moreso as the years go by.

But it also reflects that Bay wasn't interested in having his voice actors experience any method acting of any sort. Some directors would insist on an actor getting into a metallic suit and experiencing some physical sensations as that character so that they could bring it into the studio with them.

Scarlett shot first!

[–] osimonide 12 years ago

Touché.

These comments felt very honest and not at all nasty.

It seems that neither really cared : Bay did not demand anything more than a simple line reading, Weaving did nothing to research the character etc.

At the end of the day though Weaving's Megatron has much more personnality than the other robots ! IMHO he's the only real standout.

So it's interesting to learn that the two men never even met, and that Weaving did not work for more than a few hours on the film.

In the end, it works.

Production processes can be surprising.

[–] DarklordRB 12 years ago

I find this odd. Megan Fox calls Bay Hitler and he still shows her some composure, but when Hugo expresses a mild honest opinion he goes ape sh^t over it and throws a fit.

[–] osimonide 12 years ago

Bay has a terrible reputation as a misogynist.

Plus there had been a lot of stories about Megan Fox being asked to suntan to unealthy levels for the movies etc.

My guess is he didn't go ape sh^t because he was on shaky ground and didn't want to appear as an insensitive brute.

So the (perceived as) "more respectable" Spielberg fired her without any excess, explaining why, while Michael Bay mostly kept quiet and seemed perfectly reasonable during the process.

I have no doubt that he was privately very pissed by the comments.

Another thing : Megan's Fox comments are shocking but also very generic and not very smart, so in the end they don't amount to much. While Hugo's give us a clear look at the inner workings of Bay's films and are in the end more damaging.

[–] DarklordRB 12 years ago

because he was on shaky ground

I wonder if there was a pun intended there when you talk about Michael Bay on Shaky ground, meaning his camera work.

[–] osimonide 12 years ago

No pun intended but indeed there should have been :-)

[–] PlayingNice 12 years ago

Megan's Fox comments are shocking but also very generic and not very smart, so in the end they don't amount to much.

I don't think "smart" is what she was going for. She was stating a generic statement when asked a question. Considering what she could have said, I'd say she handled it well....especially since she's known to let her sarcasm carry her comments.

I don't shut up, I grow up, and when I look at you, I throw up, Aghhh!

[–] wallacesawyer 12 years ago

Oh well. DARK OF THE MOON didn't have much reason to include Megatron, other than to kill him off. The next film should have a new villain. So it's not like Weaving will have to return anyway.

http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/

[–] cs_vapor 12 years ago

They should've casted Megatron's original voice actor Frank Welker from the very beginning. He probably wanted to do it more than Hugo did.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] yarmen12 12 years ago

This ^

Not only that, they should have written Megatron better, the first film he was allright but after that he didn't do much other than be a big bad guy for everyone to run away from or kick the @ss of.

[–] Suntory_Times 12 years ago

I agree they should have cast the original voice actor, however maybe Michael Bay didn't push for more from Hugo Weaving as he is a remarkable actor and his lines where already well delivered. So what would be the point of research and extra director involvement etc, if the actor was able to portray the character as the director wanted anyway? I have numerous issues with this film series, one of them is not the voice work done by Hugo Weaving.

For relaxing times, make it Suntory time...

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jorgito2001 11 years ago

They should've casted Megatron's original voice actor Frank Welker from the very beginning. He probably wanted to do it more than Hugo did.

...Looks like Bay was pi55ed enough to hire Frank Welker as Megatron for Transformers: The Ride at Universal Hollywood and Orlando! He sounds like the version in Transformers: Prime and I STILL say Welker should've been hired for the movies in the first friggin' place!!!!

Haven't read too much of the 4th film, but hoping Welker is back in some shape or form as Megatron/Galvatron.

--
I'm your average ordinary everyday, jorgeegeetooo!

[–] club-shred 12 years ago

Hugo Weaving comments

That's a weird job for me because it honestly was a two-hour voice job, initially. I was doing a play and I actually didn't have time, anyway. It was one of the only things I've ever done where I had no knowledge of it, I didn't care about it, I didn't think about it. They wanted me to do it. In one way, I regret that bit. I don't regret doing it, but I very rarely do something if it's meaningless. It was meaningless to me, honestly. I don't mean that in any nasty way. I did it. It was a two-hour voice job, while I was doing other things. Of course, it's a massive film that's made masses of money. I just happened to be the voice of one of the iconic villainous characters. But, my link to that and to Michael Bay is so minimal. I have never met him. I was never on set. I've seen his face on Skype. I know nothing about him, really. I just went in and did it. I never read the script. I just have my lines, and I don't know what they mean. That sounds absolutely pathetic! I've never done anything like that, in my life. It's hard to say any more about it than that, really.

Is it me, or did anyone else read his quote here (or at least IMAGINE it) being said/read by Agent Smith?

Hi, I'm Chandler... could I BE wearing any more clothes???

[–] fluffchop 11 years ago

Well, I'm Australian and chances are if you ask an Australian a question you'll get a straight answer. What does Michael Bay want? a Hollywood type who says: oh that voice over work was just the highlight of my career, it defined me not only as an actor but as a human being. I owe Michael so much for giving me the opportunity to perform in this role. I am just so humbled by his greatness as a Director. He was the divine light of creation guiding us all through the wonderment that was this great film experience.