Cityscape

The Autobots Are Coming! Construction Is Underway Downtown For 'Transformers 4'

June 10, 2013, 3:59 PM by  Bill McGraw

Workers are building what seems like a miniature city on a large vacant lot in the middle of downtown Detroit for the next Transformers movie.

Large machines -- not quite as large as in the movies -- are hoisting girders into place. Electric saws are buzzing, and the facades of buildings are taking shape. A truck emblazoned with the Paramount Pictures logo is parked on the lot.

The film is "Transformers 4," directed by Michael Bay. The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Li Bingbing, Sophia Myles, and Jack Reynor.

The parcel sits between Washington Boulevard and Bagley south of Grand Circus Park, just east of the People Mover's elevated track.

A worker said the set soon will resemble a street in Hong Kong. Filming is set to begin in Detroit June 19, he said. 

According to various plot summaries, "Transformers 4" will be a darker sequel to "Transformers Dark of the Moon," and will take place four years after that film.

A plot summary of "Transformers Dark of the Moon, according to the website IMDb: "Autobots Bumblebee, Ratchet, Ironhide, Mirage (aka Dino), Wheeljack (aka Que) and Sideswipe led by Optimus Prime, are back in action taking on the evil Decepticons, who are eager to avenge their recent defeat. The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a perilous space race between the United States and Russia, to reach a hidden Cybertronian spacecraft on the moon and learn its secrets, and once again Sam Witwicky has to come to the aid of his robot friends. The new villain Shockwave is on the scene while the Autobots and Decepticons continue to battle it out on Earth." 

The first "Transformers" was partially shot in Detroit and used the city as a backdrop. "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" was shot in several locations in metro Detroit, including the old Packard Plant, Capitol Park and the Fisher Building. The DTE Conners Creek Facility on the East Side of Detroit doubled as Chernobyl.

The first film, "Transformers," was released in 2007, the second, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," in 2009, and the third, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" in 2011.

"Transformers 4" is scheduled to be released next summer.

 


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