The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets

Director: Michael Bay
Writer: Ehren Kruger
Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Tyrese Gibson

Plot

When the war on Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticons appears lost to the Autobots, their leader, Sentinel Prime, attempts to launch the Ark from their planet, containing technology that could have saved his kind. Attacked by Starscream, it crashes on Earth’s moon in 1961. President John F. Kennedy makes his famous promise to the nation to put a man on the moon. The 1969 NASA moon landing is actually an investigation of the wrecked spacecraft.
As Sam Witwicky goes into adulthood, the Autobots are busy as they learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the Moon and must race against the Decepticons to find it and learn its secrets, which could turn the tide into the apocalyptic final battle.[16]

Production

As a preemptive measure, Michael Lucchi and Paramount announced a July 1, 2011 release date in IMAX 3-D for another Transformers film before completion of Revenge of the Fallen. Director Michael Bay responded,
I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3—they asked me on the phone—I said yes to July 1—but for 2012—whoops! Not 2011! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.[17]
On October 1, 2009, Bay revealed that Transformers: Dark of the Moon had already gone into pre-production, and its planned release was back to its originally intended date of July 1, 2011 rather than 2012.[18] Filming started in May 2010, with shooting locations including Chicago, Florida, and Moscow.[19][20] Due to the revived interest in 3-D technology brought in by the success of Avatar,[21] talks between Paramount, Industrial Light & Magic and Bay had considered the possibility of the next Transformers film being filmed in 3-D. Testing has been performed in bringing the technology into Bay’s work.[22] Michael Bay was reluctant to film with 3-D cameras since in test he’d found them to be too cumbersome for his filming style, but he didn’t want to implement the technology in post production either since he was not pleased with the results.[23]
In a hidden extra for the Blu-ray version of Revenge of the Fallen, Bay expressed his intention to make Transformers 3 not necessarily larger than Revenge of the Fallen, but instead go deeper into the mythos, give it more character development, and make it darker and more emotional.[24] Shortly after the release of Revenge of the Fallen, Orci said he would like to introduce Unicron “for scale’s sake”,[25] and Unicron is briefly shown in a secret Transformers 3 preview feature in the Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray disc, although no comment is made on the subject.[24]
Having been called Transformers 3 up to that point, the film’s final title was revealed to be Dark of the Moon in October 2010.[26]

Actors on a Transformers: Dark of the Moon set in July 2010
As of March 19, 2010, the script was said to be finished,[27] and pre-shoots began on April 7, 2010 in Northwest Indiana, specifically around Gary, which will portray Ukraine and Los Angeles.[28][29] Filming began on May 18. The first six weeks took place in Los Angeles, locations included Sherman Oaks, Fourth Avenue and 5. Main. The next four weeks were spent in Chicago. Locations filmed in Chicago included LaSalle Street, Michigan Avenue, Bacino’s of Lincoln Park at 2204 North Lincoln Avenue and around the “Sears Tower”.[30] The scenes set in Michigan Ave featured a substantial amount of pyrotechnics and stunt work.[31] Filming in Detroit was planned to take place August but the Chicago shoot was extended until 1 September.[32] In late September the production moved to Florida, just before the launch of Space Shuttle mission STS-133.[33]
While filming in Washington the crew shot on the National Mall, Michael Bay stated that there would be a car race on the location. Two further locations announced were the Milwaukee Art Museum and an old factory location of Tower Automotive, currently under redevelopment for mixed use as well as the City of Milwaukee equipment yard. Filming was scheduled to take place there after work was done in Chicago.[34] On September 23, filming was done at the former city hall in Detroit, MI. On October 16, work was done at the Johnson Space Center in Texas with intent to shoot a scene set in the late 1960s utilizing extras with period fashion and hairstyles.[35] One day of shooting was also done at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia.[36] Other planned filming locations included Africa, Moscow, and China.[37] About 70%[38] of the film was shot in 3-D, using Arri Alexa and Sony F35 cameras,[39] while other footage was shot in the anamorphic format on 35mm film and converted into 3D in post production.[38] 35mm film was used for scenes filmed in slow motion, and scenes which required higher image quality than the HD digital 3D cameras could provide, such as closeups of faces or shots of the sky.[38] 35mm cameras were also used for scenes where the 3D cameras proved to be too heavy, or were subject to strobing or electrical damage from dust.[38] Filming was officially completed on November 9, 2010.[40] On November 26, it was announced the film had entered post-production.
Initially scheduled to be released on July 1, on May 20, 2011 it was announced that the film would be released on June 29 instead.[41]
Accidents
Filming was temporarily delayed on September 2, 2010 in Hammond, Indiana, when an extra was seriously injured during a stunt. The accident happened when a steel cable snapped from a car being towed, owing to a failed weld, hitting the extra’s car and damaging her skull. The extra, identified as Gabriella Cedillo, had to undergo brain surgery.[42] The injury has left her permanently brain-damaged, paralyzed on her left side and her left eye stitched shut.[43][44] Paramount admitted responsibility for the accident, and covered all medical costs incurred by Cedillo.[45] Nevertheless, on October 5, Cedillo’s family filed a lawsuit, which cites seven counts of negligence against Paramount, D.W. Studios and several other defendants (not including Bay), with total damages sought in excess of US$350,000.[46]
On October 11, 2010, while filming a chase scene at 3rd Street and Maryland Avenue, SW, a Washington DC Metropolitan Police K9 Unit SUV struck the Camaro that portrays Bumblebee in the film. The area had been closed off by the DC police, and it is not clear why the SUV was there. Both drivers were uninjured,[47][48] but the Camaro was severely damaged.[49]
Cast and characters

Humans
Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky.[8] The leading human character who is friends with the Autobots. Given a grappling gun glove to help fight.[50]
Josh Duhamel plays U.S. Army Lt. Colonel William Lennox, the commanding officer of NEST, an international task force battling Decepticons alongside the Autobots.
John Turturro plays Agent Seymour Simmons, a former agent of the terminated Sector 7 unit.
Tyrese Gibson plays USAF Chief Robert Epps, a combat controller and a member of NEST.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley plays Carly Spencer,[51][52] Sam’s new love interest, loosely based on the character with the same name from the original 1984 animated series. Huntington-Whiteley had worked with director Michael Bay before in various Victoria’s Secret commercials.[53] Previously Bay had narrowed it to three final candidates: model Brooklyn Decker, actress Sarah Wright, and Huntington-Whiteley being the front-runner, even though she had no acting experience.[54]
Patrick Dempsey plays Dylan Gould,[55][56] Carly’s boss, who is a race-car driver with a huge collection of cars.[57][58] Dempsey described his role as “darker” than others and “significant to the plot”.[59] Initially cast to play Mikaela’s boss, Dempsey’s role was reassigned when Mikaela was written out of the film.[60]
Kevin Dunn and Julie White play Ron and Judy Witwicky,[61] Sam’s parents.
John Malkovich plays Bruce Brazos, Sam’s first boss.
Frances McDormand plays Charlotte Mearing, the United States Secretary of Defense.[62]
Lester Speight plays Hardcore Eddie, a new NEST Member.[63] He is an experienced soldier who has fought in war along with Epps’ father many years ago.[64]
Alan Tudyk plays Dutch, Agent Simmons’ assistant.[65]
According to representatives for Paramount, Megan Fox’s absence from the film was due to Bay ultimately choosing not to renew her role,[66] although representatives for the actress said that it was her decision to leave the film franchise.[67] It was later said that Fox’s comments comparing Bay to Hitler particularly angered Steven Spielberg, which would have affected the decision to let Fox go.[68] With Fox not reprising her role, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was chosen to play Sam’s new love interest. Ramón Rodríguez was initially planned to be in the film, in a role bigger than the one he had in Revenge of the Fallen, but he was dropped during early production.[69] Glenn Morshower’s official webpage informs of his return into the 2011 film, but his role isn’t yet revealed.[70] Ken Jeong will have an undisclosed role in the film,[37] and Kym Whitley has declared being involved in the shoots. A casting call for extras for the film has been said to call for actors to play Iranian military men for scenes to be filmed in Los Angeles,[71] and reportedly the Ukrainian army will be involved as well.[72] Glee’s Iqbal Theba confirmed on Twitter that he will have a cameo appearance as the secretary-general of the United Nations.[73]
Autobots
Peter Cullen voices Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader. While he retains his vehicle mode of a blue Peterbilt 379 truck with red flame decals, he has been added a trailer similar to his Generation 1 counterpart,[74] and has been redesigned to look more heroic.[75] Optimus can combine with his trailer and gain a third transformation mode.[76][verification needed]
Leonard Nimoy[77][78], who voiced Galvatron in The Transformers: The Movie, voices Sentinel Prime. Nimoy had been considered for voicing The Fallen in Revenge of the Fallen before that role was given to Tony Todd. He transformers into a Rosenbauer fire truck.
Bumblebee, Sam’s guardian that turns into a fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro has gone through some changes. His vehicle mode features a new body kit and paint job.
Jess Harnell voices Ironhide, the Autobot weapons specialist and Optimus Primes right hand man who transforms into a GMC Topkick. Killed by Sentinel Prime.
Robert Foxworth voices Ratchet, the Autobot medic who transforms into a search and rescue Hummer H2. Ratchet also had some changes done to his vehicle form, which has been painted green and white.[79]
James Remar voices Sideswipe, the Autobot whose vehicle mode is a silver Chevrolet Corvette Centennial, now upgraded into a convertible.[80]
Tom Kenny voices Wheelie, a former Decepticon that returns from his debut in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. His vehicle mode is a toy truck.[81]
Reno Wilson voices Brains, a small and intelligent Autobot who transforms into a laptop computer and is friends with Wheelie.[82][83]
Francesco Quinn voices Dino, an Autobot who becomes a red Ferrari 458 Italia and speaks with an Italian accent.[37]
George Coe voices Que, an Autobot scientist whose head looks like Albert Einstein.
The Wreckers, an Autobot sub-team that transform into heavily armed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet Impala stock cars equipped with machine guns.[84][85] They function as a Commando Unit, and are mechanics, helping Epps rebuild an Autobot spaceship.[86] The Wreckers are:
John DiMaggio voices Leadfoot, a Juan Pablo Montoya #42 Target car.
Ron Bottitta voices Roadbuster, a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. #88 AMP Energy/National Guard car.
Topspin, a Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt car.
Decepticons
Hugo Weaving [87] voices Megatron, the Decepticon Leader. He has changed his vehicle mode to an armored rusty Mack Titan 10-wheeler fuel tank truck equipped with heavy weaponry.[88] Due to the events from the last movie Megatron will hide half of his face by using a cowl.[89] Killed by Optimus after trying to help fight Sentinel Prime.
Frank Welker[90] voices Shockwave, who transforms into a Cybertronian self propelled cannon and will act as the main villain of the film.[91][92] Corey Burton, who performed Shockwave’s voice in all of Shockwave’s major animated appearances was offered the role, but he declined it, so David Warner was considered to voice him[93] before the role was given to Welker. According to an interview with producer Tom DeSanto published in issue #15 of the Transformers Collectors Club Magazine, Shockwave was among the original Decepticon cast pitched for the 2007 Transformers film.[citation needed] Much like his original appearance, Shockwave is purple, has a head featuring a single eye, and has a gun in place of one of his hands. Shockwave has been imprisoned underneath Chernobyl for years and is now seeking revenge on his captors and enemies.[94] Dies fighting Optimus Prime.
Driller, Shockwave’s pet. A cybertronian creature that served for drilling purposes, and considered to be very deadly. Killed by Optimus.
Charles Adler voices Starscream, the air commander who transforms into an F-22 Raptor.[95] Killed by Sam when he plants a bomb in his eye.
Frank Welker voices Soundwave, Megatron’s communication officer, who now transforms into a silver Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.[96] Killed by Bumblebee.
Keith Szarabajka voices Laserbeak, Soundwave’s minion that resembles a mechanical condor[97][98] and transforms into a Gyrodyne and a desktop computer and various others.[99]
The Dreads, a group of Decepticons who follow the Autobots back from the moon and turn into Chevrolet Suburban emergency vehicles.[100]
Crankcase, the leader of the Dreads.
Crowbar, who is depicted as turning into a Carbon Motors E7 police car in the toy line.
Hatchet, who had an animal-like robot mode, and turns into a jet fighter in the toy line.
Greg Berg voices Igor.
A Decepticon has been revealed to turn into a Superfund armored security truck.[101]
Release

Transformers: Dark of the Moon premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival on June 23, 2011. Linkin Park performed a special outdoor concert at the Red Square in Moscow on the same night in celebration of the event.[1] The film is set to be released on June 29, 2011 in 3D.[3] Originally set to be released in both conventional and IMAX theaters, it was announced in November 2010 that no IMAX 3D shots were made for the film.[102]
Marketing
Most of the characters returned for Hasbro’s new toyline, which came out on May 16, 2011.[103][104] In October 2010, Entertainment Tonight previewed the behind-the-scenes filming in Chicago.[105] Following that, the official film website was changed with the logo and the release date under it.[citation needed] A two-minute teaser trailer was announced on November 27,[106] and was posted to the web on December 9, 2010.[107] A thirty-second television advertisement for the film aired during Super Bowl XLV on FOX on February 6, 2011.[citation needed] The first full theatrical trailer was released on April 28, 2011.[108] A 3D trailer is expected to be released on May 20, 2011 with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 3D, which would complete the promotional campaign for Dark of the Moon.[109] The very first clip was released on May 18th. [110] A second clip was released the next day on May 19th. [111]
Soundtrack
Main article: Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The Album
The album was released on June 14, 2011. Linkin Park’s song “Iridescent” is the lead single for the film, continuing the streak of the band’s songs as the theme songs of the film series. The single follows “What I’ve Done” being used in the 2007 film, and “New Divide” for the 2009 film. The music video for “Iridescent” was directed by Joe Hahn.[112] Two other singles were released specifically for the soundtrack, “Monster” by Paramore[113] and “All That You Are” by the Goo Goo Dolls. Several other unreleased songs make their debut on the album, including “The Pessimist” by Stone Sour and “The Bottom” by Staind.[114]
The release date for the film’s musical score is currently unknown.
Home media
During Hasbro Investor Day, it was announced that the DVD and Blu-ray Disc will be released in the fourth quarter of 2011.[115]
Novelizations
Main article: Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Junior Novel
In May of 2011 the novelization, junior novel and graphic novel of Transformers: Dark of the Moon were released. Both the novel and the graphic novel featured Skids and Mudflap as supporting characters, but they were missing from the junior novel. None of them featured a character named Silverbolt. The graphic novel made reference to several Autobots from the IDW tie-in comics who died in the stories between Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon.[116]
Video game
Main article: Transformers: Dark of the Moon (video game)
Activision is set to develop a video game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS.[115] The trailer for the Dark of the Moon video game was released in February 2011.[117] The game will be developed by High Moon Studios, who previously developed Transformers: War for Cybertron. It has also been announced that the game will also feature “Stealth Force”. Autobots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Warpath, Stratosphere, Breakaway and Mirage have been confirmed to be in the game, and so have Decepticons Megatron, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Starscream, Mixmaster and Shockwave.