As Aaron Sterns, diving into the world of Transformers was like stepping onto a playground I hadn’t visited since my childhood days. Keegan Michael-Key, much like an old friend who shows up unexpectedly with a bag full of nostalgia, casually slipped in A-atron, beating both my Easter egg and my joke. It was a delightful surprise, akin to discovering that the toy I’d been searching for in the attic had somehow found its way back into my hands.
[This story contains spoilers for Transformers: One.]
Over the last ten years, Eric Pearson has been a reliable writer for Marvel Studios, creating blockbusters like Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow, as well as future projects such as Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps. During this time, he’s also branched out to other series, including Godzilla vs. Kong, and more recently, he ventured into a legendary world with Transformers: One.
The cartoon narrative unfolds the story of once inseparable companions, Orion Pax (played by Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry), who eventually transformed into sworn adversaries, Optimus Prime and Megatron.
For several weeks, Pearson was stationed in a conference room close to director Josh Cooley at Paramount Studios, using an earlier script from screenwriters Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari as a foundation. One of the key aspects he focused on was creating an opening sequence that seamlessly delivered exposition, ensuring it would be well-received by viewers despite its heaviness. Additionally, Pearson took great satisfaction in testing the boundaries of a PG rating, aiming to make the content both entertaining and suitable for a broad audience.
One noteworthy moment showcased character B (played by Keegan-Michael Key), an isolated robot from isolution, who interacted with a handful of ‘friends’, which were actually just piles of scraps. The author humorously dubbed one of these companions Steve, as he found the notion of a standard human name amusing amidst all the peculiar bot names. The other was christened EP-508, a combination of the author’s initials and the Massachusetts area code where he spent his childhood.
Unbeknownst to Pearson, Key surprised me with an improvisation during the recording, referencing back to a well-known sketch from our Comedy Central show, “Key & Peele”. In this sketch, I played a substitute teacher character named Mr. Garvey who struggled to pronounce student names. One of those students was famously mispronounced as ‘A-aron’. Over a decade later, that iconic moment has been revisited in the naming of one of B’s robot friends – A-atron.
Pearson stated, “A-atron was absolutely him,” implying that he had skillfully integrated A-atron into the situation. This left me impressed, as it surpassed both my expectations for an Easter egg hunt and a joke. Indeed, he hit the mark perfectly.
At present, Pearson is stationed in Los Angeles, dedicating time to the script for Marvel’s upcoming film, Blade. However, he momentarily paused his work to dive into the intricacies of the Transformers: One project, and expressed some insights about being one of a select few Marvel writers whose films will be released within the same year, with Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four: First Steps scheduled for next summer.
When did you join the Transformers: One, and what pieces were already in place?
As we neared the midpoint of the game, they followed a blueprint detailing the narrative’s framework, which remains largely the backbone of the tale today. However, what intrigued me about animation production is that some aspects were already well underway. The train escape sequence to the surface was nearly completed, so any alterations would be minimal at best. Conversely, the opening scene, encompassing the initial 10 minutes, consisted mostly of storyboards and rough sketches, which underwent numerous revisions.
As a gamer putting myself in the shoes of the filmmaker, yes, it was definitely a challenge for us to ensure that the audience doesn’t completely align with D-16 throughout the entire movie. We felt it was important to maintain an element of mystery and complexity, so the ending wouldn’t be predictable or too sympathetic towards him. Balancing empathy for D-16 while keeping the audience engaged and questioning his motives was a key part of our creative process.
It’s possible that I made a mistake there. From the start, D-16 resonated with me. Orion may have the classic hero’s journey, but D-16, I could empathize with his motivations. I was trying to make this place feel more real and less like a slave colony under Sentinel Prime. Initially, my intention was to develop and comprehend what incentives were being used to keep these people in line. D-16 adheres to rules, and I can relate to that. What frustrates me most is playing by the rules only to find out someone else has been breaking them or that the rules themselves are unfair.
You definitely feel for him.
I found it commendable how Josh’s character was portrayed with a darker tone, and the line “I want to kill him” really stood out to me as I wrote it, especially when you could see the red tinge in his eyes. It gives off quite an eerie vibe. I appreciate that they chose to explore this aspect. Such moments make the story feel more mature and less like a children’s movie. When I was young, I remember watching things that were rated PG, and there would be scenes or dialogue that made me feel like I wasn’t supposed to be seeing them, which only made me want to watch more.
Was it decided earlier that Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth would be involved in the project while you were writing, or did they join the team at a later stage?
After Scarlett appeared, it seemed like they were trying to win him over, if my guess is correct. I haven’t directly discussed this with Scarlett, but I passed on the script to her. Hemsworth and I exchanged a few conversations regarding the character. It was quite challenging to strike a balance, ensuring he didn’t appear overly trusting or reliant solely on blind faith, but rather grounded in something more substantial. I was truly astounded when he managed to switch to his Optimus Prime voice.
Yeah, it sounded like old school Transformers.
It seems to me that the final portrayal is only about 75% similar to what I initially thought was the original voice of Optimus Prime, played by Peter Cullen. Initially, I had assumed it was him when they tested me, but then they suggested playing a different version instead. When they said it wasn’t Chris’, I responded that it was indeed his, but they corrected me and told me it was the original.
As an Aaron, I appreciated the A-atron joke. Did Keegan throw that in?
A-tron truly embodied himself. The highlight of that entire series for me was the character Steve, whom I adored. I enjoy the concept that an alien’s term for robots is our most common name. And the other name they mention is EP 5-0-8, which coincidentally matches my initials in my area code for my home phone number. But then A-tron was subtly included, and I thought, “This surpasses both my Easter egg and my joke.” He absolutely nailed it. It was a flawless touch.
In simpler terms, could you tell me how you managed the initial explanation as it seemed to contain a lot of complex Transformers jargon?
As a gamer diving into this vibrant world, I found myself grappling with terms like Cybertron, Energon, The Matrix of Leadership. At one point, I even joked about renaming a few things for easier understanding. But alas, it wasn’t an option. Our challenge was to share the essentials without overwhelming newcomers, striking that delicate balance between instruction and interest. It was quite the task!
Is Hasbro giving you binders of back material like they do at Marvel?
Affirmatively put, they didn’t need my assistance as they had a clear narrative guide – a script – for their tale. Recognizing Optimus Prime, Megatron, and even Bumblebee, I was still curious about some of the intricate details, such as the Matrix of Leadership, and other mythological aspects, to gain a deeper understanding.
It’s quite common for individuals to encounter someone akin to Sentinel Prime – this could be a mentor, a superior at work, or even an acquaintance’s friend. They might appear friendly and charismatic, but upon closer inspection, their true nature may not live up to their initial impression.
One of the initial changes I made was to redefine Sentinel Prime significantly. I found him overtly villainous in earlier versions, and I thought, “He’s not a villain, he’s more like a carnival barker.” He’s essentially a salesman, someone who’s good at selling things, or in this case, ideas. In essence, he’s quite persuasive, if you will. And Jon Hamm’s portrayal of the character aligned perfectly with my vision.
This coming summer, you’ll be among the select Marvel Studios writers to have two movies releasing in a year – Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four: First Steps. Revisiting Yelena and Alexi for Thunderbolts*, did it feel like catching up with long-lost friends?
This film is essentially about a team, but personally, I found my point of entry to be Yelena. While Tony and Steve could arguably serve as entrances for the first Avengers, every character has their unique story, significant moments, and intriguing arcs, including their relationships. However, having Yelena as the means of access seemed crucial to me. In my perspective, she arrives alongside Alexi, who provides a perfect contrast to well-intentioned yet often clumsy and bumbling support that becomes invaluable at exactly the right moments. Therefore, being able to revisit these characters and their voices again, and explore this dynamic, is an enjoyable aspect of the storytelling process. Moreover, Yelena’s state of mind and her current life situation serve as the emotional core of the movie.
Are you the onset writer on Fantastic Four or are you back home?
They’re currently in London, while I’m still in Los Angeles. From all accounts, things are going splendidly. Kevin (Feige) sent me a photo of a prop that I designed, which really brightened my day. I can’t share what it is with you, but let your imagination run wild – it’s as ridiculous as you might picture.
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2024-10-10 20:55