Source:Scott Huver

May 16, 2008

Model-turned-actor Tyrese Gibson may have been a supporting player in last year's mega-hit Transformers, but he's using the heat the film lent him to transform himself – namely into a major movie star. We caught up with Tyrese on the set of his currently-shooting film Legion and got the scoop on a slew of his upcoming projects.

Along with return trips to the "Transformers" and "Fast and Furious" franchises, Tyrese also has his sights set on filling the shoes of not one but two of the toughest African-American action icons: Mr. T and Luke Cage, Hero for Hire.

ComingSoon.net/Superhero Hype!: How has your career changed since "Transformers"? What's been going on?
Tyrese Gibson: There's a lot going on: "A-Team." "Transformers." "Fast and Furious 4." These are all the things that are kind of in motion and so I'm really excited that I'm getting to do some rock star type roles and be fun and be heavily associated to these genres, big huge box office mojo joints.

CS/SHH!: When does "The A-Team" start shooting?
Gibson: They're still doing a lot of rewrites on the script. I haven't officially signed on, but I'm just playing Double Dutch.

CS/SHH!: Are you practicing with the chains in the mirror?
Gibson: He's going to be a little different. We might keep the Mohawk, but we're not going into no forty thousand chains. We're going to 2009 Mr. BA.

CS/SHH!: You'll also be back for "Transformers 2" – How will your character evolve?
Gibson: Well, I can't spill any of the beans though that was a smooth transition. But I just talked to Shia [LaBeouf] and left Jon Voight [a message] about fifteen minutes ago. I'm excited. Michael Bay is really going to try and up the ante on round two and take it to a whole other level. I can't go into any detail, but it's going to be some real one-of-a-kind things going on in this movie that no one has ever visually seen in their life. Michael Bay is really fired up and trying to outdo what he did on the first round and I'm just honored to be a part of it.

CS/SHH!: How serious will your involvement with "Fast and Furious" be?
Gibson: The "Fast and Furious" thing for me is going to be like a cameo where I kind of reprise my Roman Pierce situation kind of like what Vin Diesel did in "Fast and Furious 3." They're bringing me back for that, and as far as "The A-Team" it's Double Dutch. As soon as they get the script done we should be rolling and hopefully my schedule will allow me to get them all done at the same time. Those are things that are definitely in the future.

CS/SHH!: Is there a comic book superhero in your future perhaps too – namely Luke Cage?
Gibson: You've been reading some things. I don't know, man. We'll see.

CS/SHH!: If that was offered is it something that you would be excited about?
Gibson: Luke Cage. They're still tweaking the script and all I will say on that is if that slot eventually opens up I'll probably be that guy to come in there and bring that man to life and have a little fun. I have to do a lot of bench pressing. Luke Cage is a lot to live up to, but like I said I'm not officially signed on yet, but they definitely have me in mind. Mr. Avi Arad – love him.

In related news, IGN got to talk to Transformers 2 writer Roberto Orci, who revealed that Soundwave will be present. Here's a clip from the interview:

We want to follow some of our lead characters which we thought were so successful. Shia's character; where is he two years later? His girlfriend, where is she two years later? But for fans, I guess I'll address this more for the fans, because I think if you didn't know Transformers at all and you came in and you liked the first movie, you'll like the second one. However, some of the die hard fans, which we were a member of that group, felt, well, maybe it's a little light. Maybe it wasn't science fictiony enough. And I think the second one will deliver on a true Transformers story. You know, the first one, we had a limited budget for what it was. Every second of Transformer time is a million dollars or whatever the heck it is, so this time, because we were able to prove through the whole thing that it's a viable live-action movie, we have a little more freedom this time to actually learn about the Transformers, see them, hear them. It's a better balance between the humans and the Transformers.

The Morning Call has an update on what is going to go down in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania:

Try to imagine giant, extraterrestrial robots disguised as tractor-trailers on Route 22 or camouflaged among the towering Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.

A film crew from ''Transformers 2'' will bring those shape-shifting robots to life in south Bethlehem next month for a movie scene in front of the iconic furnaces.

Of course, no one will see the robots because they're computer-generated. But anyone will be able to see the action at the old Steel site as the filmmakers transform it into a fictional Chinese city populated by people from the Lehigh Valley.

More on that at the link above. And last but not least, Jonah Hill responded to the rumors that he was in talks for a role in Transformers 2. You can check out his response here.