It was confirmed yesterday that Paramount Pictures have signed a "Cooperation Agreement" with the China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises for the production of Transformers 4.  The basic summary is that they will help finance / produce the movie which will include shoots in China and most likely feature some Chinese actors / actress in some portions, or extended portions, of the film.  Here is a copy of the press release.

Los Angeles, CA – April 2, 2013 – Paramount Pictures, China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises announced today that they have entered into a Cooperation Agreement regarding the production of “Transformers 4” in China. The Cooperation Agreement was signed on April 1, 2013 in Beijing and Los Angeles.

Pursuant to the agreement, China Movie Channel, under the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), will cooperate with Paramount in broad-based support of the production of the film in China. “Transformers 4” is expected to be released in China on or about June 27, 2014. The parties also intend to cooperate in a number of other areas related to “Transformers 4,” including the selection of filming sites within China, theatrical promotion, and possible post-production activities in China as well as casting of Chinese actors and actresses in the film.

This agreement represents the first time that China Movie Channel will work with a western studio in the production of a major motion picture.

The unprecedented agreement followed a meeting with Mr. Tong Gang, Vice Minister of SARFT with the Transformers 4 production leaders including director Michael Bay, producer Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore, along with Jiaflix Chairman Sid Ganis and President Marc Ganis at SARFT’s official Reception Hall in Beijing. Minister Tong expressed support for the newly formed China Movie Channel/Jiaflix cooperation with Paramount.

The “Transformers” movies are among the most popular films ever released in China, and Michael Bay is among the most popular directors with Chinese audiences. Transformers 3, Dark of the Moon, released theatrically in 2011, grossed $165 million in China and over $1.1 billion worldwide.

“I’m proud and honored by how ‘Transformers’ has been embraced by Chinese audiences,” said Michael Bay. “I look forward to working with China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises to help reach more people here and deepen their passion for this ongoing story and its characters.”

“China Movie Channel and our official movie web site M1905.com have been long term trusted partners with Jiaflix,” said Yan Xiaoming, Chairman of China Movie Channel. “We have been working together in the field of importing Hollywood movies for Chinese television and internet, including Paramount movies, as well as introducing Chinese movies to the North American market and are very delighted with the results we have accomplished together.”

“This is the beginning of a new era of collaboration with the Hollywood studios,” Mr. Yan continued. “We are very confident that the China Movie Channel/Jiaflix cooperation with Paramount will result in the famous Transformers brand being an even bigger success.”

Jiaflix, through its partners, Sid Ganis, Marc Ganis and Kenneth Huang, was the driving force in bringing the new arrangement to fruition. Said Sid Ganis, Chairman of Jiaflix, “Paramount was the first major studio to officially join with us for the distribution of its films over the Jiaflix platform in China, so we are delighted to join our partners at China Movie Channel together with Paramount on this groundbreaking initiative. ‘Transformers 4’ are paving the way.” Jiaflix has recently entered into a long term agreement with Paramount, under which Paramount will supply more than 250 films a year to the new video streaming partnership between Jiaflix and M1905.com, a unit of China Movie Channel.

“We are excited by and grateful for the opportunity to work with China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises on the production and promotion of ‘Transformers 4,’” said Paramount Vice Chair Rob Moore. “We see this relationship as a reflection of the global power and appeal of both this unique franchise and Michael Bay’s talents as a filmmaker.”

We need to bring you this important Auto Assembly message:

So just visit www.autoassembly.org.uk to do so.

Alfes' has posted up some images and a review of Transformers Encore Fortress Maximus who was released yesterday on the 30th of March.   Fortress Maximus now features painted eyes and painted detailing on his  Master Sword, rather than the original's stickers, as well as a new box featuring the Transformers Encore mini logo and the number 23

You can see the gallery here

HK-TF member AKB48 has posted up some images of Transformers Beast Hunters Wave 3 figure Dreadwing (in packaging) and Skystalker (in and our of packaging).

HK-TF member WHKVICTOR has posted a short gallery of the upcoming Transformers Arms Micron exclusive Nightmare Unicron, who is  due to be released on Tuesday 2nd of April.

Mastermind Creations have revealed a new colour image of the upcoming Feral Rex combiner (Predaking) Bovis (Tantrum) via their Facebook page.

HKGTF have updated their Facebook page with a new gallery of the "soon-to-be-released" Masterpiece 10-B Black Convoy. The figure is a redeco of the main Masterpiece Convoy figure but without the trailer.  The image gallery includes comparison pictures with the recent Masterpiece figures.

Snakas has updated Autobase Aichi with a complete set of the current Amazon Japan Transformers Go (the Japanese release of Transformers Beast Hunters). The full listings are:

*?????????Go! G11 ??????????????
*?????????Go! G12 ??????
*?????????Go! G13 ????????????
*?????????Go! G14 ??????????
*?????????Go! G15 ??????????
*?????????Go! G16 ???????????
*?????????Go! G17 ????????????
*?????????Go! G18 ????????????

*????????? EG01 ??????????
*????????? EG02 ??????
*????????? EG03 ????
*????????? EG04 ?????????
*????????? EG05 ????
*????????? EG06 ????????
*????????? EG07 ????????
*????????? EG08 ???????

Our thanks go out to Sven from Geek-station for letting us know that Toys R Us ARE including MP-10 as a part of their Buy-one get one half price deal

"Ladies and Gents. There is a Hasbro buy one get one half price offer at Toys R Us UK. MP Optimus Prime *IS* part of the offer so grab a friend, put £75 each down, and you're sorted. The website only allows one Prime per purchase, the staff in my local store, however, were more than happy to do it, as the tills just discount it down happily by £50 when you scan two through. Go get 'em, Sven at Geek-station"

A quick reminder to everyone that the Collectors Hangout Transformers special is taking place 1 week from today on Thursday the 4th of April at 8pm GMT / 9pm BST / 12pm PST / 2pm CST / 3pm EST.  The episode of the show which is currently being promoted on the Google+ Hangout schedule page, will see me once again talk about Transformers, this time with more of a focus on the Japanese Lucky Draws as well as taking your questions live on air.

You can find all the details -> https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cj9359iit256m7lucjb89dspfd8

e-Hobby have now fully revealed their recently announced exclusive figure, Magnificus.  The toy, which is a redeco of the "Reveal the Shield Perceptor", comes with a new head sculpt and can be seen below.

Hasbro have posted some new larger official images of their upcoming Transformers Generations Voyager Class Springer and Blitzwing figures.  You can view the new images by clicking the thumbnails below

In a strange turn of events Toys R Us UK have posted a reply to a question on Facebook regarding a UK release of Masterpiece Soundwave stating that the figure will be released on these shores in August of this year!! We encourage fans to take this news with a large pinch of salt but if it does happen expect to find fans rejoicing in the asile for this figure.

Brian Savage has sent out the following email regarding Botcon 2013

Hello!

A little over one week in to BotCon 2013 registration and we are now over 60% sold out of all packages. Additionally, we only have a handful of non-attending Iacon packages left, so if you have been holding off on picking up a set don't delay! They will be gone soon!

Stay tuned as we will have some more exciting announcements and reveals in the next couple of weeks! Don't miss out on the Transformer event of the year. Make sure to register for BotCon 2013 today!

See you in San Diego!

Brian

Longtime site member Starscreams Ghost was in attendance at Farthest From, The UK Star Wars Retro Toy Show in Fordinghambridge today where it was announced that Roll Out Roll Call 2013 will take place in the Autumn and will run October 12th - 13th back at the Jurys Inn, Southampton, UK.  The show, which is a combination of G.I-Joe / Action Force and Transformers held it's first two day event last year with guests including Simon Furman, Larry Hama, Bill Forster, Jim Sorenson, Andrew Wildman and many more.

You can find out more by visiting www.rolloutrollcall.com