Thanks to two auctions on TaoBao we can bring you the profiles for the upcoming Transformers Dark of the Moon Toys R Us exclusive Mission Earth Scan Series figures.  This sub-line of Transformers: Dark of the Moon is based on the scenes where the Transformers "trans-scan" into the Earth based vehicle modes. The first figures to be released in this line are Sideswipe and Ironhide, who's profiles we can bring you, with the second wave being Bumblebee and Ratchet.  So here are the profiles.

Sideswipe: There are two things SIDESWIPE likes more than anything else in the Galaxy: Pummeling DECEPTICONS and fast cars. He chose to scan a vehicle that would allow him to enjoy both. He now arrives to the fight in a stylish, cutting-edge sports car ready to junk any DECEPTICON that dares put a scratch in his paint!

Ironhide: "IRONHIDE may be the most battle-hardened AUTOBOT. Countless encounters with the DECEPTICONS have taught him that the proper vehicle mode is essential to battlefield success. Trucks, he thinks, are the ultimate in vehicle mode superiority. And he`s just found one that rivets utility, durability, and performance together in one mean DECEPTICON smashing package."

Paramount Pictures have issued the following press release:

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON PRESENTS LINKIN PARK - LIVE IN MOSCOW ON JUNE 23RD IN SUPPORT OF MOVIES WORLD PREMIERE IN RUSSIA

May 23, 2011

HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 23, 2011) – In celebration of Paramount Pictures’ TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, Linkin Park will perform a special outdoor concert at Vasilyevsky Spusk of the Red Square in Moscow – with the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Basilica as the backdrop – on June 23rd at 9PM. The 3D Michael Bay film will open the Moscow International Film Festival on the same night.

Linkin Park will perform several of their hit songs including the single, “Iridescent,” which is the end title song in the upcoming third Transformers film. The movie opens worldwide beginning June 29th. Stars from the film are scheduled to attend, along with director Michael Bay. Tickets for this free concert will be available beginning June 1st through June 21st, to learn more about obtaining ticket information go to http://www.energyfm.ru or http://www.linkinpark.com beginning June 1st.

One of the most successful collaborations between music and film, the previous Linkin Park singles to appear in the first two Transformers films, “What I’ve Done” from the first Transformers film, has sold over 4 million downloads worldwide, and “New Divide” from 2009’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, crossed the 3 million mark. Both songs were top selling singles for the band, and went to #1 on the modern rock radio charts (with “New Divide” spending 14 weeks there). The special show in Moscow is produced by Live Nation and will occur during Linkin Park’s upcoming European tour, which begins June 11th in Austria with stadium, festival or arena shows in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Switzerland, Italy & Belgium.

Linkin Park European Tour Dates:
June 11 Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Nova Rock Festival
June 12 Donington, UK @ Download Festival
June 14 Stockholm, Sweden @ Ericsson Global Arena
June 16 Helsinki, Finland @ Kaisaniemi Park
June 18 Leipzig, Germany @ Festweise
June 19 Oberursel, Germany @ Hessentag
June 21 Hamburg, Germany @02 World Arena
June 25 Munich, Germany @ Messegelaende Riem Stadium
June 26 Imola, Italy @ Sonisphere Festival
June 28 Arendal, Norway @ Hove Festival
June 30 Werchter, Belgium @ Rock Wercher Festival
July 1 Arras, France @ Arras Main Square Festival
July 2 St. Gallen, Switzerland @ OpenAir Festival
July 4 London, UK @ iTunes Festival


TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is the third film in the Transformers franchise and the first shot in 3D. It is directed by Michael Bay, written by Ehren Kruger and produced by Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. The executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. The movie opens in the United States on June 29, 2011. ©2011 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.

HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. ©2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

According to Deadline.com the US release date for the third live action Transformers Movie, Transformers: Dark of the Moon has been pushed forward by two days to Wednesday June 29th. Deadline reported: "I've just learned that Paramount is moving up Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark Of The Moon to Wednesday, June 29th from Friday, July 1st. The studio's big Summer 2011 blockbuster will open day and date in all markets except China and Japan on that new date. "Early response to footage, especially the 3D footage, has been great so we want to get the word out that this film is as good or better than the first and much better than the last," an insider just told me. It's the only action movie opening between June 24th and July 15th."

Until an official statement is made regarding this, I would take it as speculation

Having recently been voted the sexist woman in the world by both FHM and Maxim magazines, Transformers: Dark of the Moon leading lady Britain's own Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Director Michael Bay both attended the Maxim Hot 100 party last night in Hollywood, California.  Thanks to Image.net and Getty Images, we can bring you some photographs of the pair at the event as well as a surprise appearance by Optimus Prime himself, well the truck at least.  The photographs were taken by Getty Images photographers Chrley Gallay, John Shearer and Angela Weiss.

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British Model turned actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley recently appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show in the States where she briefly talked about Transformers: Dark of the Moon and confirmed that her character talks with a British accent in the film.  Watch the clip below of the woman recently voted the most sexist woman in the world by both FHM and Maxim.

eBay seller kit11670 has posted an auction for an upcoming Transformers Dark of the Moon Arcee figure complete with MechTech Weapon.  The figure appears to be a blue and silver repaint of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Chromia figure. You can view some mirrored images below.

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Amazon.com has put up a listing for the Transformers Dark of the Moon Comic Adaptation Trade Paperback from IDW. The page includes a "Search Inside This Book" feature which shows extracts from the third Transformers Movie.

Be warned that this container heavy plot and character spoilers

It's suprising that Amazon were allowed to publish this, if it is indeed close to the movie story.

Gamespot have the official first look at the Transformers Dark of the Moon game, 3 games before the embargo that holds us from posting out comments.

You need flash player 10 in order to watch the video

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Reports are coming in that Target have released another Transformers Dark of the Moon fugure early, this time Transformers Dark of the Moon Shockwave.

You can see an image of TFW2005.com

The first full trailer for Transformers: Dark of the Moon has now been released.  You can watch it online at Apple Movies or by using the YouTube plug-in below.

TakaraTomy have updated their website with information on the stores that will be selling the chrome Transformers Dark Side Of The Moon Mech-Tech Weapons.  The store are Toys R Us, Bic Camera and Singh Show (sharing a weapon), Yamada Denki and Yodobashi Camara (also sharing a weapon).  The fourth weapon, the silver one, I can't quite translate but it doesn't appear to be a store.  All stores will be selling the weapons on the 15th May