Back in April, ComicBook.com reported that Transformers 4 would cast a number of small roles via a Chinese reality show.The film, which is a Chinese co-production, has now cast those roles, according to a report at Deadline.Here’s what they’ve got to say about the move:
Four Chinese actors have reportedly won roles via a reality competition show. Byron Li, Austin Lin, Candice Zhao and Teresa Daley got the parts thanks to the Transformers 4 Chinese Actors Talent Search Reality Show, which was launched by Paramount in cooperation with Jiaflix and the China Movie Channel in April, China.org.cn says. The contest attracted more than 70,000 applicants. Judging by the website’s report, these are small, if not extra, roles including “Kung Fu fighter”, “sexy goddess”, “computer geek” and “cute Loli.” The panel of judges, per the report, included former AMPAS president Sid Ganis, who’s now chairman of Jiaflix; Transformers 4 producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura; Lindsey Bayman, SVP business affairs at Paramount; Paramount president of marketing and distribution Megan Colligan; and Liang Longfei, VP of China Movie Channel’s M1905.com. Chinese pop star Han Geng also has a role in the upcoming film that will be directed by Michael Bay. Per the report, it is not expected that there will be a special China-only version of Transformers 4, contrary to the case of this year’s Iron Man 3.
