Back in April Paramount announced that because they were to team-up with China-based companies they agreed to cast Chinese actors in TRANSFORMERS 4.
In order to seek out the talent they needed Paramount started a reality television show called
Transformers 4 Chinese Actors Talent Search Reality Show (creative, right?) and that show has finally selected its winners.
The contest winners are Byron Li, Austin Lin, Candice Zhao and Teresa Daley, who have all officially signed on to the upcoming Transformers film directed by Michael Bay.
Deadline added that:
"
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."
Apparently Chinese pop star Han Geng has also been given a role in the film, but whether any of these "small" roles are substantial is still a bit unclear. Bay could give them a scene or just make them background extras. Only time will tell.
TRANSFORMERS 4 is targeting a June 27, 2014 release date. It will star Mark Wahlberg alongside the Chinese contest winners.