As we expected, the crazy rumor we reported Friday here about George Clooney getting involved for voice work in the upcoming Untitled Transformers movie has already been totally debunked. In a statement on his message board this morning, producer Don Murphy blew the rumor out of the water with the following: "George Clooney is not signed. No one is." He further adds, "Until a script shows up there is NOTHING to report. The script was supposed to show up this week- I believe the big man got it and gave notes and that the rest of us mere mortals will get it NEXT week. Once there is a script Michael Bay can finally decide if he is rocking in the free world or we are back several pegs. Once there is a script I can see what changes I want to lobby for. Once there is a script we can start hiring people. ETC ETC. It is all about the script. I look forward to it probably late in the day Friday if I know screenwriters in general along with my miracle decoder strip."

Of course the fact that he's not signed doesn't necessarily mean he won't be, or isn't currently in talks to do so right now. So in answer to the question "You said George Clooney hasn't been signed. That's good. Do you know if he's in negotiations? Has anyone in your group discussed his name (*cough* DeSanto)? Is there any truth or basis for this rumor?" he had this to say: "I answered already this week NONE whatsoever Harry Knowles made it up in between Krispys."

Ok, in this case the rumor didn't really even originate with Knowles but I think it's pretty clear at this point that there will be no George Clooney in the live action Transformers movie. Who will be there? Murphy seems to be siding with the deluded fanboys, and sounds as if he plans to fight for their choices, the original voice actors from the 80's cartoon: "I seem to be the only person who gets that fandom wants Cullen/Welker. The ONLY guy. I don’t even get it- I just happen to know that YOU do. So that battle is still to be fought."

My response? Who cares who the voices are. The original guy who voiced Optimus, Peter Cullen, wasn't anything special he just happened to have a pretty nice John Wayne impression going for him. Hire a John Wayne impersonator for all I care. This is a movie with GIANT FREAKIN ROBOTS!!!! whether they sounds like George Lucas battledroids or mutant Power Rangers is irrelevant. You can't lose with GIANT FREAKIN ROBOTS!!!!! Even better if you can transform them into stylish compact cars.