Transformers: Age of Extinction hits theaters today and while Mark Wahlberg is the main character, the film’s young actors Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor are hitting the scene in a big way.
Back when the first Transformers hit theaters in 2007, Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox were just starting their rise to stardom. After the film was a massive box office success, pulling in $700 million worldwide, Shia and Megan turned into megastars essentially overnight.
Despite any problems fans may have with director Michael Bay, he’s proven time and time again that he’s capable of finding talent where others haven’t. We think he’s done it with this film as well, as he’s taken the incredibly well-known Mark Wahlberg and placed him alongside up-and-coming actors Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor.
For those unfamiliar with the two young stars, we thought we’d take a look at their careers up to this point and see what they’ve been up to in Hollywood prior to winning the Michael Bay lottery for hot, unknown actors willing to be screamed at on a daily basis. (kidding, sort of.)
Actress Nicola Peltz was born in Westchester County, New York. She is the daughter of a former super model and a billionaire father, Nelson Peltz. Peltz is a businessman who used to own the highly popular drink brand Snapple. Her career started in 2006, when she was cast in 2006’s Deck the Halls and began making her way into more mainstream films.
Peltz plays Tessa Yeager in Transformers 4 and was most recently seen in A&E’s drama Bates Motel. Peltz played Bradley Martin in the drama centered around Norman Bates.
Her role as Bradley had her come close to being killed off quite a few times as Norman fell head over heels for her in the show, but her character would later turn quite dark herself before being written out of the show.
Most assume that her character’s quick exit from the previous season of Bates Motel was due to her contract with Transformers: Age of Extinction. We’re unsure if this was the reason she was written out of the show, but it would make sense considering she was a vital part of the show before her departure.
Prior to her role on Bates Motel, Nicola played Katara in 2010’s critically panned film The Last Airbender. An adaptation that was highly anticipated was massacred by critics and fans alike and would go on to bring in a paltry $319 million worldwide.
As the film was seen as a failure, Peltz’s role was also nominated for the Worst Supporting Actress award at the 31st Golden Raspberries Awards. Not exactly a brilliant start, but we’ll give her a pass considering that film was such a diabolical mess.
Peltz has certainly made improvements in Transformers: Age of Extinction and she has that magnetic appeal that we saw with Megan Fox in the first Transformers. She’s easy on the eyes and in between the screaming for her dad, she does a fairly decent job dealing with the fact that she’s surrounded by massive green screens as she reacts to invisible alien robots.
Jack Reynor was born January 23, 1992 and is an Irish and American actor. His most recent role was appearing as Josh in 2013’s Delivery Man alongside comedic giant Vince Vaughn. Right after Reynor’s role in Delivery Man, he moved into production on Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Comparisons are bound to be made between Shia LeBeouf and Reynor, but so far Reynor is an unproven talent, while we’ve gotten a fair look at Shia over the last few years. We’re glad to see that director Michael Bay has taken some chances with some new blood and introduced fans to younger cast members which we can have a chance to develop relationships with over the new trilogy.
Reynor’s interest in acting began on the set of Country, which was directed by Kevin Liddy, in ’99. And between 2004 and 2010, Reynor would attend Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin, where he enjoyed performing on stage for numerous productions. Then in early 2010, he was cast in Kirsten Sheridan’s Dollhouse, which debuted at Berlinale 2012. Later in 2011, Reynor would play the title role in Lenny Abrahamson’s highly anticipated What Richard Did.
Reports suggest that his performance in What Richard Did was paramount to him getting the role in Michael Bay’s Transformers reboot. It’s exciting to have somewhat unknown actors in the roles, as it’s the humans that normally allow the fans to attempt to relate to the massive explosions, dubstep music, and transformers who are always on the look out for something new that they’ve lost from their ancient world.
As for Wahlberg, he will accidentally find Optimus Prime, who has been hiding for quite some time since the third film. In the film’s trailer we saw a billboard that said “Remember Chicago,” referencing the massive battle that occurred in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
The third film came out in 2011 and despite the fact that Shia Labeouf is not involved, it seems director Michael Bay is continuing the storyline that he’s developed since the first film smashed box office records back in 2007. There are loads of new actors involved, including what looks to be a hilarious character played by the great Stanley Tucci. Watch the film’s latest trailer below:
Michael Bay directed the fourth Transformers film from a script by Ehren Kruger, who wrote the previous two Transformers installments. Mark Wahlberg will star in the film, along with Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, T.J. Miller, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing , and Kelsey Grammer.
The film’s release date is set for June 27, 2014 from Paramount Pictures.