A Transformative Evening: Invitation Only Transformers Age of Extinction Movie Premiere New York

The famous toy from the 1980s that allowed a child to transform a seemingly benign object like a car into a fierce robot has been reborn in the ‘00s as a series of big-budget science fiction films directed by famed filmmaker Michael Bay. Michael Bay has defined a vision of Hollywood action filmmaking characterised by razor-sharp editing, heavily stylized visuals and extreme use of special effects—not to mention a plethora of high-octane explosions. The Transformers franchise, beginning in 2007 and now onto its fourth installment, is currently the world’s eighth highest-grossing film series.

Transformers: The Age of Extinction, the most epic of the series so far, was fittingly matched to an epic premiere at the historic Ziegfeld Theater on Broadway. It was a glamorous affair where stars and fans celebrated the action-fueled blockbuster. In attendance was director Michael Bay, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and long-term franchise executive producer Steven Spielberg. Mark Wahlberg, looking dapper in a sharp suit, was joined by his wife, the gorgeous Rhea Durham, and their children. In the film, Wahlberg plays a mechanic in Texas who is shocked to realize that his old semi-truck is actually an alien robot, or a “transformer.” In comments, Wahlberg emphasized the human weight embodied by his character, an ordinary man forced to do extraordinary things in order to save his daughter. Stanley Tucci, playing Joshua Joyce, was joined by his wife Felicity Blunt (Emily Blunt‘s sister). Tucci channeled classic Hollywood in a suit and thick black-framed glasses. Actress Jill Hennessy turned heads in a knee-length deep, gold dress paired with bright red lipstick. Li Bing Bing looked radiant in Giambattista Valli couture in a feminine yellow, pink and black segmented dress.