So in the movie, and in the special features, Brawl is called "Devastator." However, in the commentaries and bonus features, ILM and company just refer to him as "the tank." What's going on here exactly? I'm sorry if I missed this discussion in the past.

Michael Bay hates you and wants you to be confused. At least that's what I gathered from the film.

The filmmakers had free reign to use any Transformers they wanted to in this film, and even create some of their own or reassign names, all of which they pretty much did. Hasbro would get to manufacture toys based off of, and ultimately own rights to, whoever they chose to use, but the cast of the film was at the discretion of the filmmakers.

 

Bay chose to name this new tank character "Devastator" rather than "Brawl" late in the game. Hasbro didn't have time to correct the merchandise, but couldn't stop Bay from using whatever name for the character he wanted, since the robot cast of the film was up to him.

Or that.

The filmmakers had free reign to use any Transformers they wanted to in this film, and even create some of their own or reassign names, all of which they pretty much did. Hasbro would get to manufacture toys based off of, and ultimately own rights to, whoever they chose to use, but the cast of the film was at the discretion of the filmmakers.

 

Bay chose to name this new tank character "Devastator" rather than "Brawl" late in the game. Hasbro didn't have time to correct the merchandise, but couldn't stop Bay from using whatever name for the character he wanted, since the robot cast of the film was up to him.

I was under the impression that naming that character "Devastator" was a point on which Hasbro and Bay didn't agree - Hasbro couldn't do anything about his name in the movie, but didn't want the toy to be named that, so here we are...

You know, both of those stories could be true at the same time.

I think any fan is going to be hard-pressed to look at the tank guy and not see Brawl. But Bay can call him whatever he wants to; it is his movie, after all. I still call him Brawl, though. It just makes a lot more sense to me.

I agree with Pete, that any fan will see Brawl in "the tank".

To me, I call him "Brawl" when referring to the toys, but I call him "Devastator" when referring to the movie version.

i really think he should remain as Brawl. i mean we're getting the REAL Devastator in the next movie after all. so what's HE gonna be named?

i mean we're getting the REAL Devastator in the next movie after all.

What? How do you know that? :wtf If you're spoilering, I will Powerglide you in the eyes until you bleed out. :fire