If there was one thing that caused the most controversy with Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, it was the addition of the Autobot Twins, Skidz and Mudflap. Many saw the jive-talking duo as playing on offensive racial stereotypes, as if they were a sort of robot Amos ‘n’ Andy who suggested black people (or at least robots who take on a black persona), are stupid, illiterate and clumsy.
So after all the controversy (and it’s worth pointing out Michael Bay personally lobbied for their inclusion in Transformers 2, to add comic relief), will they be back in the third installment?
Well, there are conflicting reports. After reports started emerging from the set that that Skidz and Mudflap definitely were returning, Michael Bay put out a terse reply on his forum site, saying ‘The Twins are not back in T3.’ That would seem to be that – no Twins is the next movie – except that shortly after this, Left Lane News posted pics of two Chevys on the Transformers 3 set (see below), which clearly seem to be the Autobot Twins.
So what’s going on? Is Michael Bay lying (it wouldn’t be unheard of, as he’s spread misinformation before)? Are the twins going to be there, but background characters who don’t speak? Has he given them new, less offensive voices? Or will they be Amos ‘n’ Andy-ing it up all over again? The jury is still out on exactly what’s going on, but with reports that twins have actually been seen zooming around the set, it would seem there’ll be some sort of on-screen presence for Skidz and Mudflap, even if it’s very different to how they were in Revenge Of The Fallen.
