The Transformers films have had a long, bumpy ride since the first feature-length film hit theaters in 1986, but Transformers One has the potential to breathe new life into the series. The live-action Transformers movies, particularly the first few directed by Michael Bay, have been fraught with issues, from problematic depictions of women and racial stereotypes to confusing storylines absolutely riddled with plot holes. The most recent two entries, Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, made steps in the right direction, but were still ultimately mired by past mistakes.
Thankfully, from what details have been revealed about Transformers One, the latest upcoming addition to the Transformers mythos, will promise some sorely-needed changes that will rejuvenate the stalling franchise in a big way. Some of the changes will be more aesthetic, such as the long-awaited return to pure animation finally doing away with the busy “live-action” designs of the Autobots and Decepticons. Much of the revamping will also be the work of fresh talent brought on board to breathe new life into a series that sorely needs it.
8 Transformers One Brings The Franchise Back To Animation
It will be the first film to do so since 1986
Transformers One will return the Cybertronians to animation for the first time since 1986’s Transformers: The Movie, a tie-in film to the original Transformers cartoon series of the 80s. As the human-centric plotlines have been typically some of the weakest moments of the franchise up to this point, the full-fledged return to pure animation will be a welcome change. Hearing new cast member Scarlett Johansson gush about the film’s art style only makes this difference all the more exciting.
7 Transformers One Will Fully Explore Cybertron
The Transformers ancestral homeland never got the focus of a full movie
One of the most well-received parts of 2018’s Bumblebee was the brief sequence at the beginning set in Cybertron amidst the civil war that created the Autobot and Decepticon factions. Unfortunately, an entire movie centered around the Transformers home planet has never been in the cards for the franchise, but Transformers One is aiming to be the first. Considering how jaw-dropping the spectacle of Cyberton’s destruction looked back in 2018, it’s hard not to eagerly anticipate what a film focused solely around the mechanized homeworld of the Transformers will look like.
6 Optimus Prime & Megatron’s Relationship Takes Center Focus
The tale of the estranged brothers will finally get the spotlight
Most casual moviegoers will know Optimus Prime and Megatron as mortal enemies, each being the leaders of their opposing factions, the Autobots and Decepticons, respectively. But what’s lesser known is the fact that the two were once close friends, even brothers, before their ideological schism finally pit them against each other as enemies. Transformers One is set to explore this fascinating relationship, taking audiences back to the days in which Optimus Prime and Megatron were known by their original names, Orion Pax and D-16. The conflict could provide the Transformers series with the emotional stakes it desperately needs.
5 The Series’ Biggest Names Will Be Recast
From Optimus Prime to Bumblebee, no returning voices will star
Shockingly, Transformers One is set to break a 37-year streak of casting the legendary Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. Instead, Chris Hemsworth will be taking over as the leader of the Autobots, a controversial casting decision that’s telling of the new film’s willingness to take risks. Prime isn’t the only one being re-cast, with big names replacing returning character’s voices, such as Keegan Michael-Key as Bumblebee, Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron, and Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime. Clearly, Transformers One is valuing star power over recognition among new and old Transformers moviegoers alike.
4 Transformers One Will Introduce Some Brand-New Characters To The Movies
Despite existing in the cartoons and comics for some time, these Autobots never got a film appearance
Transformers One doesn’t seem content to lean on a recurring supporting cast in order to drive fan engagement, introducing more than a few Transformers from the comics and TV shows to the big screen for the first time. These include Scarlett Johansson’s Elita, one of the first female Transformers and a precise markswoman, and Laurence Fishburne’s Alpha Trion, a Knight of Cybertron. Alpha Trion in particular is so obscure that he’s never before received a visual appearance in the franchise’s lifespan, proving Transformers One‘s willingness to reach for less-recognizable characters.
3 Transformers One Will Begin A New Continuity
After a murky timeline, the newest film will start a fresh canon
The confusing timeline of the Transformers movies has left longtime fans puzzled over how connected prequels like Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts were to the original Michael Bay films, if at all. Luckily, Transformers One will be starting over from scratch with a brand-new continuity not connected at all to the live-action films, as confirmed by director Josh Cooley (via Deadline). Confusingly, the original pitch for the film did connect it to the live-action universe, but for now the upcoming movie promises to re-vamp the franchise with a fresh timeline.
2 Pixar Director Josh Cooley Will Be Brought Into The Transformers Universe
The animation legend will be an incredible boon to Cybertron
Staking the success of the new series on an animated film, Transformers One might just succeed or fail based on the strength of its director. Thankfully, Hasbro managed to poach animation director Josh Cooley to direct the franchise’s fresh start. Cooley is best known for his work on Pixar films, having co-wrote Inside Out and directed Toy Story 4, which won 2019’s Best Animated Picture Academy Award. Clearly, Cooley knows what he’s doing piloting big-budget animated films, and the Transformers series is in good hands.
1 The Film Will Examine Cybertron’s Social Stratification
The class war for Cybertron will present the Transformers most compelling conflict yet
Thus far, the dastardly villains of the Transformers franchise, from the intergalactic devourer Unicron to the mysterious Creators, have had stock-standard goals of world domination or destruction for Earth. However, Transformers One promises a more fascinating conflict centered around the social stratification of Cybertron, ultimately leading to the formation of the Autobot and Decepticon factions and a civil war that envelops the planet. This depiction of the Cybertronians’ social hirearchy in Transformers One will give audiences a better idea about what the Transformers are actually fighting about, providing a deeper connection to the conflict than ever before.
