As the summer blockbuster season gets underway, fans of the Transformers franchise are eagerly anticipating the release of the latest installment, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Set in 1994, the film follows a pair of human archeologists from Brooklyn who find themselves involved in an ancient conflict between three factions of the Transformers race: the Maximals, the Predacons, and the Terrorcons. The movie takes audiences on a globe-trotting adventure with the Autobots, where they encounter several beloved characters, including Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Airazor, and Cheetor. The storyline is heavily influenced by the Beast Wars plot, which was popular among fans of the franchise.At the MTV Movie and TV Awards (Via THR), fans were given a glimpse of what to expect in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts with a clip that showed the Autobots and Maximals coming face to face, despite being allies. The clip featured the iconic voice of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, who helps to prevent the two sides from engaging in a violent confrontation. Check it out below.
In addition to its epic fight scenes, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is expected to introduce viewers to the Transwarp Drive, a popular technology in the Transformers universe that enables travelers to traverse vast distances and even enables time travel. The buzz around the film has been significant, and its trailer release in December reportedly garnered nearly 500 million views within the first week, a testament to the franchise's enduring popularity. With its intriguing plot points and anticipated success, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is poised to become a box office monster hit.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Promises to Reinvigorate the Franchise
The Transformers franchise was at a crossroads after the release of Transformers: The Last Knight. Critically panned and with a growing sense of fatigue among audiences, it seemed that the franchise had lost its way. However, in 2018, Bumblebee provided a much-needed shot in the arm. The movie gave the franchise a new focus and direction, and fans and critics alike were impressed by the changes. The success of Bumblebee has paved the way for a new entry in the franchise, the upcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The cast is stacked with talent, including Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, Dominique Fishback, Pete Davidson, and Steven Caple Jr. as the director.
In an interview with Collider, star Anthony Ramos revealed that Lorenzo di Bonaventura, one of the lead producers on the movie, approached him and said that the film was "rivaling right there with the first one." This is high praise, as the first Transformers movie was a cultural phenomenon and helped to launch the franchise.
“Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who’s one of our lead producers on the movie, came up to me and said, ‘How are you feeling about the movie, man?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, I haven’t seen it.’ And he was like, […] ‘It’s rivaling right there with the first one.’
"I was like, ‘Wow!’ That movie was the introduction of the franchise, so it almost feels like an introduction into a new franchise. It feels like the beginning of a new thing, which feels amazing. Steven Caple Jr., our director, is amazing. Dominique Fishback, Pete Davidson, and the cast is insane. I’m just grateful to be there.”
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts marks the start of a new era, rather than simply being a sequel to Bumblebee or the previous Transformers films. It promises to bring a new focus and direction to the franchise, with a talented cast and crew behind it. There is hope that this new entry could propel the franchise to new heights. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set to hit theaters on June 9, 2023.