The Transformers are blasting forward to our big screens once again!
Paramount Pictures just released a trailer for the new animated film… in space! Yeah, no kidding, the studio launched a balloon carrying a camera and the trailer footage into space. We have no idea what that was, but hey, (clap) galactic premieres!
“Transformers: One” is set to explore the origins of our favourite Robots in Disguise as they embark on a new adventure on their home planet of Cybertron as brotherly bonds are ultimately tested.
While only a tease, there’s been a bunch of stuff to unpack from here. We’ve compiled 10 facts that are more than meets the eye for you!
1. THOR-TIMUS PRIME
The first and most obvious thing here is Optimus’ voice. This marks the first time in the films that the beloved red and blue leader of the Autobots will be voiced by someone other than Peter Cullen. Of course, you might be thinking:
After all, the 82-year-old voice actor has been the legendary deep personality of Optimus since the 80s. So, who did they get this time?
Well, for one, he’s tall. He’s Thor. And he says “Naur”.
That’s right. It’s our favourite Australian chunk of a hunk, Chris Hemsworth! Yes, he will be playing the role this time but for good reason as this version is meant to have a younger personality.
2. NO MORE HUMANS
Up until now, most Transformers visual media feature humans as part of the plot. Michael Bay’s live-action features and the subsequent films are Heck, even the TV shows tend to feature Earthlings a lot.
However, “Transformers One” marks a rare departure from this narrative as the plot will solely centre around the organisms of the robotic planet.
Speaking to Collider last year, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura noted that the setting was paramount to the story they were trying to tell. “Because we’re doing an animation, we’re allowed to go all out. If you tried to make this live-action, it would probably be a billion-dollar movie or something.”, said Bonaventura.
3. TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL
The director of this movie is Josh Cooley, who isn’t new to the animation industry at all. With close to 30 film credits over his career, mostly with Pixar, the experience he has accumulated makes him a seasoned talent in this landscape.
His first directorial feature was “Toy Story 4” back in 2019.
4. THAT’S NOT MY NAME
Now, the second thing to note is that these younger characters have different names. Before he was called Optimus, his name was Orion Pax. Before he was known as the tyrannical overlord Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), he was a miner, known by his codename, D-16.
We’ve already been introduced to Bumblebee’s (Keegan Michael Key) codename. In his 2018 feature, the yellow Autobot first appears on screen with the name, B-127. Well, it is no surprise that the same moniker is used here as there are no furry black and yellow insects on the planet.
5. ELITE COMPANY
The pink female Transformer who is with Optimus, Bee and Megs is Elita-One (Scarlett Johansson). Although Arcee is a more recognizable pink Transformer, Elita-One is incredibly important in Transformers lore.
If we go back to the 80s, this character is Orion Pax’s love interest, and she was known as Ariel. Just like Orion Pax, she later transformed into a battle-hardened warrior and took on the name Elita-One.
6. CYBERTRON RISING
This movie also marks the first time that the setting has been shifted from Earth to Cybertron, the homeworld of the Robots In Disguise.
Based on the trailer, it looks like we will be exploring some significant locations in Transformers lore. First of all, Iacon City, the capital of Cybertron, is featured here. The city is located near the North Pole of the planet, which explains the auroras that we see at some point later on. This place is notable for being the Autobot stronghold when the war eventually comes.
7. TRANSFORMATION COGS
Transformation cogs, or T-cogs for short, are little orb-like objects that grant Transformers the ability to convert into vehicular modes. If these cogs are damaged, they could affect the ability to transform or sometimes to scan vehicle modes.
In the trailer, we see these cogs being inserted into Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee, and Elita-One as their appearances are altered slightly. Down the road, they figure out how to use the ability to transform.
8. THE ALPHA DAWG
The sage-like character of Alpha Trion makes an appearance here and he will be voiced by Laurence Fishburne. This is the film debut of the ancient character, who is one of the oldest living Transformers. While he was young, he helped to establish Cybertron as a galactic power and found his purpose in guiding other Transformers.
It remains to be seen what his role in the movie is. Nevertheless, his wisdom and ties to the history of Cybertron are definitely on display and instrumental to the creation of Optimus Prime and Megatron.
9. EXISTENTIAL QUESTIONS
Despite the fun nature of the trailer, there will be more serious tones involved. Megatron and Optimus will be questioning the reality of the situation they are in. Speaking to Collider, Lorenzo di Bonaventura likened it to how Superman’s Krypton fell apart.
“We’re not there for a short time, we’re there the entire time of the movie, we’re on Cybertron, but we are under the challenge that, if you know the lore, they begin to question the hierarchy of how their society has gotten stratified, and how the common man doesn’t have the voice, entirely, that they want to have. We’re following very true to the origin story of it, and so it’s really fun, too, because I’ve gotten to see some of it – it’s not fully executed by any stretch of the imagination, but hearing Optimus and Megatron not as who we know them as, which we see their maturation in this experience. So, in a sense, you’re hearing a different character because you’re hearing them before they have matured.”
10. QUINTESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
In the trailer, we see the Quintessons make an appearance. These squid-like robotic organisms are antagonists here as they are seen probing Sentinel Major/Prime (Jon Hamm). However, how much they will have an impact here really depends on whether they will be the ones responsible for the oppression of the Transformers.
In some forms of media, the Quintessons are tyrannical figures who created the inhabitants of Cybertron. There have also been versions where the Quintessons were shown to be conquerors who manipulated and took over the planet.
Regardless, these creatures are nothing but trouble for our heroes.
“Transformers: One” releases in theatres – and hopefully, space – this September.
