Paramount is delaying the release of the next animated feature in the Transformers Universe, Transformers One. Initially set for release on July 19, 2024, the film will open nationwide on September 12, 2024. Josh Cooley directs from a script by Andrew Barrer, Steve Desmond, and Gabriel Ferrari. Focusing on an origin story set on Cybertron, Transformers One revolves around the relationship and rivalry of Autobot Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and the Decepticon Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry). Other stars joining the cast include Scarlett Johansson as Elita, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion.
Regarding the upcoming film, franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura shared details about the epic animated prequel, saying, “I could tell you really important parts of this story, which is more than a tease. This is something we were trying to do; we debated a lot about it in live action, and it just was financially impossible to do, which is, the origin story of young Megatron and young Optimus. If you know the origin, they started as friends, and over time things devolved for them and they ended up on two sides. So we’re telling the young Optimus and the young Megatron story. We really are telling the origin story of all Transformers, both what they were at the beginning of it, to how they grow, to how they grow apart.”
Lorenzo also teases that the events of Transformers One will prime a “natural trilogy” for fans to enjoy, provided the series continues. He’s already planned the other films, hoping to tell an emotional tale about brothers-in-arms divided and fighting for the world’s fate.
“We’re hoping that there is enough emotional construct to that, that would lead to a trilogy of it because, personally, I think there’s a natural trilogy. I’m not always looking to do multiple movies, but there’s a natural trilogy around their relationship. So, you’re going to see Cybertron in a way you’ve never seen it, that no one’s ever seen it before. Because we’re doing an animation, we’re allowed to really go all out. If you tried to make this live-action, it would probably be a billion-dollar movie or something.”
Fans looking for a live-action Transformers fix can look forward to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, landing in theaters on June 9, 2023.
The official synopsis for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts reads:
“Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ’90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.”
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts features an all-new cast including Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Velez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, and Tongayi Chirisa.
Michael Bay remains attached as a producer. But he’s also joined by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Mark Vahradian, and Duncan Henderson. Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce with Brian Goldner, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Brian Oliver, Bradley J. Fischer, and Valerii An.
The screenplay was penned by scribes Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoeber from a story by Harold. And Creed II’s Steven Caple Jr. takes over the directing duties after the previous entry, Bumblebee, was helmed by Travis Knight.