A new Transformers movie is officially on the way. As reported by Deadline, Paramount Pictures has announced Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The latest entry in the long-running franchise will take the action to the 90s. And, what’s more, it will be bringing in characters from the 90s spin-off series Beast Wars.
The battle on Earth is no longer just between Autobots and Decepticons… Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons join Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, in theatres June 24, 2022. pic.twitter.com/VtS4CjSxLy
— Transformers (@transformers) June 22, 2021
The announcement was made during a large press event held by the studio and the filmmakers. Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) is in the director’s chair. The action will be set in 1994 and this is viewed as a continuation of 2018’s Bumblebee. The cast is led by Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) and Dominique Fishback (Project Power).
A logline for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts reads as follows.
“Returning to the action and spectacle that first captured moviegoers around the world 14 years ago with the original Transformers, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure and introduce the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons.”
“The Predacons in our film are more reptilian in nature. We’ve seen a few in other Transformers films, but [in the new film], we get to see another side of them,” Caple said during the event. “It’s all about building a backstory to these characters, and we’ll see that more on the Predacon and Terracon side.”
“You’re going to see villians you’ve never seen, Autobots you’ve never seen, elements we’ve never done before,” added producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura. “One of the driving decisions along the way is, ‘Have we done that before?’ whether that’s an action scene or a character.”
It had previously been reported that a Beast Wars spin-off was in development. Paramount and Hasbro have been developing several projects within the franchise. A sequel to Bumblebee was, at least at one point, on the table as well. One thing is clear though; the series is moving away from Michael Bay.
Starting with 2007’s Transformers, Bay kicked off the live-action version of the franchise. To date, the movies have earned more than $4.8 billion at the box office. But 2017’s The Last Knight was panned by critics and saw a major drop-off in ticket sales. The studio pivoted, with Bumblebee serving as a soft reboot of sorts.
The movie will be led once again by Optimus Prime, voiced by Peter Cullen. Other robots set to appear include Mirage, Arcee, Nightbird, Air Razor, Rhinox, Optimus Primal and Scourge, leader of the Terrorcons.
Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters penned the screenplay, working from a draft by Joby Harold. Steven Spielberg, Brian Goldner, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Brian Oliver, Bradley J. Fischer and Valerii An are executive producing. di Bonaventura, Bay, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Mark Vahradian and Duncan Henderson are also on board as producers.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts hits theaters on June 24, 2022.
What do you think? Do you dig the title? Do you like the idea of bringing Beast Wars into the mix? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
