After a decade of giant robots and outlandish explosions, Michael Bay is all but finished with the Transformers franchise. Who knows where the series will go from here, but we do know that the unconventional and controversial auteur won't be at the helm for whatever comes next. Bay will soon head to Netflix for Six Underground with Ryan Reynolds, while the future of Transformers is seemingly up in the air. Paramount has plans for a reboot, but they just pulled the 7th chapter off their future release calendar, prompting rumors and plenty of questions. The direction of the series will likely rely on the reception to this December's Bumblebee, a prequel set in the 1980s that serves as an origin story for the fan favorite Autobot. Kubo and the Two Strings director Travis Knight will direct this installment, which means that we're likely in for a completely different kind of Transformers movie, one with considerably less Bayhem. Earlier this morning, Paramount released the first trailer for the upcoming film- watch it below!
Look, I grew up with the Transformers franchise, so I'm coming at this new chapter from a fairly unique angle. While many will likely dismiss this as another cash grab, I see a glimmer of hope for a franchise that I once loved. The Transformers series devolved into mindless, borderline experimental spectacle as it continued, but there was real heart and soul in the initial installment. The relationship between Shia LaBeouf's Sam Witwicky and the mute Autobot was at the very core of the film, serving as the perfect antidote to the overblown action scenes. Even as Optimus Prime became a vengeful murderer, Bumblebee remained the lifeblood of the series. It is a very smart move to make a prequel solely focused on this character.
And Travis Knight is maybe the best director for the job. For a series that has been so permanently linked to one filmmaker for more than a decade, this trailer does a great job of selling the arrival of another voice behind the camera. Bumblebee looks to have its fair share of action and carnage, but there are no Bay-isms on display. This prequel looks sensitive and emotional, based firmly on the bond between Bee and Hailee Steinfeld's Charlie Watson. The action scenes seem to serve the story, which is something that hasn't happened in the Transformers series for a very long time.
Steinfeld has proven herself to be a hugely talented actor, so I'm excited to see her take on a leading role in what could be a major series. I have to admit, I'm a little surprised that the opening voiceover almost leans into a sense of nostalgia for the series, but I guess the shelf life for pop culture really is getting shorter. All in all, I really do have high hopes for Bumblebee. This looks clever and heartfelt, the polar opposite of the indulgence that, for better or worse, has defined this franchise in recent years. You can even see that in the minimalist poster below, which solidifies that Paramount and the brain trust at Hasbro are really going for something fresh and interesting with this film. I'm here for it.
Bumblebee arrives on December 21.
Image courtesy of Paramount
Look, I grew up with the Transformers franchise, so I'm coming at this new chapter from a fairly unique angle. While many will likely dismiss this as another cash grab, I see a glimmer of hope for a franchise that I once loved. The Transformers series devolved into mindless, borderline experimental spectacle as it continued, but there was real heart and soul in the initial installment. The relationship between Shia LaBeouf's Sam Witwicky and the mute Autobot was at the very core of the film, serving as the perfect antidote to the overblown action scenes. Even as Optimus Prime became a vengeful murderer, Bumblebee remained the lifeblood of the series. It is a very smart move to make a prequel solely focused on this character.
And Travis Knight is maybe the best director for the job. For a series that has been so permanently linked to one filmmaker for more than a decade, this trailer does a great job of selling the arrival of another voice behind the camera. Bumblebee looks to have its fair share of action and carnage, but there are no Bay-isms on display. This prequel looks sensitive and emotional, based firmly on the bond between Bee and Hailee Steinfeld's Charlie Watson. The action scenes seem to serve the story, which is something that hasn't happened in the Transformers series for a very long time.
Steinfeld has proven herself to be a hugely talented actor, so I'm excited to see her take on a leading role in what could be a major series. I have to admit, I'm a little surprised that the opening voiceover almost leans into a sense of nostalgia for the series, but I guess the shelf life for pop culture really is getting shorter. All in all, I really do have high hopes for Bumblebee. This looks clever and heartfelt, the polar opposite of the indulgence that, for better or worse, has defined this franchise in recent years. You can even see that in the minimalist poster below, which solidifies that Paramount and the brain trust at Hasbro are really going for something fresh and interesting with this film. I'm here for it.
Bumblebee arrives on December 21.
Image courtesy of Paramount
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