Animated Transformers prequel in the works at Paramount

[TigerClaw]

An animated Transformers prequel is in the works at Paramount. It'll be directed by Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley.
https://deadline.com/2020/04/transformers-animated-movie-paramount-hasbro-toy-story-4-director-josh-cooley-1202921100/

[Leo656]

That movie kinda sucked, that doesn't bode well.

[neatoman]

The film is separate and apart from the live-action Transformers film series and the Bumblebee spinoff, and those movies continue on a fast track.

Then what the **** is it a prequel to? The Beast Wars comic where Optimus is a Bat?
https://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/a/a2/Optimusprimalvsmegatronsplash.jpg

[Leo656]

It's kinda like Transformers and X-Men are in a competition for "Most Broken Long-Running Film Series" or something.

I think Transformers "wins" simply because there's more than just one-and-a-half watchable X-Men movies. There's like, two.

[neatoman]

Ugh, yeah. This movie series just sucks. Each movie is way longer than it needs to be, the premise is overly complicated for each, the actual plot is too simple, the characters are annoying or flat and Bay's cinematography is nausiating. I haven't watched Bumblebee but I really don't care enough to.

Anyway, I used to be into the Transformers franchise a few years ago but lost interest when I realised how much squandered potential it really is.

I mean really, think about this. The franchise is about alien robots who can turn into anything, imagine what you can do with that concept. Space adventures to various crazy planets, the robots adopting increasingly strange forms, humans advancing technology due to their influence, many different aliens being connected through them, etc, etc, etc. The possibilities of what Transformers can be used for are nearly endless.

But what are most Transformers stories about? Two factions of robots going to modern day earth, turning into vehicles and other modern machinery, engaging in a stupid resource war. Not that there aren't Transformers stories that do take advantage of what the premise really offers but that seems to be what most are content doing, a war for resources in a mundane setting.

At the very least, come up with some villains who are not just Decepticons or Unicron. I like the Joker but I'd still want Batman fighting Penguin, Scarecrow, Ra's Al Ghul, Bane, Mr Freeze, Penguin, Riddler, Hugo Strange, Two-Face, Deadshot, Hush, Killer Croc, Ventriloquist, Clayface and anything new they can throw our way.

[Leo656]

I kinda tapped out when I noticed that the movies didn't even pay attention to each other.

They all blur together in my head, and I skipped the last couple entirely, but once out of deference to my wife I watched a couple of them on DVR, and at the end of one of them Optimus Prime is all like, "We willl always be here to protect you, humans," or something like that. And then in the very next film, the very first time we see Optimus he's all like, "HUMANS! I'LL KILL YOU!" :lol: And I was like "Yeah, wow, this is some straight-ahead garbage storytelling." I can't even remember much from the rest of the movie because between that and the lengthy explanation on why the skeevy dude was allowed to f*ck the teenage girl, the movie had already lost me.

I mean, technically they lost me by putting "Transformers" in the title. But you know what I mean. :lol:

I agree with you wholeheartedly, amigo. I admit I was never more than the most casual of casual Transformers observers, but on paper the premise is fantastic and very intriguing. I've always loved the basic idea despite never owning any of the toys or watching more than a couple of episodes here and there of the original show. And I LOVE the "Devastation" video game. So I very strongly agree with you that such a terrific premise really, REALLY deserves a lot better execution than what we've been given in films. Films are supposed to be "iconic", and the Transformers film series has been... whatever the opposite of that word is.

[Wildcat]

They might mean it’s a prequel to Transformers in general showing us the origins of both sides and it’s just poorly worded in the article.

I hope the coronavirus does not affect the live action Beast Wars. Delay it as much as needed but please do not cancel it. It’s the TF movie I’ve always wanted.

[Andrew NDB]

Watched 1-3. 1 was OK but I don't even remember anything that happened in 2 or 3. Avoided Bumblebee.

[Autbot_Benz]

all of you guys who "avoided" Bumblebee you missed out. G1 designs a decent story. No Bay anything in it. Also hailee steinfeld is easy on the eyes too

[Leo656]

I mean, it looked alright, I just didn't care about it. Partly because I completely expect them to f*ck everything up again eventually anyway. I'unno, like I said "casual" doesn't even quite do it with regards to my Transformers involvement. I can see myself watching it one day, but I feel very little urgency to do so.

Like, on any given day I could watch Bumblebee for the first time, or Speed Racer for the 30th. And I'm sorry but when your opponent is Speed Racer that's not a battle you're likely to win if I'm the one reffing it.

[Andrew NDB]

all of you guys who "avoided" Bumblebee you missed out. G1 designs a decent story. No Bay anything in it. Also hailee steinfeld is easy on the eyes too

Hailee is good people. Was great in "True Grit."

I mean, it looked alright, I just didn't care about it. Partly because I completely expect them to f*ck everything up again eventually anyway. I'unno, like I said "casual" doesn't even quite do it with regards to my Transformers involvement. I can see myself watching it one day, but I feel very little urgency to do so.

Like, on any given day I could watch Bumblebee for the first time, or Speed Racer for the 30th. And I'm sorry but when your opponent is Speed Racer that's not a battle you're likely to win if I'm the one reffing it.

It'd be one thing if 2-5 or 6 or whatever seemed to learn any lessons from what didn't work, instead of doubling down on the suck. By Bumblebee, all goodwill was surely gone.

[Leo656]

Seems like a very fair assessment.

This sh*t just kicked in so all of a sudden I wanna see Speed Racer team up with the Transformers. Like DUDE, the Mammoth Car as a f*cking Decepticon. Just for starters.

WHY HAS NOBODY DONE THIS?!?!?!?!

[drgon78]

Bumblebee was great and the only live action Transformer movie even worth seeing.

Since this animated one will be directed by the same person as Toy Story 4 I will say not interested.

[The Deadman]

We need a buddy cop type Transformers movie where Optimus and Megatron are forced to team up and fight crime.

[Leo656]

We need a buddy cop type Transformers movie where Optimus and Megatron are forced to team up and fight crime.

Haha, we must shop at the same "store". :lol:

[neatoman]

They might mean it’s a prequel to Transformers in general showing us the origins of both sides and it’s just poorly worded in the article.

I hope the coronavirus does not affect the live action Beast Wars. Delay it as much as needed but please do not cancel it. It’s the TF movie I’ve always wanted.

A "general" prequel is no prequel at all. If I write a Dracula story that "takes place before the book" and it ends with Carfax Abbey getting destroyed before Drac has a chance to buy it, then it doesn't "take place before the book", does it? A prequel needs to keep continuity straight.

[Leo656]

Dude, what if Speed Racer was like, a prequel To Transformers? Like what if the Mach 5 was an Autobot, y'know? An' like we just never saw it on-camera, y'know what I mean? But he was like, like a scout, y'know, like a scout for the other Autobots, just kinda hangin' out like Bumblebee did an' sh*t, except he had buzz-saws for a face and was perfectly willing to be a silent aid to Speed on his quest to dominate the World Racing Circuit, since they got to go on all kinds of crazy adventures and sh*t with spy rings and gangsters and monkeys and Car Acrobatic Teams and crazy sh*t like that. That would be awesome.

That does it. Later on, f*ck-face, I'm off to conquer the world with this incredible idea that nobody but me was stupid or wasted enough to ever think of before. Joke's on you, Nancy!

[Sumac]

We need a buddy cop type Transformers movie where Optimus and Megatron are forced to team up and fight crime.
I'd pay a lot for such movie.

[neatoman]

We need a buddy cop type Transformers movie where Optimus and Megatron are forced to team up and fight crime.

Haha, we must shop at the same "store". :lol:

I'd pay a lot for such movie.

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The weird thing is that in looking up that clip, I found out that there really is a sequel to the Passion of the Christ in the works. Not sure if it'll be a buddy cop movie co-starring Chris Tucker, though I'd be let down if it wasn't.

Dude, what if Speed Racer was like, a prequel To Transformers? Like what if the Mach 5 was an Autobot, y'know? An' like we just never saw it on-camera, y'know what I mean? But he was like, like a scout, y'know, like a scout for the other Autobots, just kinda hangin' out like Bumblebee did an' sh*t, except he had buzz-saws for a face and was perfectly willing to be a silent aid to Speed on his quest to dominate the World Racing Circuit, since they got to go on all kinds of crazy adventures and sh*t with spy rings and gangsters and monkeys and Car Acrobatic Teams and crazy sh*t like that. That would be awesome.

That does it. Later on, f*ck-face, I'm off to conquer the world with this incredible idea that nobody but me was stupid or wasted enough to ever think of before. Joke's on you, Nancy!

I'd totally believe it if it was the Fred Wolf Speed Racer.
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[sdp]

So there is a Beast Wars live action movie in development? Awesome, I couldn't remember if it had been announced or not, let's hope it doesn't get stuck in development hell.

I'm not into transformers but I watched the first movie and it was fine, didn't love it either but it's likely the incarnation that has kept my attention the most. Have only watched a few g1 episodes and the first 3 or 4 animated episodes. Beast Wars on the other hand all the way.


https://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/a/a2/Optimusprimalvsmegatronsplash.jpg

[Wildcat]

A "general" prequel is no prequel at all. If I write a Dracula story that "takes place before the book" and it ends with Carfax Abbey getting destroyed before Drac has a chance to buy it, then it doesn't "take place before the book", does it? A prequel needs to keep continuity straight.That comparison doesn’t make sense. We know of nothing in this animated movie that would contradict anything major like that.

All it says is it revolves around Optimus and Megatrons relationship. Which must show how they became enemies. It’s an origin of how we got Autobots vs Decepticons.

It doesn’t have to choose a continuity but it could probably be applied to most. Unless they want it to start it’s own series. On its own it’s just what happens on Cybertron.

[Leo656]

I'd totally believe it if it was the Fred Wolf Speed Racer.
arU5EXJaMz8

Ha-haaaaaaaaaa..... we generally don't acknowledge that, thanks. :lol:

Eh, maybe it's better than I remember, but I wasn't a fan as a kid. That version of the Mach 5 doesn't make my pecker twitch even a little bit. And if you're not romantically attracted to the Mach 5 then it isn't really the Mach 5 but a pale imitation.

So yeah, I generally didn't care much for that show. :lol:

I mean LOOK the freakin' HOOD LOGO is off-center mumble grumble darn kids'n their music rassafrassin'... :tgrumble:

[Sumac]

I liked US Speed Racer more than original.
It looked better and had action, mutants and half-human, half-robots. All things that kid-me liked.

Actually, I think I still love those things. :lol:
It is just not enough to consider something bad as something good.

[neatoman]

But here's a more serious connection between Transformers and an anime (borderline plagiarism).
https://www.madhouse.it/files/Madhouse_Files/Foto/52854_349224.JPGhttps://omegalock.co.uk/239-thickbox_default/transformers-legends-lg-07-jetfire-skyfire.jpg

[MsMarvelDuckie]

But here's a more serious connection between Transformers and an anime (borderline plagiarism).
https://www.madhouse.it/files/Madhouse_Files/Foto/52854_349224.JPGhttps://omegalock.co.uk/239-thickbox_default/transformers-legends-lg-07-jetfire-skyfire.jpg


Is that one of the Skull Squdron VF's? Looks a lot like a Valkyrie or something very similar. Mr D would know, I'm sure.

[AquaParade]

I'd really like to see Beast Wars make a comeback. If they want to switch things up, that would interest me more than a film taking place on Cybertron, which sounds rather drab to me.

I think the less you focus on the origin of Transformers, the better quite frankly.

[Sumac]

I wonder, will it still use time travel plot or will it be just transformers, but transforming into animals in a modern setting?

[ZariusTwo]

The next live-action TF movie has been scheduled for June 24th 2022, they haven't decided if it'll be the follow-up to Bumblebee or Beast Wars

https://deadline.com/2020/05/paramount-dates-new-transformers-movie-for-2022-1202924176/

[Wildcat]

I hope that means they’re just deciding which to do first and not one instead of the other.

[AquaParade]

The next live-action TF movie has been scheduled for June 24th 2022, they haven't decided if it'll be the follow-up to Bumblebee or Beast Wars

https://deadline.com/2020/05/paramount-dates-new-transformers-movie-for-2022-1202924176/

Prob depends on whether they can convince the cast to return. Drawing a blank on the girls name.

She was good, but I rather see Beast Wars.

[Jazzfox]

Prob depends on whether they can convince the cast to return. Drawing a blank on the girls name.

She was good, but I rather see Beast Wars.

Charlie? =O She's definitely holding the title of best human protagonist in the transformers live action series, but I think her story is nicely built and contained there, Idunno where you'd take her further

I'm a super big Transformers fan, soooo, for better or worse that has meant me sitting through all the Bay-former movies, lol, Bumblebee being made by Travis Knight (I was a BIG Kubo Two Strings fan!) was a highlight for me and really showed off what a Transformers live action movie COULD be like!

(Holy hell, the Cybertron scenes ALONE were worth price of admission!)

I appreciate folks been burnt plenty on the movies not wanting to give it a chance, but I will say that it's a serious gem in the franchise buried by a lot of the other crud, if you're still in lockdown and looking for something to pass time, it's worth a thought at least

(Or at the very least, worth considering next to your 31st viewing of Speed Racer! ...Man, I need to find a copy of that again.)


On THIS particular movie, I'm not sure what to think... Cooley comes from the Pixar powerhouse, so I do think he'll know how to lay out the movie and make it look at its best, whether or not he can land the portrayal of characters is another thing...

I'm actually sadly not as excited by the premise looking back at Prime/Megatron

Ever since TF:Prime was a show, they've set up an aligned continuity that has been mostly stuck to since then that portrays the fall of Cybertron and Prime and Megatron's part of this, so it would have to work hard for me to make it stand out

(Any other IDW fans out there? If you want an idea of how good it could be? Take a look at 'Chaos Theory' a two part comic story by James Roberts that explores pre-war Cybertron between Megs/Prime!)

It has a bit to measure up to there, but could be really sweet for newer or more casual fans I think if they stick that =o

Beast Wars is also a reeeeeeally interesting angle, Hasbro has obviously noted of late that kids have been digging animal transformers with RiD choosing to go with a WAY bigger cast of animal themed transformers (sadly mostly entirely the villains...) and then bringing back a lot of Beasties transformers for Cyberverse

Sooooo, I could hedge a bet to see a Beast Wars movie since they haven't really mined the original show since way-way back in the 90's, my only worry being how they'd get past the somewhat convoluted backstory to make it more accessible =o

...

Also, congrats on getting me to return into full Transformers rant mode, lol