The Transformers film franchise has had a rocky road to say the least. For the most part people have not been huge fans of the successful franchise. Which sounds confusing. I know I take issues with both Age of Extinction, as well as The Last Knight. And most people do not like Revenge of the Fallen, and Darkside of the Moon. However a lot of us agree the original film, as well as Bumblebee were pretty good, or at least decent.
After Bumblebee word was that both GI Joe, and Transformers would reboot together. While it looks like GI Joe stuck to that idea, seems like the Michael Bay Transformer-verse will continue on its current path. Well sort of.
We have learned now the next installment of the Transformers franchise will be called Rise of the Beast, and will be a pre-sequel. Yes I know, doesn’t make sense. Transformers: Rise of The Beasts will be set in Brooklyn in 1994, before the original film, but after Bumblebee. It will see the introduction of the Beast Wars characters, including Optimus Primal, who will be voiced, by non other then Ron Perlman.
With Steven Caple Jr. directing, the new film will see the Maximals, Predacons and Terrorcons joining the Autobots Optimus Prime, once again voiced by Peter Cullen, and Bumbleebee, as well as the evil Decepticons. Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback join the saga as the latest humans to be caught up in the conflict. Production is underway now and is targeting on June 24th next year.
I am of two minds of this. One, The Beast Wars were my Transformers. I grew up watching them, I still have my Optimus Primal and Megatron toys. And Ron Pearlman is an incredible choice for his voice. However, setting the film in Brooklyn in 1994 makes no sense to me. Prime and his crew of Autobots arrived in the 2000’s and didn’t really seem like they had been to earth before. So this really starts to muddy the water when it comes to the timeline that is. But as someone who has enjoyed 2/3rds of the franchise, will remain optimistic.
What are your thoughts on Pearlman and Rise Of The Beast? Answer the call in the comments below.
The Grind 