The title for the next Transformers movie is a blast from the past: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Promising elements of the popular ‘Beast Wars’ generation of Transformers toys and animated series, Rise of the Beasts, like Bumblebee, is going to be set prior to the Michael Bay movies, in 1994 New York City, as well as Peru’s Machu Picchu.
“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.”
As with the toys that inspired the franchise, the Autobots will get a new look for the movie, with Optimus Prime in his Generation 1 look and Bumblebee transforming into a dune buggy. The big bad of Rise of the Beasts will be the Decepticon Scourge, while Transformers set to appear include Arcee, Mirage, Nightbird, Airazor, Rhinox and Optimus Primal, who can change into a giant gorilla and leads the beast-like Maximals.
Caple told a Paramount Pictures virtual showcase, “We had somewhat exhausted, I would say, the battle between Decepticons and Autobots. You’re going to see villains you’ve never seen before, you’re going to see Autobots you’ve never seen before, you’re going to see a lot of elements that we’ve never done before.” A fan of the 90s Beast Wars TV series, Caple described the movie’s Transformers as “prehistoric animals that travelled through time and space, and we find them on Earth.”
Directed by Steven Caple Jr, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will also star Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) as Noah, an ex-military electronics expert, and Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah) as Elena, an artifact researcher.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is due for release on June 24, 2022.