Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the highly anticipated installment in the blockbuster series, is scheduled to be released on June 9. The movie’s plot has been kept secret, but the official logline reveals that it is set in 1994 Brooklyn and follows Noah, an ex-military electronics expert, and Elena, an artifact researcher. They find themselves caught in a three-way conflict between the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons as they assist Optimus Prime and the Autobots in protecting Earth from the impending arrival of Unicron.
Before the world premiere, the cast members, including Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Tobe Nwigwe, director Steven Caple Jr., and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, participated in a press conference to discuss the film and its connection to the franchise. Di Bonaventura clarified that the movie is a sequel to Bumblebee, is set as a prequel to the other films, and emphasizes that it is not a reboot since it features familiar characters.
Caple Jr. added that one of the exciting aspects of the movie is watching Optimus Prime’s character development as a leader. Initially, audiences may feel uncomfortable with the different portrayal of Optimus, but this unique perspective adds depth to the story.
The actors also shared their experiences working on the film. Ramos mentioned that he had to quickly learn how to drive for his role, while Fishback expressed her excitement at being part of the Transformers franchise and the opportunity to contribute her ideas to the character’s development.
Filming in their hometown of Brooklyn was a source of pride for both Ramos and Fishback. They were thrilled to showcase their neighborhoods and pay homage to their roots.
The director revealed that a deleted scene featuring a Decepticon will likely be included in the deleted scenes section of the film. However, the focus of the movie is on the new characters and factions, such as the Maximals and the Autobots.
Ramos praised Pete Davidson’s performance as the voice of Mirage, highlighting the actor’s ability to bring the character to life solely through his voice acting.
A secret ending scene was added to the film without the knowledge of the cast until recently, as the filmmakers wanted to keep it a surprise. This decision was made to take the movie in a unique direction.
Grammy-nominated rapper Tobe Nwigwe collaborated with Nas and Jacob Banks to create the featured track, “On My Soul,” for the film. Nwigwe expressed his excitement about being the second artist, after Linkin Park, to have an original song in the Transformers franchise.
When asked about their favorite Transformers characters, Caple Jr. mentioned Mirage, Ramos chose Cheetor, Fishback picked Bumblebee, Nwigwe mentioned Optimus Prime, and di Bonaventura revealed his fondness for Ironhide.
Regarding the future of the franchise, di Bonaventura emphasized the challenge of balancing numerous characters and expressed the desire to explore new possibilities. Caple Jr. shared his ideas for bringing back certain characters and delving into the vast universe beyond Earth, inspired by the comic books.
Overall, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts promises to deliver an exciting sequel-prequel hybrid that expands the franchise’s universe and introduces new elements while staying true to its beloved characters.