After years of being Michael Bay’s favourite toy, the Transformers series is about to become something else in the hands of director Travis Knight. The series is getting a new iteration in Bumblebee, heading back to the 1980s with a fresh lead in Hailee Steinfeld – and the new trailer gives our best look yet at what the Kubo and the Two Strings director has in store. Knight looks to be dialling into the coming-of-age, kid-and-their-car relationship that made Bay’s 2007 original the most engaging of the series – and he’s also got a few treats in store for fans of the classic animated series.
As well as teasing a charming friendship between Steinfeld’s Charlie and the titular yellow VW Beetle, the trailer confirms that Bumblebee isn’t the only Cybertronian involved here. The film is about to give OG Transformers fans the thing they’ve wanted all along: the colourful, stripped-back original designs of the Autobots and Decepticons. Peter Cullen is back as Optimus Prime, while the likes of Shockwave, Starscream, Shatter, and Dropkick all put in appearances. And yes, there’s triple-changing in there too.
It remains to be seen whether the film can successfully balance the more low-key character elements that this prequel-reboot is promising alongside the big robo-smashing action the Transformers films are known for. But by the looks of things, Bumblebee should bring a little more soul to the robots-in-disguise saga, as well as a more authentic take on the beloved original series.
Bumblebee will arrive neatly wrapped in UK cinemas on Boxing Day this year – and stay tuned to Empire for a trailer breakdown from Travis Knight himself.
Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to Empire on Great Magazines and have the latest issue delivered to your door every month.