It's almost hard to believe that 14 years have passed since Michael Bay's first Transformers film. But in 2022, we can expect the seventh in the main franchise. And now we know that it'll be called Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts.
As you might predict from that title, this will see the big screen Transformers gang interacting with characters and creatures from the Beast Wars spin-off TV series, so if you were wondering when we might see Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons in cinemas, the answer is next year, according to a virtual presentation held on Tuesday by Paramount.
But don't fret if you're after the likes of Optimus Prime (with Peter Cullen once again providing his voice), Bumblebee and other classic Transformers – they will be present, with most designed after their original toy and 'toon incarnations (Bumblebee's car form will be an all-terrain Camaro, however). Arcee is showing up, with Ducati 916 as her car shape, while Mirage (who can become different vehicles) is a Porsche. On the villain side, we have Scourge, a twisted Terracon who claims his victims' Autobot insignia as trophies. He's aided by Nightbird, a female Terracon. From the Maximals (Transformers who become animals) there is Air-Razor, the "heart" of the group, and a bird in creature form, Rhinox, the "muscle" who transforms into... well... guess. The leader of the Maximals is Optimus Primal. Described as the "father figure" of that group, he's similar to Optimus Prime in outlook but isn't the same character, and becomes a giant gorilla. According to director Steven Caple Jr., the intent with Prime here is "to get underneath the surface — get underneath the metal, if you would — and explore who he is and his experience on Earth."
As for the humans, we already knew that In The Heights' Anthony Ramos and Judas And The Black Messiah's Dominque Fishback were leading the cast, and now we know more about their characters. Ramos' Noah is living with his mother and little brother after serving in the military. He's a father figure to his little brother and he's trying to find his way. Described as a genius when it comes to electronics, he also is said to have a lot of heart and tenacity. Fishback's Elena works at the museum as a researcher of artifacts. She's trying to break the glass ceiling at work but her boss keeps taking credit for all of her work. She is described as a sophisticated thinker.
Timeline-wise, the plan is not to directly interact with any of the Bay films, with Rise Of The Beasts set mostly in 1994. It'll take place in Brooklyn and Macchu Picchu, Peru, and we're promised a big spectacle. Production on the film has just kicked off and it's scheduled for release on 24 June 2022.