Transformers One
Transformers One | |
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Directed by | Josh Cooley |
Written by |
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Based on | Transformers by Hasbro |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Edited by | Lynn Hobson |
Music by | Tom Holkenborg |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
Transformers One is an upcoming American animated science fiction action film based on Hasbro's Transformers toy line. Directed by Josh Cooley, the ensemble voice cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm. The film depicts the origins and early relationship of Optimus Prime and Megatron and how they forever changed the fate of Cybertron, the home planet of the Transformers. It is the eighth installment overall of the Transformers film series, and the franchise's first theatrical animated feature film since The Transformers: The Movie (1986).
In March 2015, following the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Paramount Pictures tasked Akiva Goldsman with working with Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura to set up a writer's room to create ideas for potential future Transformers films. By May 2015, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari had joined the writers' room, and one of the ideas that came from there was an animated prequel that would be set on Cybertron. The film was announced in August 2017, and by April 2020, Cooley had been hired to direct. The title and voice cast were revealed in April 2023. Animation services were provided by Industrial Light & Magic.
Transformers One is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on September 20, 2024.
Premise
An origin story set on the planet Cybertron centering around the history of the Transformers race, and the relationship between two workers named Orion Pax and D-16, going from brothers-in-arms to archenemies as Optimus Prime and Megatron.[2]
Voice cast
- Chris Hemsworth as Orion Pax / Optimus Prime[3][4]
- Brian Tyree Henry as D-16 / Megatron[3][5]
- Scarlett Johansson as Elita[3]
- Keegan-Michael Key as B-127 / Bumblebee[3]
- Steve Buscemi as the film's antagonist[1][6]
- Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion[3]
- Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime[3]
Other characters confirmed to be appearing in the film are the Decepticons, Starscream, Shockwave, Soundwave, and Airachnid.[7]
Production
Development
Following the release of Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Paramount Pictures tasked Akiva Goldsman, who would later serve as a co-story writer for Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), in March 2015 to work with the film franchise's director, Michael Bay, executive producer, Steven Spielberg, and producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, in setting up a "writers' room" to create ideas for potential future Transformers films and spin-off films.[8] After setting up the writer's room, multiple writers were hired to write future installments in the franchise. According to Goldsman, the team would look at various Transformers media created by Hasbro for inspiration; if they found one that interested them, they could submit a treatment, which would then be further developed by the whole team.[9] In late May, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari had joined the writer's room. According to Deadline Hollywood, one of the ideas that came from the writer's room had the working title Transformers One[10] and would serve as an animated prequel focusing on the Autobot–Decepticon conflict that began on Cybertron.[11][12]
In August 2017, it was reported that an animated Transformers film was officially in the works.[13] Following the release of Bumblebee (2018), di Bonaventura discussed the animated film, clarifying that it was "in the works" and would "tell the whole Cybertron mythology".[14] Bumblebee director Travis Knight additionally expressed interest in the film.[15][16]
In April 2020, it was reported that Josh Cooley had been hired to direct the film and was overseeing the script by Barrer and Ferrari. Hasbro Entertainment and Paramount Animation would produce the film.[17] In February 2022, it emerged that the film would be computer-animated.[18] In December 2022, the title was reported to be Transformers: A New Generation, though di Bonaventura later stated in April 2023 that the title had yet to be finalized.[19][20] Later that month, at CinemaCon, the title was officially confirmed as Transformers One.[3] di Bonaventura stated that the plot will center around the origins of the Transformers, and explore the events that lead Optimus and Megatron to go from being brothers-in-arms to becoming enemies.[21] In May, Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman were revealed to have contributed to the screenplay.[22]
Casting
The voice cast of the film was announced at CinemaCon in April 2023, consisting of Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry as younger versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively, alongside Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Hamm, and Laurence Fishburne headlining.[3] In April 2024, Steve Buscemi, who had previously voiced Daytrader in The Last Knight, was cast as the film's antagonist.[1][6]
When we first listen to Chris Hemsworth's voice, you're like, 'God, is he gonna be a good Optimus!' Obviously, he starts as Orion Pax and you don't become Optimus for a while, so he's not playing, for most of the movie, what we think of as Optimus, Peter Cullen. So it's that transition, and Chris's voice has a timbre that… it’s logical that Peter Cullen would take over that voice, if you would, which is really great, the fans are gonna really feel great.
Transformers One marks Hemsworth's first animated feature film. The actor joined the project after being impressed with the screenplay. Hemsworth made efforts to not use his regular speaking voice for Optimus Prime.[23] Hemsworth revealed during CinemaCon 2024 that he had consulted with Peter Cullen on providing his voice.[24] Cooley requested that Key stay close to his regular speaking voice for Bumblebee.[25]
Animation
Industrial Light & Magic, who had provided the visual effects for the prior live-action Transformers installments, returned to provide the animation for the film.[26] The film was in post-production by February 2024.[27]
Release
Transformers One will screen as a work-in-progress at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2024,[28] and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on September 20, 2024.[29] It was originally scheduled to be released on July 19, 2024,[30] but was initially delayed to September 13,[22] before shifting a week later to its current date to avoid competition with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.[29][31]
Future
In April 2023, di Bonaventura stated that there is discussion for Transformers One to become a trilogy of films.[21] By June, he confirmed that the story is mapped out to progress over three movies, detailing the progression of the characters into their depiction in the live-action film series. The producer explained that Hemsworth's depiction will grow into the leader depicted in the previous installments, stating that the transition from Hemsworth's voice to Peter Cullen's will make sense within the story.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Gardner, Chris (April 11, 2024). "Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Brian Tyree Henry Debut Origin Story 'Transformers One'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "Synopsis". Transformers One official website. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Rubin, Rebecca (April 27, 2023). "Transformers Animated Prequel Sets Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and More Voice Cast". Variety. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c O'Rourke, Ryan (June 7, 2023). "Transformers One Producer Is Hyped for Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime". Collider. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ "Lorenzo di Bonaventura Teases Upcoming Film Transformers: One: 'It's Something I've Wanted To Do For A Long Time' (Exclusive)". One Take News. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Weintraub, Steven; Jones, Tamera (April 18, 2024). "How the World of 'Dune' Influenced 'Transformers One'". Collider.
- ^ Alvarado, Aryanna (March 14, 2024). "All 10 Autobots & Decepticons Confirmed To Appear In Transformers One". ScreenRant. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 27, 2015). "Paramount Enlisting Akiva Goldsman To Ramp Up 'Transformers' Output". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 4, 2015). "Akiva Goldsman Explains Transformers Writers Room As Paramount Adds Scribe Pair". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 27, 2015). "Ant-Man Scribes Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari Join Transformers Writers Room: Cybertron Pic In Offing?". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Myers, Maddy (September 17, 2015). "Transformers Films Getting Animated Spin-Off". The Mary Sue. Abrams Media. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Fischer, Russ (September 17, 2015). "Michael Bay In Talks For Transformers 5; Animated Cybertron Origin Movie Confirmed". /Film. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Lovett, Jamie (August 6, 2017). "New Transformers Animated Movie Is In The Works". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Wakeman, Gregory (December 20, 2018). "Will there be a Bumblebee 2? What's the future for the Transformers universe? Here's what its producer told us". Metro New York. Metro International. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Fiduccia, Christopher (December 28, 2018). "Animated Transformers Movie to Explore the History of Cybertron". Screen Rant. Valnet, Inc. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Scott, Ryan (December 26, 2018). "Animated Transformers Cybertron Movie in the Works". MovieWeb. Watchr Media. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 30, 2020). "Animated Transformers Prequel Activated; Toy Story 4's Josh Cooley To Direct For Hasbro/eOne & Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Valentine, Evan (February 16, 2022). "Transformers Confirms New Animated Movie and TV Series in the Works". ComicBook.com. Paramount Global. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (December 20, 2022). "Twister Sequel Sets Summer 2024 Release Date". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (April 23, 2023). "Transformers: A New Generation Is Not the Title of New Animated Film". Collider. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Villei, Matt (April 20, 2023). "Here's What the New Animated Transformers Movie is About [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (May 24, 2023). "Transformers One: Paramount Pushes Date For Animated Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Oddo, Marco Vito (June 15, 2023). "Chris Hemsworth's Optimus Prime Sadly Won't Be Australian in Transformers One". Collider. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Transformers One News: Film is Testing Very Well and Peter Cullen Consulted Chris Hemsworth on Voice". Seibertron.com.
- ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (December 14, 2023). "Keegan-Michael Key Reveals Exactly What Bumblebee Sounds Like in Transformers One". Collider. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Villei, Matt (April 22, 2023). "The New Transformers Animated Movie Is Partnering With an Industry Giant for the CGI [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 9, 2024). "Scarlett Johansson To Star In True Crime Thriller Featherwood About Prized FBI Informant Who Infiltrated Neo-Nazi Gang The Aryan Brotherhood; Andrea Arnold Directing & FilmNation Launching Hot EFM Project". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (April 25, 2024). "Annecy 2024's Slate Includes Terry Gilliam and Transformers". TheWrap. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (April 18, 2024). "'Aang: The Last Airbender' Delayed to 2026, 'Transformers One' Moves Back a Week". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ Romanchick, Shane (January 22, 2022). "New Transformers Animated Movie Release Date Set For 2024". Collider. Valnet, Inc. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 23, 2024). "DreamWorks Animation's 'The Wild Robot' Will Go One Week Later In The Fall". Deadline. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
External links
- 2024 films
- 2024 3D films
- 2024 action adventure films
- 2024 computer-animated films
- 2024 science fiction action films
- 2020s children's animated films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s science fiction adventure films
- 3D animated films
- American 3D films
- American action adventure films
- American children's animated action films
- American children's animated adventure films
- American children's animated science fiction films
- American prequel films
- American science fiction action films
- American science fiction adventure films
- Animated films set on fictional planets
- Di Bonaventura Pictures films
- Film spin-offs
- Films directed by Josh Cooley
- Films produced by Michael Bay
- Films produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura
- Films produced by Don Murphy
- Films produced by Tom DeSanto
- Hasbro Studios films
- Origin stories
- Paramount Animation films
- Paramount Pictures animated films
- Paramount Pictures films
- Transformers (franchise) animated films
- Upcoming English-language films
- Upcoming prequel films
- Upcoming IMAX films