Paramount Pictures has released a new trailer for the seventh installment in the long-running live action Transformers franchise titled Transformers: Rise of the Beaststhe first trailer did. That said, amid the new footage were some surprises, like a first look at Stratosphere.
The Transformers: Rise of the Beast trailer also felt like part of a commercial for Porsche given the fact most of its scenes featured Mirage, an Autobot spy that can transform into a Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8.
Shortly after the trailer premiered, Hasbro revealed the toy version of Mirage. In a historic moment for the franchise, Mirage sports an officially licensed Porsche altmode both on screen and in plastic form, signaling the end of a long period of apparent animosity between the car manufacturer and toy company.
At one point Porsche issued an official statement, reading "Transformers are not worthy [of] carrying the Porsche trademark. They are war machines and the toyline in no way represents the lifestyle and ideas which Porsche represents." - clearly, we've come a long way since then. Mirage may be fans' best hope of a masterpiece Jazz figure yet.
Set in the 90s, Rise of the Beasts will chronicle the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, with their descendants, the Maximals, the Predacons and the Terrorcons thrown into the mix. Caught in the middle of this ancient conflict are a pair human archaeologists who befriend the Autobots.
The film will feature locations in the United States and Peru, including New York City and Machu Picchu. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is inspired by the Beast Wars line of toys by Hasbro. If the film fulfills the trailer’s promise, then Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be the most exciting installment in the series thus far.
Rise of the Beasts is a prequel to the main series of films, continuing 2018’s Bumblebee. Following years of uncertainty and questions from fans, with Rise of the Beasts the studio has officially confirmed that it and Bumblebee are still in-continuity with Michael Bay's first five Transformers films - yes, we're as confused as you are.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts stars Tobe Nwigwe, Dominique Fishback, and Anthony Ramos, who will play Reek, Elena Wallace, and Noah Diaz respectively. It will also feature Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Peter Dinklage, and John DiMaggio as the voices of Optimus Prime, Optimus Primal, Airazor, Mirage, Scourge, and Stratosphere/Transit respectively.
Steven Caple Jr, of Creed II fame, will sit in the director’s chair for this installment, with long-time franchise director Michael Bay attached to produce. Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoebe co-wrote the screenplay.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will arrive in cinemas across the United States on June 9, 2023. Two more installments are reportedly in the works at Paramount with the first slated for release in 2024.
