Bumblebee Was The Wrong Transformers Movie After Last Knight… Here’s What Was Needed
Despite Bumblebee being the top-rated live-action Transformers movie, it wasn’t the ideal choice to produce after The Last Knight. Prior to Michael Bay creating the first Transformers movie in 2007, the franchise was already popular. Various Transformers animated series were aired in the 80s and 90s, introducing numerous captivating characters from the franchise. Many of these shows took place on Cybertron, the home planet of the Transformers. However, Bay opted to base his live-action film on Earth instead.
Indeed, all of Bay’s Transformers movies predominantly unfolded on Earth. This decision was logical given that a fully live-action Transformers film set exclusively on Cybertron would necessitate an astronomical budget. Moreover, Bay aimed to incorporate human characters with whom the audience could empathize. Regrettably, none of the live-action Transformers movies have managed to portray the franchise’s grandeur effectively. Consequently, it seems that Bumblebee was not the ideal choice for a movie following Transformers: The Last Knight because it continued the trend of Earth-bound settings.
Transformers’ First Live-Action Movie After Michael Bay Should’ve Been A Full Reboot
Bumblebee & Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts Are Both Connected To The Bayverse
Following the release of “Transformers: The Last Knight” in 2017, director Michael Bay announced he would no longer be involved with the franchise as he had helmed the five preceding live-action Transformers films. Given his significant influence on the series, this was a significant move. After “The Last Knight,” the direction the franchise might take could have veered away from Bay’s aesthetic or continued along the same path. Regrettably, the two subsequent live-action Transformers movies have maintained a similar style and mood to Bay’s films. This is unfortunate, as the series has been yearning for a fresh approach.
| Every Transformers Movie | Worldwide Box Office | RT Critics Score |
|---|---|---|
| The Transformers: The Movie (1986) | $5,849,647 | 62% |
| Transformers (2007) | $708,272,592 | 57% |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) | $836,519,699 | 19% |
| Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) | $1,123,794,079 | 35% |
| Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) | $1,104,054,072 | 18% |
| Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) | $602,893,340 | 16% |
| Bumblebee (2018) | $464,731,819 | 91% |
| Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) | $439,241,749 | 51% |
| Transformers One (2024) | $128,317,666 | 89% |
It’s important to note that not all of the Transformers movies directed by Bay are poor. However, his departure from the franchise as a director following The Last Knight opened up an ideal chance for it to begin anew. Movies like Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the latest live-action installments in the series, maintain a loose connection to Bay’s films. In contrast, after The Last Knight, it would have been more suitable for the following live-action Transformers movie to undergo a complete reboot, introducing fresh takes on popular characters such as Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee.
Bumblebee’s Opening Sequence Teased What A Transformers Reboot Could’ve Been
Bumblebee’s Opening Sequence Is Set On Cybertron
Both Bumblebee and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts primarily unfold on Earth, similar to all films directed by Bay. While Bumblebee is set in the 1980s and Rise of the Beasts takes place in the 1990s, they offer a slightly new perspective on the series. However, their resemblance to Bay’s style and tone remains quite noticeable. A complete reboot could have provided a fresh start by moving the Transformers characters onto their home planet, Cybertron, instead of continuing the connection to Bay’s films and keeping them grounded on Earth.
In the initial part of Bumblebee, we got a glimpse of what a real-life Transformers film set on Cybertron might be like, and it’s breathtaking. Although the opening scene is just a few minutes long, it presents an extraordinary battle between the Autobots and Decepticons on their home planet. This battle sequence is grandiose, and the size of Cybertron is mind-boggling. In all honesty, this opening scene could be the most awe-inspiring I’ve ever experienced in a live-action Transformers movie. Regrettably, Bumblebee is dispatched to Earth almost immediately following this sequence, significantly altering the film’s tone.
Bumblebee & Rise Of The Beasts’ Half-Measure Changes Have Made Things More Complicated
The Transformers Franchise Refuses To Leave The Bayverse Behind
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Michael Bay’s Transformers films were blockbuster sensations at the box office. As evidenced by the table above, two of these movies, Dark of the Moon and Age of Extinction, earned more than $1 billion each at the box office (according to The Numbers). Given their extraordinary success at the box office, the producers of the franchise are reluctant to completely sever ties with Bay’s Transformers films. This is why Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts are both part of the Bayverse.
As a fervent fan, I must acknowledge that while Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts maintain continuity within the same universe, they also boldly deviate from the established Bayverse canon. This suggests that the creators of these films have only partially embraced the connection to Michael Bay’s movies, which has arguably weakened the overall quality of the franchise. The live-action Transformers timeline currently appears muddled, leading me to believe a reboot post-The Last Knight might have been more beneficial for clarity and coherence.
Transformers One Is Another Important Reminder Of What The Franchise Can Be
Transformers One Shows How Epic The Franchise Can Be
Beyond the captivating prologue in Bumblebee, Transformers: One serves as a testament to what the series could achieve. Unlike Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts, Transformers One belongs to a separate narrative timeline, detached from the Bayverse films. This autonomy granted the writers of Transformers One the liberty to take daring risks with its plotline and character development.
Instead of all live-action Transformers films, Transformers: The First is exclusively set on the home planet Cybertron. Since it’s animated, displaying Cybertron is more straightforward; however, I can’t help but yearn for a live-action Transformers movie that delves deeper into the breathtaking beauty of the planet. The narrative of Transformers: The First follows Orion Pax and D-16, who will later become Optimus Prime and Megatron, as they initiate a rebellion against the corrupt ruler of Iacon City. Throughout the movie, Orion Pax grows into a stronger leader while D-16 sadly succumbs to his darker nature, setting them on a path towards becoming adversaries.
One thing I’d like to express differently: Transformers One pays homage to the original animated series and showcases just how vast and epic the franchise can be. After seeing the movie, I’ve been eagerly awaiting a sequel to Transformers One, largely due to its intricate plotlines and well-developed characters. In contrast, all the live-action Transformers films feel disappointingly lackluster because they fail to convey the full scope of the franchise as effectively. If the series were rebooted, there could have been some beneficial changes made, but unfortunately, recent live-action Transformers movies are still tied to Bay’s films.
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2025-04-23 18:30