Franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura addresses how the animated prequel movie Transformers One fits into the live-action movies' continuity. The feature is the first theatrically released animated Transformers movie since 1986, and explores the early days of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron's (Brian Tyree Henry) relationship, as they go from friends to bitter enemies. Transformers One also features Keegan-Michael Key, Scarlett Johansson, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Hamm, and Steve Buscemi, who take on the roles of several recognizable Autobots and Decepticons.

With Transformers One exploring Cybertron in the days before its cataclysmic war and fall, di Bonaventura revealed to Screen Rant how the prequel connects to previously released installments in the Transformers franchise. When asked about whether the animated feature is a prequel to either Michael Bay's original continuity or the newer story established by 2018's Bumblebee, di Bonaventura stated that the movie does act as a prequel. Check out di Bonaventura's explanation below:

It obviously exists beforehand. I think we figured it out. It was like 300 million years before the first Michael Bay movie, so if that's a prequel, that's a prequel. But we're really following the lore about where it starts, and so we really just think about it as the beginning of the story. The origin, yes, but literally the beginning of the thing that we've all come to appreciate.

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Within the Transformers film continuity, Bumblebee was originally envisioned as a prequel to the original 2007 movie. Megatron was intended to appear in the Cybertron opening sequence, but this was ultimately removed. Additionally, Bumblebee adopted his Camaro vehicle form in the ending. However, the appearance of Optimus Prime on Earth and Transformers: Rise of the Beast's Unicron storyline would further diverge the series from Bay's features. With a Transformers/GI Joe movie in development, the live-action movies are following a new story removed from Bay's series.

As such, while di Bonaventura may plan on clearly setting out a timeline for the franchise, viewers are used to seeing multiple depictions of the characters existing at the same time.

However, in the case of Transformers One, its setting may not hinder its enjoyment. Being set so far in the past and tackling events rarely touched upon in live-action, the movie has the freedom to tell its own story, and it should draw a clear line to the installments that follow it within the franchise. At the same time, with potential Transformers One sequels considered, the animated continuity may also diverge from established continuity.

As the Transformers franchise celebrates 40 years of adventures, there have been many different depictions of its characters across various mediums. As such, while di Bonaventura may plan on clearly setting out a timeline for the franchise, viewers are used to seeing multiple depictions of the characters existing at the same time. With the producer confirming a connection between Bay's feature and Transformers One, many may leave the prequel viewing the 2007 movie with fresh eyes.