The trailer for Transformers: Rise of the Beasts indicates that the new movie is already avoiding a major issue with previous Transformers movies. Set for a 2023 release, the seventh installment in Paramount’s live-action Transformers movies series promises to be an action-packed adaptation of Beast Wars. By taking inspiration from the fan-favorite animated series and the toys associated with it, Rise of the Beasts has managed to stand apart from the other movies with its emphasis on animal-themed Transformers.
It's evident from the Transformers: Rise of the Beasts trailer that conflict between the Autobots and the humans will receive much less focus this time around. Instead, it appears that the new movie will keep the spotlight on the battle between the rival Transformer factions. While the main villain is traditionally an evil Transformer, there’s a tendency in these films - with Bumblebee serving as a prime example - for the story to lean heavily on the involvement of the government and the military. But from all indications, the humans won’t be taking such a heavy hand in the fighting in Rise of the Beasts.
Why Rise Of The Beasts Needed To Reinvent The Transformers Franchise
Significantly less human interference isn’t the only way Rise of the Beasts is reinventing the franchise. By shifting away from the vehicle-centric Robots in Disguise and introducing the Maximals, Rise of the Beasts is able to do something inherently different from what audiences have been seeing from the franchise since it started in 2007. Given how many movies have stuck to the same formula combined with the lack of success from Transformers: The Last Knight (the last entry in the main series), it makes sense for Paramount to change things up with its next installment.
Just how much of a difference it makes that Transformers is using Beast Wars as the blueprint of its story was on full display in the trailer. Over the years, the franchise has managed to get quite creative with all its transformations, but incorporating animals has allowed for some of its most unique Transformers designs yet. The trailer provided a preview of how this change translates to live-action by showing off Maximals that resemble a cheetah (Cheetor), a gorilla (Optimus Primal), a falcon (Airazor), and a rhino (Rhinox). The stunning visuals are a good sign that a reinvention was the right call.
Why Less Humans Is Good For Transformers
Similarly, relying more on the robots vs robots aspect of the Transformers franchise can be a boon to the movie. While the human element will always matter because of the emotional connection the human characters share with Optimus Prime and the Autobots, it’s not necessary for them to drive the action. After all, the main draw of these movies is, of course, the Transformers themselves. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will be better for limiting the role they play in the fighting, which should stay between the Autobots, the Maximals, and the Terrorcons.
